ROUGH RIDGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2120, 11 October 1894, Page 22

ROUGH RIDGE.

September 29.— Travellers through this district will notice an alteration here within the past 12 months, as all the land hereabouts that was thrown open a few months ago is now fenced in, and I notice a few lambs are now skipping about on the various sections The weather lately has been very favourable for putting in the crops — in fact more like the middle of summer than ipring. Mining.— ln mining matters things are very quiet. Messrs Perry and Co. are taking out a crushing from the old Otago Central mine, and seem to be highly satisfied with the quality of the stone. This parby are able to crush now at a very small Co9t, having done away with steam, and I believe they are prepared to crush for anyone at a charge of 7s 6d per ton, saving the concentrates ' for further treatment.

School Wanted —I notice that a petition haa been sent to the Education Board praying for, the erection of a school here ; and it is not asked' for before it is needed, as there are about 60 children here, and to reach the nearest school a goodly number would have to walk four or five miles It is hardly credible, but it is a fact nevertheless" that there are several children here between the ases of 10 and 16 yeara who cannot read or write their own name in legible English t £° S ? °-F> lc s-~^ L hile ? n the Bub Ject of petitions I think it is time the settlers in the district sent S^nfflof GG o™™™**™^0 ™™™**™^ matter of our local post office. At present it is looked after by Mrs Drysdale, a widow, who has been, residing m the inW £ » the pa , Bt *? ye *??' l7 of whlch a*" ha! £ o I afte i r opr W maUs > durin S which time she has only received the munificent sum of, £1 per year, and now that we have three mails up and the same down per week our postmistress has to bo out at 6 a.m. and 6. p.m. each day alter*

liataly to make up and deliver the mails for less than sixpence a week; bat human en<lurftnce,b as a limit, and I hear that Mrs Dryertale is now going to givejip,the v office,coiMeque»ay we shell have to walk to Blackßtone Hill— a distance "of five *« s ~^ or our letters. Rather pleasant, is it not ? Bat I hope some effort will be made by the settlers to obtain an enhanced remuneration for the services of our postmistress, otherwise it will be very inconvenient for all concerned.