RAES JUNCTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1890, 23 April 1892, Page 3

RAES JUNCTION.

(From oar Own Correspondent.)

We have had quite a change of preachers here lately. On Sunday we had Mr Dimant, of your town, who gave us a very instructive discourse, having also preached at Beaumont in the morning for the Rev. Mr Taylor, of Tuapeka West. This, on the part of Mr Dimant, is extremely kind, and shows that he is broad-minded enough not to allow himself to be restrained or tied down in the performance of Christian work by those fine points of church doctrine which play such a large part among religious bodies. I hope the day will come when all the flimsy barriers and ecclesiastical technicalities, if I may so describe them, will be swept away and that all men will be Christians first and churchmen afterwards. There is, in my opinion, too much store set by particular creeds and churches and too little by practical Christianity. On Sunday last we had the services of Mr Audrew, Roxburgh, and of Mr farlane, as well as the ministrations of our own minister, the Rev. Mr Telford.

The crops are all gathered in in this district ; but not quite in the Beaumont district,although good'progress has been made in threshing operations, and the I mill has returned to Tuapeka West. Mr Haugh, of our district, has had his crop threshed by Mr Sim, of Orookston. The most of our settlers are, however, waiting for Mr Waugh's mill to come from Millers Flat, where it is at present engaged. We are in expectations of having good returns, and I have good reason to think we will not be disappointed. The rabbits are just now affording a large amount of employment, reminding one that it's an ill wind that doos not blow good into some quarter. Mr Partridge is engaged carting the carcases to the Kelso factory, while Mr Woods, of Beaumont, is similarly engaged from the Moa Flat property, and both are kept busily employed. Here we have clear proof of our own resources in this direction; and if only the promoters of the rabbit factory at Moa Flat had stuck to their determination, and carried put their project, there might now during the winter months have been remunerative employment for a large number of men and youths. I hope they have not totally abandoned their intention, and that they will soon again take the matter in haud, with a better prospect of success.

The claims in this district are still busy working away, and are absorbing a good deal of labour, and providing a regular and substantial supply of money for circulation in the district. I understand that the Golden Run dredge is now completed or nearly so, Mr B. Harfc being chairman of directors. The promoters of the company are Messrs Burtou, Adams, and Murray. Mr Hart informs me that he is sanguine of the venture turning out well from a divi-dend-paying point of view, and as this is the only point of view from which investors are concerned to look at it, there should, at all events, be good grounds for hope in the future of the company. I hope all reasonable anticipations may be realised. There is not much progress to chronicle with regard to the race from Junction Flat Creek to Gurries Flat, not more than a couple of Chains having been completed. I was very sorry to hear of the death of a valuable horse belonging to Mr A. Stevenson, Beaumont, on Sunday week, and the narrow escape of another from a similar fate. But such accidents and losses I suppose must be expected to the end of the chapter.