WAIPORI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 22

WAIPORI.

June 11.— Tho householders at the statutory meeting in April last having failed to elect a committee, another meeting by the appointment of the board was held on the 11th inst., the result being tho election of Me3Brs S. Caudwell (chairman). J. Bolton, jun. (clerk), Cotton, Kitchic, 11. Blackmore, F. Browne, and F. W. Knight as members of new committee. An exhaustive report by the retiring secretary, Mr J. T. Johnson, was read, detailing the work of the committee during the past year, and this, with the balance sheet, was adopted. Ihe latter fchowed a balance in hand of over £12. A report from the head teacher was also submitted, dealing with the irregular attendance, and the progress of the scholars as shown by tho annual examination. It appears from this report that the daily average of absentees during the past year was 29 per cent, of the roll number, being higher than that of any school in Otago, with one exception. The daily average of truants throughout the whole educational district was stated to be 18 per cent. Notwithstanding this and other the average ago of passing the various standards was shown to be much lower than that for the whole district. Regret was expressed by the Chairman (Mr S. Caudwell) and other speakers that the parents were not more alive to the educational advantages provided by tho State, and that it was found necessary by the former committee to obtain the assistance of the board's truant officer.

Mining. — We seem to have settled down to the heart-sickening state of hope deferred in regard to the Waipori river difficulty. The dredges have taken advantage of the enforced idleness to do some much-needed repairs, with a view to starting again as soon as a modus vivendi with the Taieri farmers has been arrived at. A few of the hands have found temporary employment in other districts, but have not as yet removed their families. Others _ have betaken themselves to the ranges and joined the ranks of the alluvial miners, but, so far as I can learn, with indifferent success. When the word comes to resume dredging and the steam whistle once more echoes over the flat a load of depression will have been lifted which at present weighs most unpleasantly on the energies ef every man, woman, and child in the district.

Ramutjng.— Even this last resort of the duffered-out offers but little encouragement this winter, the furry tribe being greatly reduced in numbers. This is ascribed chiefly to tho unusually large rainfall in the summer and autumn, whoreby many of the young rabbits were drowned in the burrows. Ferrets, too, have greatly increased of late, but as they have a partiality for hen roosts they in turn find a formidable natural enemy in the housewives, and as they are remarkably devoid of cunning they are destroyed in considerable numbers by means of traps. Grazing.— The steadily increasing difficulty of getting gold has brought our residents face to face with the necessity of turning their attention to some additional means cf livelihood. Cattlerearing at this altitude is the only one avilable. A commonage properly so-called we do not possess, but there is a considerabie mining reserve whereon the miners have long been in the habit of running their milch cows, and there have always existed certain mutual understandings between them and the runholders, so that some of our residents are in possession of herds of fair size. Had it not been for this, Waipori would long ago have been abandoned to a few "hatters" and Chinamen. One evening last week a meeting of cattle-owners was held, at which Ranger Hughan, of the Landfßoard, attended, and through that officer application was made for an extension of the grazing area. It was pointed out by several speakers at the meeting that there was a piece of land of about 1800 acres lying to the south of the Waipori river, formerly set apart as hundreds, but some 12 years ago withdrawn from sale, which might, with mutual benefit to the State and the residents of Waipori, be included in the commonage. At present the neighbouring runholders have the right to run sheep on it, but it brings no revenue to the State. The miners, on the other hand, would be quite willing to pay a fair rent for it.