OREPUKI.

Western Star, Issue 20, 28 March 1874, Page 6

OREPUKI.

(from our correspondent.) Since my last I have been waiting, Micawber like, for something to turn up, and although I have no intelligence of any importance to communicate I find I must say something, or you will be thinking I have gone defunct altogether. In some districts they have their old stock subjects to dilate upon, weather, crops, &c. It is true wo have the weather, but crops are nil, if I except what is grown in the diggers’ gardens, which for general excellence cannot be surpassed anywhere. To begin, then, with the weather, an allimportant element in our district. It, on the whole, has been favourable for sluicing operations. Wo had the largest flood on Thursday last that we have had in the district for the last two years, but I am happy to say that it passed, so far as I have been able to learn, without doing any injury to races, channels, dams, or other mining property.

. Callaghan and party are pushing on their Waimeamea race most, vigorously. Besides the*port ion of their party at work thereon, they have a mob of Chinamen employed. They use all the means at their disposal to finish it as soon as possible, when no doubt the party mil have a valuable property at their disposal, and the district will have an additional motive power of sixteen heads of water in average weather, a power that must and will tell most effectually on the yield of gold from this very important district. By the bye, speaking of the yield of gold, how is it Mr. Editor that the returns from this field are never published ? I just beg for the present to draw your attention' to the fact, so as to enlist the assistance of your able pen to get this state of tilings speedily remedied. We then would he aide to see to what an extent the district contributed to the general yield of the province, and in asking assistance from Government for local wants and requirements, we then would have data to compute what we would bo justly entitled to for revenue obtained, &c.

Messrs. Ecichol and Berndston are in full swing, taking levels to see if it is practicable to tap the head waters of the Waiau or tributaries. The fifty pounds allowed for that purpose at least will bo fifty pounds well expended ; at all events, it will set this matter at rest one way or other.

Messrs. Watson, Cassels, and Hunter proceed down the main line of road between here and Riverton on Monday next, to lay off work on same, in order to expend the hundred pounds lately obtained for that purpose through the energy of our most useful and painstaking represent atirc, T. Daniel, Esq. I hear the Round Hill portion of the district is looking up ; and, if accession of population be any criterion, then it must be so : for it is only fair to infer that parties would not go and remain there without sufficient inducement in the face of being able to obtain remunerative employment at present anywhere in the Western District. However, I wish it God speed, and every other local undertaking that takes for its basis truth and that quality of pluck and perseverance which is inherent in the nature of all mining communities. Mr. Riddell, the contractor for the now school, is pushing on with the same, and he appears to bo making a capital job ; but there is no fear but that will be done, as he is an A 1 tradesman, and ho is known by everyone for his honest public worth—iu short, he has got a conscience. You may say, What has all this got to do with the school ? I humbly submit it has everything to do with it, when it is kept in view that we have no architect or other expert to see it carried out. Therefore it must be apparent to everyone to get work of this nature done by a gentleman of his worth is a very great consideration.