TUAPEKA NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 15432, 4 March 1914, Page 9

TUAPEKA NEWS

[Fbom Our Own Corresjpondsnt.] - At the annual meeting of the Tuapeka Domain Board, held on Friday last, the following report was presented for the period ended December 31:—"A much larger amount of work than usual was carried out. by the board during the year. The grant of £SO from the Government enabled the board to .fence off and prepare for planting out a fair-sized area of the domain, as well as procure and plant a large variety of native trees, shrubs, etc. A very large number of bulbs (chiefly narcissi) has been planted, and the private plots on the hillside, above the Volunteer Hall, were an vncominonly fine sight during the season. All the toees and shrubs on the reserve have done well, the pathways have been looked after carefully, and the grounds generally are in fine order. Aa usual the domain "has been extensively patronised hy the publio as a pleasure resort." accompanying financial statement showed that the receipts from allsowces during the year (including a balance brought forward of £l9) amounted to £ll6 6s od, and the expenditure to £9B 2s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £lB 2s 6d. Mr B. W. Winn was re-elected chairman of the board, and Messrs J C Browne, D. MTntosh, and the chairman a works committee: It was icportcd that Mr T. Darton had offered a dozen or more climbing roses for planting out on the domain, Mr Roderick M'Donald, of Miller's Flat, a number of wild cherry trees, Mr Browne a quantity of narcissi bulbs, and Mr MTntcsh a quantity of bulbs and shrubs. It was resolved to accept the offers and thank the donors. Mr James Robertson briefly outlined ascheme ne had in mind for a cascade and fernery on tho The incidental cost would be comparatively trifling', and the improvement would give no end of pleasure to sighteeere. Ho had the promise of a large quantity of ferns and shrubs, as well as a variety of seeds, from the West Coast, whe'e the people_ were anxious to do their utmost to assist in tho' beautifieatHm of Lawrence, out of compliment to the help that he (Mr Roberteon) and others from the Tuapeka district harl given at the recent jubilee celebrations. It was revived to give full consideration to Mr Robertson's proposition at next meeting of tha board. Mr Robert Cisti?. who has been in the service of the well-known coaching, firm of H. -Craijr snd Co. as a driver on the Law-rence-Roxburgh Toad for about 20 years, took his departure from here for Otautau on Saturdnv afternoon, a large number of at the railway station to but him good-bye. On the eve of his departurß he was entertained at a social gathering in Glass's Commercial Hotel, and made the recipient of a puree of sovereigns. Soma kind things weTe said thereat of Mr Craig, who enjoys a cood reputation among the' travelling public for his obliging disposition, and for his readiness to tell a story or sing a eong to while away the tedimn of a coaching journey, especially in tha. winter months. Few in this respect are I'Mt Craig'3 equal, and his familiar face and cheerv voice will be greatly missed by those who frequently take the coach to Roxburgh. He berries'with him to his new sphere of labor the good wishes of a large circle of friends, who know his worth and appreciate his many good qualities. He takes on the management of a large livery stable business at Otautau. Mr John M'Neilly, who has had to do with th« working management of the Golden Crescent Sluicing Company ever since i 1; started active operations in 1599, was met by a few of tho company's employees an'evening or two ago and pre-. | sented with an umbrella, silver mounted, bearing his monogram, Mr John Donaldson was spokesman, and referred to thekindly feeling that had always existed between the men and the working " boss." Mr 1 M'Neillv, who has just accepted the management of the Sailor's Gully vSluicing Company's claim at Waitahuna;Gully, was taken aback at the men's kindness, and remarked, that it was a pleasant thing to know that he had the good opinion of the men in the Crescent Company's employ. He had always striven to act fairly towards those who worked with him, at the same time not his employers' interests. He was grate-fur 1 for the token" of appreciation from the men, whom ho wished well, recognising that the Golden Crescent Company had a very capable staff. The directors of the company also made Mr M'Neilly the recipient of a substantial presentation to remind him of his long association with the company. A Dunedin syndicate is entering into arrangements with the Lawrence Athenffium Committee for the right to prospect for clay on the Athenaeum endowment, adjacent "to the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway line, near Dale's Hall. It is understood that clay of great commercial value was found on the endowment some years ago by a party Who were prospecting for coal, ,-ind in places along th«.railway cuttings seams of clay that are not without value have been exposed. The syndicate are securing a four months' option over a portion of the endowment, and have practically agreed upon a rental and royalty with the Athenseum Committee, and no time is to be lost in pushing on with prospecting operations. In the best interests of tho district it is to be hoped that the syndicate's efforts to locato a good body of clay will be crowned with .success, and as the outcome that an important industry, giving employmant to a number of hands," will spring up in our midst. Harvest work is pretty well through in this district, the fine weather of the past few weeks assisting greatly. The grain crops, generally speaking, have been light this harvest, due chiefly to the wet, cold spring. The potato crops are not looking too well, and the turnips are sadly in need oi a good rainfall. Earlier in the season tha turnip crops pretty well all over the distriot looked very promising, but latterly the dry hot weather and. drying winds have been very harmful. A block of grazing country lying to the southward, Dttween Beaumont and Rao's Junction, presently in the hands of Mr A. Moffatt, falls in shortly, atfd a .number of thei Beaumont people are anxious that it should be cut up for closer settlement purposes. The. Tuapeka Close Settlement League have been approached to take action in this /matter, and will do so at their next meeting. The annual conference of the United Fire Brigades' Association is to be held at Akaroa this year, commencing op the? 9th inst. Mr Robert M'Gregor, the secretary of tho, local brigade, has been delegated to attend the conference. Ei-§upe»-intendent Winn,.who is a life rijember of the association, will also be in attendance. ; Lawrence,' March, 2: