NOTES FROM COLAC BAY.

Western Star, Issue 454, 18 June 1881, Page 3

NOTES FROM COLAC BAY.

OtTB OVT.S r COB«ES?OirrK»T). Little stirring here since last communication ; but aa we hope one day “ soon ” to have an increase iil the shape of a township, its just as well to keep ourselves in view. In my last I hinted at the “ buying up of. the' /.section*” >juSt Aow being lined off. i am happy to put it in the veritable, and state that if „a lot of them are not already bought tip the magnetic pull of t he “ deferred ’* is acting with a certainty on some speculators I know, so that in a short time I hop© to bo able to verify the fact of all 10 and 20-nbre sections having owners. t V; ■■v.? v-; ■ ■. ,■ OUr energetic and weather-defying district surveyor, Mr Hay, is working very hard to bring his efforts to a close here. We will feel rather lonely on the removal of the surveyor’s camp! But we haxc a Consolation in the shape of in a short time gdOing neighbours whose motions will be less, transitory. Our school is now in full swing! The schoolmaster is quite anticipativej of happy results. The boys and girls; are (much to the surprise of visitors, and these not a.few during the past two weeks) in fact as near perfect in their “ drill’ 1 ns the most fastidi >us could wish. It is not in drill alone these young folks for the first lime — “ ruled by the pedagogue’s dreaded baton” —are making rapid strides;! they are, with an anxiety “that some, of another color would do well to take pattern by,” taking ill all that is said and pointed out to them. The evening' classes are largely and regularly attended by the adults, and the same order and anxiety exhibited, by the

young ones is borne owt by tbeir parents. The master oil Wednesday Evening gave them (old. and young) an address, in Which he in simple language pointed put the necessity of tbe elcler porfjon of his people doing all they could as soon as possible toward gett’ng “ tables and benches,” so that instead of eating off the ground they Would with mote epmfo'rt to them : selves eat c 4 what Europeans did, and thus make their first “rise.” The school has a very warm and stirring advocate in Mr Laissbn Tnpi, Chairhian of Committee, so that through his example, as well as others of the Commit'ee, the schoolmaster hopes to accomplish as speedily as possible what Groveriimeut sent him to do—“ Nerve the Maoris at Colac to become useful and respected citizens. Some of us are old enough to remember what the road from Riverton to Orepuki used to be like. Like a regular mud puddle! Net so now. The surfacemen have so added to reform that we can now boast of a good way right through between the two places mentioned. Mr Hughson. aided by at times two assistants, is making the track between Colac and Wakapatu beaches fit for drays to travel om In a few months I hope to be able to inform you that carriers are at work between the railway terminus here and Orepuki. I just add I trust rfiy hope won’t be a blasted one ! Our sawmillers, Messrs MtKillop and Traill, are still busy at work. Mr Hirst has taken up the matter of the Q-overnment granting a siding for the use of the mill. I a few days ago had in ffly hand a telegram from Mr Hirst tb one of the partners- mentioned in reference to said mattex*. The import vriis Sflttgtiihel .. ..