NGAPARA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1500, 14 August 1880, Page 19

NGAPARA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

August 3rd. • The weather here at present is simply all that: could be desired. Ploughing and sowing seed, are being . actively pursued with avigoarand; will that evidently shows the farmers' determi-,, nation to " try again " despite the unparalleled losses of the past season. Prices do not appear; to rally, and as a result some of the grain is only now being threshed by the mills, there' haying been no inducement to push theproduoe; into the market. , ] It was a welcome intimation that the laving- i atone line was to be continued to the end of the! lOmiles, though this will not bring it up to the] township {I understand) of Livingstone by six; .miles. I, was informed, however, the other, day; that the men had been given to understand it was' very improbable , the line would be curtailed. \ In the" sore depression of the Colony this has given employment to some 140 men. - j On paying a visit recently to the above town-; ship I was informed reining matters were looking up there with every prospect of better .times, and that the miners were not at all discouraged, in .their work. From one of our, Oamaru newspapers I . notice, , however, that Livingstone will be contributing to the number ! of miners at the Wanaka rush. ( No better good fortune, could happen to the , Colony than that some payable goldfields should be opened up} and it appears to be the intention of a party to atarb'from Oamaru in September next in order to explore "the interior for such fields. That good -luck may attend them will be the desire of all who want to see more prosperous times. . , Retrenchment has applied its t pruning tnife in this' district. In the first place by ourtailing ' the days for I , traffic on the railway to four days' a week, add I suppose in the matter of salaries to'all employe's." I understand, too, our teacher has received an official circular that next month bis salary will be paidat a reduced > scale. In reference to' the 'police changes, it will be a matter for regret if the personnel of the Oamaru.' Police ' Department is interfered with in any" way, as it is most efficient and commands entire confidence. We have but one polioe officer here, but he has made, and is still making, the " law a terror to evildoers." We should not therefore ' like to Bee' our' own township suffer in the general revolution, 'At a meeting of our publjo library the other evening it was stated that there were £10 odd standing to our' credit, and that the" new lot of boobs we're placed on the shelves. The settlers should avail themselves of this institution, containing as it does 'some excellent books! . i We are to be favoured with a lecture by Mr , Sutherland, of the County Council, on the 20th .inst. Our teacher is anxious to procure some science apparatus in order to more intelligently instruct his olasses by "ocbular demonstration." The leoture will be in aid of this. At the close there will be a dance, and an effort will be made 'to get Mr Sutherland to favour us with , some music on his pipes; and. those who know him know how well he can do that. Since I last ■wrote, I am informed a Fewing mistress has been 'sanctioned for this over increasing school. • , "Last ' Sabbath we had two servioes, . which were well attended. The Sabbath school, tool continues to flourish.