SPRINGHILLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2241, 11 February 1897, Page 25

SPRINGHILLS.

! February C— The Hokonui cal niiti? Ib still thut down. Mr Francis Jack, sawmiller, has the engine at present for hauling timber to Winton, but the liquidator of the coal company has given him notice to send it to Invercarp;ill, as it must be sold ; consequently our train eervice is in danger of being stopped. As a large sum haß been spent in bridging the Makarawa and in extending the formation to Mac Donald's Corner, nearly two miles, it will be a great waste of public money should the line now be closed. A public meeting is to be held at the Gap re railway affairs, and it is to be hoped the Government will see its way to put matters on a permanent basis.

The value of the line to the district can hardly b overestimated, and there is every reason to b«liev th«t_« new co*l mine would open were a regula service guaranteed. Si«KB or Progress.— This district is improving faßt, aad though the treavy rains in the early par of tbe season did harm 1o undraiued ground travellers aee«rt that our oat* compare favourably j with most crops between here and Dua«din , Our turnip* aIBO promise well, though the fly hai i been in evidence A large extent of road fomia 1 tion has been done within the last few years, ant hundreds of acres brought under thorough culti vation.