TUAPEKA NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 14964, 26 August 1912, Page 8

TUAPEKA NEWS.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] Inspector Dwyer, in charge of the Otago Police, paid this district an official visit during the week. There has been a lengthy lapse of time between this and his first visit to the district. That was mad© when he held the rank of constable, away back on polling day at the General Election when the late Mr J, C. Brown was opposed for the Tuapeka seat by the late Mr H. C. Clayton. That was a hard and a memorable fight, and those who took an active part in politics then knew how to fight, and were not ashamed of their colors. Party feeling and intense bitterness were the dominant features, and no attempt at the election in question was made to suppress one or the other. Constable Dwyer was sent here from Dunedin to see that peace and order were observed on polling day, but despite the strenuousness of the electoral fight thero were no arrests either for breaches of the peace or for drunkenness. The men of those days knew not only how to fight, but also how to observe the law. It is on the cards that action is to be taken by some of the members of the Tuapeka County Council to induce the Legislature to reimpo6e the gold duty. It is not unlikely, as most of the county members are identified with agricultural and pastoral pursuits, that a resolution in favor of such a reactionary proposition from the mining standpoint would be agreed to, but the Legislature, I am quite satisfied, would not give it any serious consideration. The fight for the abolition of the gold duty was too long and too strenuous to be readily forgotten, by those who seek honors in parliamentary warfare.

It is very pleasing to learn that so much interest is being taken in the day that is to be set aside and recognised as Daffodil Day (October 9). The local Horticultural Society have assurances from many quarters that the Dunedin people will come here in strong force on the 9th October. Satisfactory train arrangements have been made with the Railway Department, which has met the Horticultural Society in a very generous spirit. No efforts will be spared at this end to make the day a pleasing and profitable one to all who are privileged to gaze upon the daffodils at Wetherstones and at Lawrence.

Mr Jas. K. Brown has disposed of his farm, comprising 640 acres, at Johnston, Waitahuna, to Mr Crump, of Pomahaka, for £9 5s per acre. Less than four years ago the same property, which was in the hands of the late Hugh Craig (of H. Craig and Co., coach proprietors) for some years, was sold at £6 per acre. There has been a decided increase in land values in the Waitahuna district during the last five or six years. The farmers are making full use of the fine weather to push on with their ploughing work. A large area of ground has been turned over since the beginning of the present month. Lawrence, August 25.