NEVIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 35

NEVIS.

April 4. — The first tints of autumn are beginning to appear in our gardens, and all but the latest sown crops are safely in the stack. The nights aie getting more and more chilly.

Mining Matters. — In mining neither sluicing nor dredging has produced anything of a sensational character since my last notes ; but thoi-gh things are somewhat tame there aresigns of healthy stability. The Undaunted claim, in the Nevis Gorge, is now idle, but the enterprising owners are cutting a new water race from Deep Creek. They have eight men on, and will, all well, get most of it done before the winter storms drive them to lower and warmer fields. At Upper Nevis the Crewe No. 2 dredge is down about 28ft, but so far I have not heard of gold of a payable nature being got. My own opinion is they aro too far north for the metal yet. MiBrown, one of the owners, is superintending operations. The coal merchants aixl the carriers are at full pressure just now. and all hands, as Pat says, are "putting their best ioot forward."

School Social.— The social for the school children came off last week, and was greatly enjoyed by the juveniles. The School Committee has been canvassing the district for funds to effeot some necessary improvements, and to place the committee in a sound financial

position, m view of the elections, which, I suppose, v.-ill eventuate shortly. Libiarv. — It vouJd be highly desirable ihat I sonic effort =hould be made very shortly to do j | something towards repairing and maintaining ! oiu library building. Several efforts have I been made in the past to get a fresh coni- ] mittee elected, without any result . and as there are no subscribers to the library, and j there i<» no one to take charge of either tho I place or the books, the latter are disappearing j fast from the shelves. The building, too, is I falling into a disgracefully dilapidated condition, and this reflects little credit on the community at large This is the niors to be deplored, as it is a well-known fact that the jSTevis is noted lor the geneious vay iii which our people respond to any legitimate appeal for j financial help. I Health Note. — A number of our people have | been suffering from a sort of dysentexy, which has been followed by great weakness and prostration. Ecclesiastical. — The Rev. Mr Cumi, the Presbyterian minister supplying Cromwell, preached yesterday morning and evening in the library and in the afternoon in the schoolhouse to appreciative audiences, by way o£ farewell, as he is shortly leaving to continue his studies in Dunedin. Mr Gumi is a very acceptable preacher, and a sterling man.