OREPUKI

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 29

OREPUKI

April 8. — I shall have something to say aboufe the shale work 3in my introductory paragraph, this week. Things are at last moving ahead; at the local works, and it is expected that everything will be going smoothly in a very short time. The output is expected to be about 2000 gal daily, and, if the business prospers, much laiger operations may be expected in the days to come. The electric light has beeu installed on the premises. Residents are bitterly complaining of the discomfort caused by the smoke and fumes from immense quantities of dross continually burning near the entrance to the mine, and which is continually) being added, to by fresh supplies. On fine night 3 the smoke finds its way down the valley, and penetrates to every place. Many houses in the old township have been completely blackened by this late unwelcomo visitor, the sulphur contained in the coal being supposed to be the cause of the trouble. Some persons complain that milk in dairies is being contaminated by the smoke, and if this evil is not shortly attended to serious consequences may result. Whether the public health will be affected remains to be seen, but no one seems to take kindly to the situation. The works at night present a weird and uncanny appearance with the sombre surroundings, and it is little wonder that one unfortunate mdh ldual, who had bpen " looking on the wine when it is red, and who found his way bysome mischance into the factory precmts, imagined himself in that fabled region, chronicled by Dante, above whose portal is the legend — " All hope abandon ye who enter here, looking with terror and amazement upon the glowing furnaces, begged piteously for dehvera-nce from his unhappy prison.

Refoim Wanted. — Now that the township has attained to fairly large dimensions, it is high time that local energy bestirred itself in the direction of forming a borough, and so freezing ourselves from the county yoke. A borough would mean better roada aid more conveniences in every way than we have at present. If all the money raised here were spent locally, a vast improvement would be at once manifest. The township, surely, is new laige trough to manage its own affairs.

Bra*ss Bind.— A concert and ball in connection with this desirable institution will be hold next Friday in the new hall. As a brasa band is urgently needed, and would be a great acquisition to the place, it is to be hoped that the general public will give it every support. We had a band here many years ago, and now, with almost double the population, it should not be difficult to keep one up to the mark.

Mining. — There is little new to record in this important industry. Most of the miners appear to be fairly satisfied with their lot, the sensational returns of olden days not beinglooked for m these times. A dredge ha 3 commenced work ou the beach, and, as this is a new enterprise, returns are awaited with seme interest.