ROXBURGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 35

ROXBURGH.

April 3. — Since my last letter the fruit harvest and the grain harvest have almost passecft. Both crops have been good, and prices for the former are exceptionally satisfactory. The local fruit-preserving works have been steadily going. What quantities of fruit have been r>ut through, however. I have not heard. There "aave not been any sales of preserves locally, so far as I can learn, a fact which is to be regretted, if the" preserves are as good as they are reported to be. ( Besides. a few tons pf •preserves may be disposed of locally without incurring the expense of cartage to other cenfaes. I am not a shareholder, \y\xt .speaic advisedly, as "I should like to see the concern prosper.

Railway -Communication. — Railway matters •are -agits ting znanv minds at "present. The'EcEe■vale section, -which "was -formally onened by Mf Ha-11- Jones Minister of Public ;" Works, and of ■which jmuch has been said in your columns, has brought us into much- closer contact witfc the seaboard, and- 1 have ■. little doubt .in a short tima other extensions will be made, -so that -when anothar SO 'years have passed a-way, «nd all at us old fogies, -who have been doing' ■battle with +he powers that be for the -past. 40 yeaTS in the -endeavour to obtain a railway line to [Roxburgh, have gone from the sceue of action, posterity • may possibly enjoy -what was once our hone — a ride in a railway carriage to Ifcrnedin or Invercargill. Ministers ■ ■wiere very reticent in regard to promises- of" Crovernment intentions, so we ara as wise now as we were before. A branch of the Railway League from Invercargill is to meet the Roxburgh people on the 11th inst. to discuss matters in connection withTihe extension of^the Heriot line across Moa Flat Estate, as formerly surveyed and intended a little over 20 years ago.. It is to be hoped the public ■will roll up and give the deputation a fair and impartial hearing.

.Mining. — This industry is not doing .too well, but I beer that the I/ndysinith and Amalgamated Sluicing Companies are on good ground. The river is getting low, -anc? should dry •weather continue a ..very low river may -be expected. The gorge dredges are making ready for a start, several coal contracts having been negotiated by the respective companies. Street Improvements. — The Borough Council has has Scotland street, from OrtncGid's Hotel to sehcol boundary, gravelled, sc we shall have a chance of escaping from getting stuck in the street this coming winter. A good suriaceroan -would be of service iuai now io break up the large round boulders that have been carted into the street. The county is also having a little of the road gravelled. Much is required to be done, but I am afraid verylittle will be effected, as 'there is no money available, though the rates are nearly a third higher. Government grants are less. "Saddle the thrifty" being our Government motto.