TUAPEKA NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7831, 12 February 1889, Page 2

TUAPEKA NOTES.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] From accounts to hand by the mail, which has just reached hero, the Home shareholders in the Blue Spur and Gabriel Gully Consolidated Gold Company are hardly satisfied with the way in which things are "panning out." Instead of monthly (and then, subsequently, quarterly) dividends, at the rate of from 20 to 25 per cent., the discovery is made that the company's claim is paying little more than working expenses and the local directors' salaries. Although about ten months in operation, the Gabriel Tailings Company's mine, which was, according to the prospectus, to give a return of LI,OOO clear profit weekly, has not yet yielded L 5.000, or a little over L 1.500 clear profit. One can hardly wonder at dissatisfaction- springing up among the shareholders at Home when the actual results of the company's operations are placed before them. Sir Robert Stout, who took great credit to himself some time ago in effecting the sale of the Blue Spur claims, was here about a fortnight ago trying to arrange, on behalf of tho Home directorate, for an extension of time for tho final payment of the purchase-money, due in about a couple of months' time. As all the original shareholders in the Spur were taken aback at this request, time was allowed them to make up their mindi?. Since then some of tho companies have met, and in every instanco they have passed resolutions not to accede to Sir Robert's request. One company in particular is dissatisfied with the

way in which the old Tailings Company's mine is -wrought. I am af rni<\ trouble is brewing, and it would not surprise me to hear that the Home company were determined to wind up the whole affair. Of course everything now depends upon the report which Mr Jackson (the company's expert) sends Home. The annual meeting of the members and adherents of the Lawrence Presbyterian Church was held on Thursday evening. The attendance was very small. The reports submitted by the Kirk Session and the Committee of Management were of a highly gratifying character. The balancesheet showed that financially the church was in a good position, the receipts from all sourcos for the year amounting to L9S9 17s. The net indebtedness of the church at the present time was estimated at L 250. A motion was moved by Mr John Copland to the effect that the sittings in the church on Sunday evenings be free. Some discussion was evoked, bat eventually it was decided to remit the matter to the congregation to decide The Rev. Mr Jolly, the pastor of the church, who was only appointed some three or four months ago, is decidedly popular among his congregation. He is a young man of good parts, of deep culture, widely read, of broad and liberal views, in full accord with the times, has a masterly style of preaching, and does not fail to command and rivet the attention of his congregation, which has largely increased since he assumed the pastorate of the church.

The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka County Council was held at Lawrence on Friday last. Although the sittin? occupied all the afternoon, the business transacted was not of any special interest. The question of members' travelling expenses cropped up, being brought about by the receipt of a letter from the Auditor-General, who was advised (by whom he did not say) " that it was not within his duty to pass any payments of the nature of allowances or commuted allowances, but only repayments to councillors of any sums which they have actually expended in attending meetings of the Council." As members have only voted themselves an allowance of LI per sitting, with a travelling fee of Is per mile one way, it cannot be said that they are enriching themselves at the expense of the county ratepayers or the AuditorGeneral. The latter gentleman, however, has been supplied witk full details as to the expenditure of the several councillors, so, it is presumed, Mr Fitzgerald, in his capacity as Auditor-General, will have no scruples on that score in certifying to the county balance-sheet.

The members of the Tuapeka Hospital and Charitable Aid Board sot themselves an unpleasant task at their meeting on Friday evening. A list of the parties drawing relief from the United Otago Board was laid on the table, and it was resolved to recommend that charitable aid supplies be cut off in several instances, especially where it happens that the near relatives of two or three of the parties are well-to-do. The Board, although there is bound to be a lot of grumbling, are to be commended for the action they have taken. If the names of some of these heartless wretches who cast their relatives on "charity" were published, my own conviction is that it would have a wholesome effect, and that there would he fewer of these relief applications made to the local Board. It seems monstrous that the public should be called upon to support aged people who have sons and daughters who are well supplied with this world's goods, and can well afford to keep them.

The bare number of candidates for the Borough of Lawrence Licensing Committee was nominated on Saturday. Although we ha,ve seven licensed houses in the borough, and an equal number outside within a radius of three miles, to say nothing of threo or four bottle licenses, tho temperance folk, who muster strongly, never make any effort to close any of them or to interfere with the bottle license holders. Of course they are disarmed to some extent through the hotels befog so well conducted. From one year's end to the other there is hardly a complaint E referred to the police against any of the otelkeepers, who are a most respectable class. Singular, too, although we have so many hotels, there is hardly a man to be seen from year's end to year's end the worse of liquor.

A strong contingent of our local sporting men have made up their minds to pay the

Dunedin races a visit next week. Several of those to whom I have spoken havo made up their minds to speculate a note or two on Dudu (on the strength of her Wellington performances) for the Dunedin Cup.