ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 31

ROXBURGH.

May 7. — Summer is ended, and winter has come, as the faded and varied tints of foliage remind us. There is a good spring in the grass, on account of late rains.

Bunny. — The labbit trade seems to be flourishing throughout the district, and it is a good job that an outlet has ru'escnted itself foi the disposal of the vermin.

Coal. — It is stated that the coal pits at Coal Cieek are being purchased by a syndicate.

Roads. — The corporation is gravelling a little of the streets, but the main street — that is, Scotland street — if not soon attended to, will be in a sad state. No improvement, or apparent improvement, is being made throughout the most part of it. We have a very easygoing set of couneillcis, and there must be very little funds available. Why not raise the rates, or else ask the County Council to take over the borough and administer to its necessities? It cannot possibly do worse than the council is doing. We have not a decent footpath in tho borough, and some of the streets represent cow yards, Johnny-all-sorts' establishments, and manure depots. Fortunately the plague has not made its appearance here as yet. DR'EDGING-.

There is not much to chronicle regarding this mdusky, Tho Gold Queen will bo the first of its kiucl (Q jSrtftEJ; in thij-&*ii;iot. She is a

u splerdid dredge, and should do all that is required of her. The Dunedm gets a good washup now and again. She is situated at the junction of the upper end of the Roxburgh Lead's upper piece ot ground and the lower end of the Golden Cradle ground, proving the deep ground and golden run to be going into those, claims. No doubt the G.C. is the coming bank claim of the district. It is a pity that there is not more prospecting done in some of these bank claims with the object of ascertaining if there is deep ground in them, as well as gold. My impression is that seme of the claims that have been taken up and floated have very little deep ground, if any, much less gold. Ministerial Visit. — We have been favoured with a visit from the Minister for Mines and others. Several important matters were brought before the Minister, who has a shrewd conception of the drift of the questions put to him, and wisely fences in many of his replies. Railway matters, mining regulations, and roads were the principal subjects dealt with. The railway up the river bank, on through the Gorge, is a very necessary consideration, and would really open, up the goldfields and make the railway system complete.