TUAPEKA NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 13145, 29 December 1908, Page 7

TUAPEKA NEWS.

[From Ops Own Correspondent.] LAWRENCE, December 28. The year that is fast drawing to a close, like its predecessor, has not been a very eventful one in these parts. There havo been no fresh gold discoveries; no freeli mineral deposits opened up; nor any estates acquired by the Government in the interests of closer settlement. Practically all the known, easily-got-at alluvial goldl«aring country has heen worked out, and ' if anything is to be found in this way wo I have to look further alield. Very little has been done to test tho tap leads that are known to exist in many parts of the Tuapeka and neighboring districts. Li this particular, privato enterprise is dead—as dead as Julius Cajsar. Nor has much lieen done to test the quartz lodes which abound pretty well all over tho district. Hopo at one. time ran high that the O.P.Q. reef was to be again opened up, but it has proved to be another instance of '• hope deferred." Tho same remarks apply to tho development of the antimony" and scheelite lodes in the Waipori district, but probably more activity will be manifested in that quarter in the incoming year. The dredging industry, which caused so much stir at one time, is languishing 6adly all over Tuapeka County. Not a dredge is now to he seen at work in tho Tuapeka, Waitahuna, or Beaumont districts; three only aro in operation in tho Waipori district, where at one time there were fourteen ; and in the Miller's Flat and Roxburgh districts only ten arc in active work, whereas at one rime that number was nearly trebled. It is. however, satisfactory to know that hydraulic mining more than holds ite own, the number of chums following this method being greater than last year. There is no question that within Tuapeka County there is plenty of scope for tho individual prospector, as well as for prospecting parties. The country between Lawrence and Waipori, taking in the Waitahuna watershed, opens up big possibilities; so does the country towards the head of the Waipori River and the Taieri River on the opposite slope of the range. Theni in the neighborhood of Beaumont—on the flats and terraces and tho higher country—there is plenty of scope for the enterprise of the prospecting party. The upper reaches of the Pomahaka and Waikaia. Rivers and surrounding country are receiving a good deal of attention just now at the hands' of enterprising spirits from Roxburgh and elsewhere, and it is to be hoped that they will meet with a full measure of success. Turning to agricultural and pastoral matters, it can with truth be eokl that those engaged in such pursuits in Tuapeka County have done and are doing well. The cereal and root crops have been abundant, and fairly good prices have ruled for oats, wheat, and barley. Never have the pasture lands of Tuapeka County looked tetter or shown l>etter results than during the present season. All manner of stock are in prime condition, and the prices prevailing for beef, mutton, and wool cause the f;irmer and pastoralist to rejoice and be glad. In the Tuapeka and Waitahuna districts a large number of farm properties changed ownership during 1908 than has been the case for years. This, however, did not mean a corresponding influx of new-comers; it was rather an exodus of old settlers, who sold, .in most instances, to their neighbors, who wanted more elbow room for their growing sons. The settlers located at Greenfield, which was acquired by the Government early in 1905, and cut up into suitable areas under the lease-in-perpotuity system, have nearly all done well, and have had no cause to complain of their lot. Regret has been expressed in many quarters that the Government did not see their way to acquire the Clydcvale and Moa Flat estates, as in the cutting up of same private enterprise reaped rewards which should have gone j to the State and been a great relief to the tenant in the payment of a lesser sum for the land. The cutting up of the Oamaglade runs into pastoral and small grazing runs has been a step in the right direction, and it is to be hoped that the acquirement by the Government of the Oamaglade freehold will not be much longer delayed. Then there is the Teviot estate, now in the hands of Messrs Roberts and Pannet. That also should be acquired by the Government. It is well adapted for closer settlement—from an agricultural as well as from a pastoral standpoint. The year 1908, as with many of the preceding years, has shown in a marked degree the fertility and productivity of the lands in the vicinity of Coal Creek, Roxburgh, Moa Flat, "and Ettrick for fruit-growing and root-cropping. It has also given indubitable proof of the enterprise and go-aheadism of the fruitgrowers, who have, in many instances, extended their orchards and planted thousands upon thousands of the best varieties of fruit trees adapted to the particular districts named. When railway communication is opened up between Lawrence and Roxburgh, giving the fruitgrowers great facilities and more rapid transit for their products to outside markets, the fruit industry of the Teviot district will bo one of the greatest and most important in the Dominion. The Government appear to be much in earnest in their determination to push forward with all possible speed early in the incoming year the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway to Beaumont. Instructions have been issued for the employment of a krrge number of men on the Big Hill—Beaumont end of the line. A fair start has been made with driving the Big Hill tunnel, the construction works between Lawrence and Big Hill are nearly completed, and bridge-building and plate-laying between these two places is going ahead rapidly. All this should give fresh heart to the fruitgrowers of Teviot, and cause all the settlers in the Molyneux Valley who will benefit by railway extension to take a more hopeful view of tho future. The General Election of November, 1908, was memorable, inasmuch as a readjustment of the electoral boundaries found the Tuapeka district proper encompassed by Bruce, of which electorate it now forms a part. It cannot truthfully be said that this change in our electoral status was joyfully welcomed by the electors of tho Tuapeka district. The county elections in November created a good deal of interest, especially as the boundaries of the ridings had been materially altered. The attempt made during the year by a number of the ratepayers of Tapanui and James Ridings to dismember Tuapeka County and create a new county in the Tapanui direction ended in failure; but with the eame determination that characterised Robert the Bruce (famous in Scottish history), tho Tapanui people are going to make another fight for severance from this county. Nothing eventful has occurred in the Borough of Lawrence during the year, unless it be that Prohibition was "declared carried at the licensing poll, and that license passes out (probably for an indefinite period) after June 30. By some this is regarded as a great calamity : by others, as the greatest blessing that could" possibly be bestowed upon us. Some aver that " the place-trill go to the dogs," that the rates will be increased, and that no one in busi-

nees -will be able to live here in codgo-" quonce; while others declare that business will improve, that the rates will not be Creasqd, and that property, after a time, will gradually become more saleable and more valuable. Whatever the outcome—whether for weal or woe, for good or bad-r;: v No-license will prevail for three years, and by the time the next vote is taken we shall be able to pronounce authoritatively on the issue. 4 No public works of any consequence have been carried out in the borough during the' I year, nor have any public buildings or pri-' vate residences been erected. ..Generally speaking, things have been very-quiet and uneventful, and though our progress materially has not been great, still there is cause for congratulation that we have not retrogressed. Let us all hopo that the new year will be bright and prosperous, not for Tuapeiia alone, but for the Dominion as a whole, and in that spirit I beg to tender the 'Star's' wide circle of T-eacVcrs "A happy Now Your." The breas-up of ths Lawrence T>jptrict High School for tho Christmas vacation last Thursday was a very pleasant function. The attendance of parents was large—much larger than usual—and the interest in the proceedings was heightened by the presence of two members of Parliament-—Mr Jas. Allen (Bruce) and Mr J. G. Anderson (Mataura) —who distributed the prizes and medals. A number of action songs were given by the younger children, as well m recitations and a dialogue by the more advanced pupils. Before distributing the prizes. Mr Allen gave a short address, in which he dwelt specially on the wisdom of bora and girls setting up ideals not only in school life, but also in after years. Mr Anderson, who was educated at* the Lawrence Grammar School (afterwards tho District High School), referred at length to the good work done by Mr Stenhousc as rector of the school, and to the necessity of boys and girls when at school giving close attention to their lessons and studies. Mr Anderson had been specially requested bv the Ex-Pupils' Club to present medals (the gift of-the club) to the dux boy (A. R. M'Neilly) and dux girl (Flora Ellii) of tho school. This he did in very appropriate terms. The proceedings were brought to a clcgc by the singing of ' God save the King.' From all accounts the fruit crops in the Roxburgh and Coal Creek districts this season "are going to be much heavier than usual. The apricot crop promises to be a record one, and the peach, plum, and pear crops give every promise of Ixiing exceptionally good. The apple crop, however, will be lighter than usual. The strawberry crop, jufit ended, was fairly good, one grower sending away no le.i than 500 crates. It is estimated that fully 1,5C0 tons , of marketable fruit -will be produced in the Roxburgh and Coal Creek districts tliis season. The farm at Johnston railway station ■ (near Waitahuna), ;vhieh belonged to the late Mr Hn«h Craig, and which about eight months ago passed into the hands of Mr M'Xoe, has been sold to Mr Brown, late of j Moa Flat settlement. The area- of the pro- ; perty is 6CO acres, and the price paid for it [ was £8 per acre. Mr M'Xoe is said to have made close on £1,200 by the transaction. The weather during the last two or three days has been rather changeable. Several heavy thunder showers fell on Saturday and Sunday, and. of course, were welcomed by those farmers who have finished their turnip-sowing. The weather, on Boxing Day interfered to eome extent with the attendance at the local Caledonian . Society's sports. A larger number of visitors than usual have put in an appearance here for the holiday season. 1