TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 176, 22 June 1871, Page 5

TAPANUI.

(By an Occasional Correspondent.) Things are again looking up in our little town of Tapanui. Since my last letter there has been a new bakery started in our midst by Mr. Finlay M'Kenzie, and I am glad to say it has been the cause of a reduction in the price of bread, which is now sold at 9cl per 41b loaf. Hitherto it has been one shilling — a price, you will agree with me in saying, is too much, considering the price of flour. There is not sufficient trade for two bakers, as the most of our housewives bake their own bread. Mr. M'Kenzie seems to be most patronised, and very deservingly so, for I believe if the flour was had for half price, the loaf would still have been the same figure. " Opposition is the life of trade," and a very necessary thing on some occasions. We now boast of a newspaper agent in the person of Mr. St. Hill. It is his intention, I believe, to vend papers and periodicals amongst the miners on Mr. M'lutyre's Run, and the Waikaka. Judging from the huge canvas bag he carries to the post on a Thursday, which if he fills and distributes for cash, I believe it will be a remunerative job, although not pleas.mt during the coming winter. Or course you have heard of the land that has been purchased by Mr. M'Kellar and Mr. Roberts in their respective runs, and lately thrown open into Hundreds, all of which is to be fenced forthwith, at least that portion on Mr. Roberts' Run. When fiuished, no doubt it will be your correspondent's painful duty to report the daily procession of walking skeleton's through Tapanui — I mean in the way of working bullocks — as there will not be a blade of grass for them to eat, not even flax. On the wooded hill herbage is fast disappearing with the number of cattle now running there. I consider the inhabitants worse off now than they were four years ago. Some people would say serve them right. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks, fancy, Mr. Editor, what I saw posted up on the township's post-office the othor day — nothing loss than a notice calling a public meeting to consider the advisability of formina; the township into a Municipality, with a ' live Ma\ or. T.je idea would make a

horse laugh. Why only a few days since the Q-overnment day labourer removed some old stumps that has been acting as stumbling blocks in the township since its formation. It was suggested at the time, or since, that the mover of the same be medically examined as to his sanity. The document or notice had no name to it, so the matter dropped ; still, our local policeman, Mr. Purdue, can be seen occasionally looking very sharp after any looney characters that may be roaming about the streets in the day time. Our schoolmaster, Mr. Neish, holds a night class every evening at 7 p.m. A good few pupils attend — foremost amongst whom is one of your old Tuapeka residents, Mr. Le Bedell. As Mr. Neish has the character, and I believe very justly, of an energetic and persevering master, I am confident none attending the class will regret it. His school, lam informed, is second to none out of Dunedin. Notwithstanding all this, there are some old people who growl, growl, growl! It must be a disease, Mr. Editor; but not being an M.D., I don't know, cannot say, and not being interested don't care. Oh ! the doctor just tells me its biliousness, or overflow of bile in the stomach, a complaint quite natural to old people who live in idleness, having nothing to do. How are the legislators of our country getting on ? and what about deferred payments ? I trust they will do something, if a Bill is brought in to that effect, to have it extended to this locality forthwith. I must say it is virtually in force now, judging from my store bill, and out-standing small debts. Our mining affairs on Mr. M'lntyre's Eun are goin<* on as usual, but I believe more scattered. They are perhaps averaging about £2 per week. The great drawback is firewood at this season, as it is pretty cold just now of a night. Through the energy and perseverance of our storekeepers, Mr Eobbie has succeeded in getting the lion's share of the business on those di^girgs. We are about getting up our maiden ploughing *natch at Tapanui. The committee is formed, and I believe a considerable amount of cash collected. In my next, if I don't emirate soon, I will let you know more of the particulars.