NGAPARA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1596, 24 June 1882, Page 13

NGAPARA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

June 20th.

From the amount of rain that has fallen recently it would appear as if wo weregoing to have an almost contlmtoualy wot winter and spring 1 . It is not a fortnight sinco we had some days' rain without ititqrmission, followed by two or throo fine dajs. Yeßtorday dfternoon, however, Just as the roads were very much improved, the rain began again, and continuod without cessation until noon to-day. I have not seen the Waiareka Creek so high for some years ; the sound of rapid currents could be distinctly heard a considerable distance off. Such weather naturally putu a stop to important farm work, especially ploughing, sowing, and harrowing ; "othorwise these would be actively pushed forward. The .lifting of potatoes, too, is considerably hindered. , f rlees for this commodity are advancing, which will be satisfactory to holders, who are disposing 1 of fair quantities. ' ' '

The building trade has been somewhat dull of late. We are, however, shortly to have another shop and cottage erected, in addition to o-e now in progress. I regret to say trade has not been satisfactory for some time., as notices in the daily Press have testified. In the face of this tempo r ary depression, however, we are going to have another butchering firm established in the district!— viz., that of Messrs Jessop and Co. One of our rospected towniu.en—Mr James Breen — is Bhortly loaving hero to follow farming in another part of tho Colony. If his shop is let for some businoss wo shall then have three such tradespeople attending to our bodily wants. The Railway Hotel, too, is likely bhottly to change hand's. Work is going on very slowly at the tunnel on tho Windsor line ; very few nion aro employed at it. Ik will be a long timo before we hoar the snorting of the iron horse upon that line. Many men will certainly be looking for work shortly ; it is theroforc moat desirable that facilities should be offersd for obtaining it Perhaps when the new l^a.i is floated we shall g«t a share for this district— in fact wo must domand it. This would of course expedite matters.

On account of the bad roads and the long disV>nc6S many of the pupils attending thu »cho->l havo to travel, the attendance is very small. At a meeting held on Saturday night last the committee decided to have their school concert in about fivo weeks' time. They also receive 1 a circular from the Board requesting that the school should bo closed to enable Mr Walker to attend the annual conference of tnachors in Dunpdin, when, with their wontod consideration, they readily cocsonted.