OREPUKI,

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 31

OREPUKI,

August IS. — Though the winter has bee,i a. very wet and 3tormy one, it has been, comparatively mild, there being v-ery few frosts, and as yet no snow. In consequence of the continued ram of late the roads about hc:e are in a very bad state, drays- often having occasion to unload to get through the holes that have been made by the heavy traffic from the sawmill, which, by tha wa} , carts all ita timber from tho mill to the railway station through the mam street, the mill as yet having no tram, line from the mill to the timber yard at the station.

Our Big Industry. — The shale works, which slacked off hands a, few months ago, have not, as was hoped, any appearance of again making a start. Hcduciog hands is still the order of the day, and it is expected any day to =cc it close down altogether. It is hoped tha4 such a. calamity will not occur, as it would be a sad blow to our rising little township if the concern which had such glowing prosnecta should become defunct. The company are erecting a new retort of a. different principle to the others, by which the oil can be manufactured on a. cheaper scale, giving t.^e producers a better chance of competing with the outside product. The stoppage has caused quite a depression in our midst, throwing a number of mem out of employment. Railway Construction. — Orepuki-Waiau railway is being pushed on with all possible speed under the co-operative system, some 40 or 50 men being at work on the line, and vith favourable weather the first section •jhould be ready for platelaj ing in a few months. A petition is being numerously signed ov ti>e Waiau settlers in co.inection w»th this line-, to be presented to Parliament, urging in? speedy completion of the lire to th» Waisi, as it will open up a large tract of country suitable for settlement, also timber.

Coronation Day — To the disappointment o" all, Coronation Day turned out to be one of ths worst days experienced this winter. Rain set in early in the morning, end never ceased tiJl midday, the programme which had been prepared for the occasion liaving to be curtailed in consequence. However, a number, braving the unruly elements, met' at the appointed hour and formed into procession, headed by the band, the volunteers being next, and then the school children fol'owmg. Trades were represented by Mr W. Alexander, Hverv stable, who drove a. very handsome bupgy and pair, very tastefully decorated with flags and ribbon?, next being Mr John Evans, of M'Pherson aud Evans, butchers, with decorations denoting the trade, followed by Hessis White and Baker, and E. Bone, carpenters, and builder respectively, both carrying decorations expressive of their different trades. A Coronacion concert «•) held in the evening, under the auspices of the School Committee, hi aid of funds to purchase an organ for the use of the school. Notwithstandirg the inclemency of the weather, Cas'•■el's Hd.il was well filled. The Ethool children opecd the proceedings with r. Coronation chorus, rendcird ict a vo\y credftible rranner. Mr J A. Adamson sang "The M'Greqor's gatiipring" , Mrs N. E. Gr'ffi*h. "fl cod-bye at tho door" , Mr H Guntho'-pp. "Th n toilors"' ; cluft, "Peace to thy sp rit," hv Mr=s a^id Mm F. Rachel, Mrs C C Niclmlr's, "T-i old Mednd ' aaid "An^'iored" ; Mrs J. Lynch, "Tho Carnival" ", Mr "W. Atkm«n, foi;;, "Th? blighted gardener" en c':ar.icter 1, a^A m rp.= pa r i u e to a pei«i3tri:t cuTrr. "Thp old armchair" . Mrs C. Turr-r, "F c 1 ' r a-ul I." "Vo njariners of Eug'and," a c iior'is by tne th'l-dn-n, showed whit pre.it p&irs :':e h-ad ti.irhir, Mr H. P. You: g-, timi-1 h..\c tike.i 1 > fct.h ii.c your? idoa-> un to sue 'l a »titp of per'oi l'o'i as was displayed ; Mr L Cn.ss,

"Then'o a. land"; hmioinns duct. "A B C M,-! ard Mr J. A. Adairsoi, Mis F. Gold-t'-.0i;., recitation. Mn'c Anthoiv"" fpa.ru-, ora' or. frcn "Julius C»«r" . il r s N. X Gnffi !i, ' DorePi"' a.id "The d-ai, 'vio -hirj'iojk", a *oa<* by Mrs F KlicSipl 10!"<iwe«1 a">nl this «ucoec-ru'. or*ertaii)me"f w.is l'TCUglit to a c!o=p by the =;ir.<?i-n« of the Xif ninl A'lthpm, the aurlicnr" jtnnirsr in.

A - i?ust 23 — Th« mining in'lus*rv ha« be~n rnnnir:* <-lT»ad of 'atp at it- v = vi' ■•iw >, a*"d <i,)pnre Fl t l y will b" th" main s'l-jr-o't o* U1.3 disinc* fo. «ome tim» to rwe Bll* in OrrI 11k proper things ar" b"ap-'i 1 'ie io show <sf<ns of h-'oip rl<^-av, and rv.'"(--s it water r kli'J «r,-> tu-n'Tg thr r '•.**""■! 0:1 tc !"rp«" Pf'f's >in r l dp if i^es new Of la*p a •'< itl deal cit pio=pp"Uiig !i!'= bp^n 'lone betw. t-n ru rp and Hell, d Hill, and 2oci finds nr.-> rpprrtcl. A v !e bp t nf .iiiriferru- land 'i!i< b <*r r> r f "A to pxist the hpnrlwTt^r" o." K.^Ui ■■ .i.d ' J Mliirf. Crrck j , and it is now p-ropo-"d U> 'iijlain ,l^"isf '-icr frrm tlie Go\crn!i"nt in the !itii« ci o »n mv; the lni^d 'or mini = b>-inc; iv «. he.Mi"'.-. fiom t'lP ■■0"., n.il Jjuv on' ir-cho'i! 117' its Thi> country is alr^nv Ij'o'k d in ni^iiv v.-n-i by p.iv.itp I'o'd'iiira. wild mi i*-s pub i. j<.tio.: is takan 11.1:11? dijlo'v, i'n;v m »- ihrt d= or ncr" 3rf va'.'iab c mn. ing land u.ll be honr>lc<,s'y !r%! r%! t 'c the ni'rer It is i/°asin4 to note, ho*e\er that the public ?re ahfadv a-'aert^n^ tbcuiseivea. as a public meeting \m'l be htld" here on S«i'urd<iy August 30, to tako uumediate action, in the u-atter. Aud high time it is, too, that pomething was done in the wa.y of impioving the mining ndu^try. During the last two or *ihree years the land ataut hese hoa twea ruthiessix cut up by the

Siwmiller and others, to the gold-aeeker's serious detriment. 2vot that we begrudge others the right to develop other industries, b^ the Lsnd Board baa shown little or no consideratioa for mineis, and land has been alienat -d wlv lesale and retail. A bush reserve was uigtntiy needed: yet e^ en this modicum was withheld by the powers that be, or, rather, it was rendered impossible of attainment by the feet that the sawmillers had taken all "the available forest. Why do the miners not put a little more heart into these matters, and consider their interests and tho3e of the place? The Mining Association has a hard battle to keep ltse'f alive, and if residents only worked together for the general good something might be accomplished after all. The field, at the ! best, is limited, and the sooner the miner realises this important fact the better.