THE WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 1657, 21 January 1871, Page 3

THE WAIMEA.

(moM our own correspondent).

January 18. A slight stir was made here at the beginning of the week through a party working near Hatters' Gully having struck washdirt, which gave evidence of being good enouph to pay wages. The ground being shallow, several shafts were quickly sunk, but with no very satisfactory result, as the prospects obtained were small, and led to the conclusion that the place is about up to the average, and will pay only when a eood supply of Avater is at com- i mand for sluicing purposes. The Water-wheel Company at Fox's are now fairly at work, the wheel having been set in motion for the firet time on Monday week. The company are confident that payable work is now before them for years. The Leviathan Water-race ami Extended claim, at Greeks No. 2, together with the machinery, are to be leased, the company, I suppose, being of opinion that others can work the claim to better advantage than they have done. Brown and party have commenced to work the upper portion of the Left-hand Erftpch of the Wfljinea Cree>, They \s?

tend making headway until they reach a level, and then sluice all before them

Mr Barff held a meeting at M'Beth's Hotel, Waimea, on Tuesday evening. The chair was taken by Mr George Smith, who explained the purpose for which the meeting had been called, The room, which is a large one, was well filled, and Mr Barff fully expressed his opinions upon a variety of suhjects of public interest, and upon being questioned as to his reason for voting as he had . done with respect to the County Chairman election, stated that he was sure Mr Lahman, who had good experience in the County Council the last two years, was well qualified for the office, and would give more time and attention to public affairs than either Mr Bonar or Mr Button could do, and that Mr Lahman would soon be more generally popular than now. A vote of confidence in Mr Barff was put to the meeting and unanimously carried. Last week I mentioned the case of a man getting into one of the Ilnkitika and Greymouth tram-waggons during the holidays, and being taken as far as the Arahura station, and there placed on the horns of a dilemma, in being compelled either to walk the rest of the journey to Stafford Town, or return to Hokitika. I notice that Messrs Cheffings and Whitten have replied that the man got into the tram -waggon which leaves Hokitika of an evening, and proceeds no farther than the Arahura; but inasmuch as there has not been for several months any waggon leaving llokitika for the Arahura, and not continuing the journey to Stafford, the last tram, and indeed every prior one, should make the j through journey — as advertised. Messrs Cheffing's and Whitten's reply reminds me that as " La beaute sans vertu e*t une fleur sans parfum," (Beauty without virtue is like a flower without fragrance), so would their answer be very satisfactory, were it not deficient of an important ingredient, uaincly, a strict adherence to facts, or otherwise truth. During the holidays, waggons were frequently running from Hokitika to Stafford Town until 8 o'clock, and sometimes later, and I think that, when a start was once made from Hokitika, the whole of the journey should have been completed.