The old mining township of Waikaia is undergoing at present a period of dullness (says the local correspondent of the Southland Times).
The sluicing and dredging that were wont to employ many hundreds of hands barely employ tens now, and the population has dwindled in consequence.
As a visitor wanders about the abandoned workings, and notes the vast extent of ground defaced, he is impressed with the reflection that the desolate scene was once one of the liveliest places on earth, with numerous saloons and dancing halls, and a motley crowd of diggers and adventurers.
The site of the former settlement on a bend of Winding Creek is hardly distinguishable now, the ground having been almost all sluiced or dredged over, and the ancient landmarks thus removed.
The old name, Switzers, is, however, retained by the Railway Department, although the station is near the banks of the Waikaia, the stream near which the present township is situated and from which the postal name of the place is taken.
Small orchards, many of them consisting of somewhat ancient neglected trees, are a feature of the locality, and a considerable quantity of fruit, mostly plums and apples, is forwarded in season to Invercargill and Dunedin.
The suburb, St. Leonards, was initially lit up with electric light per Waipori power on Wednesday night, when the welcomed illumination of the locality was favourably commented upon.
The official ceremony in this connection was performed by Mr J. R. Blackie (Mayor of West Harbour), in the presence of a number of interested residents and friends.
Mr Blackie congratulated the people of St. Leonards on the realisation of their recent up-to-date decision to have the attractive suburb streets properly lighted. Other improvements, he hoped, would soon follow.
At the invitation of the Mayor, who was accompanied by the town clerk (Mr Larnach) and the chairman of the Otago Harbour Board (Mr H. E. Moller) a number of those present adjourned to King George's Coronation Hall, where the health of Messrs Henderson and Davis, of the city electrical department's staff, who had capably carried out the installation of the electric light at St. Leonards, was honoured in pleasing conventional manner.
In proposing the toast of ''St. Leonards'' Mr Moller said that its lighting scheme would prove successful.
He referred to the progressive attitude of the St. Leonards people, and had no doubt further municipal improvements would follow.
The financing of the lighting scheme had been arranged locally, and he had no doubt the same people would be prepared to finance further improvements.
It had been said in the past that St. Leonards Ward had been neglected, but if that were so it may have been due to St. Leonards' own fault in not sending keen men as councillors.
St. Leonards was a good residential area, and its great drawback was the high railway fares to the city.
That was a matter they should get remedied. Cr Gooch responded appropriately, expressing his faith in the progress that lay before the suburb.
The health of the Mayor, was enthusiastically honoured. - ODT, 3.4.1915.
