TUAPEKA NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 16194, 16 August 1916, Page 8

TUAPEKA NEWS

, [From Our Own Correspondent.] ’This Is the jubilee year of the Lawrence municipality, and the importance of 'such an epoch is not to be allowed to pass without due recognition. The council will arrange at th-ir next meeting ■ the procedure that is to b*- observed in celebration of such ■ n historic event. It was in May, • 1861, lal gold was discovered in Gabriel's Gully, and it was on the 4th day of August, five ycure later, that the “preliminary meeting of the council of the incorporated town of Lawrence” was held. The late. Mr Horace Bastings was the first Mayor, and held office uninterruptedly till .July, 1872, when the late Mr Edward Herbert followed, fil'ing the chair till July, 1874. Those in attendance at the preliminary meeting of the council were the Mayor and Crs P. Robertson, J. M'Coll, and Geo. Walker, all of whom have passed away in the intervening years. The first resolution standing in the minute book is in these terms— ’• Received, bn the motion of Or M’Coll, seconded by Or Walker, that the council meet in the Commercial Assembly Rooms, and that the offer of Mr Bastings for the use of same, with fire and light, at the annual 'rental of £2O, be accepted.” Thereafter the weekly night of meeting of ■the council was fixed; the Mayor was empowered to procure a seal, table, safe, and all necessary books for tho use of the council; and applications were to be invited from parties willing to act in the joint capacity of Town Clerk, assessor, and collector, at a salary of £IOO per annum. S-even applications were subsequently received for the position of Town Clerk, etc., end after a ballot the choice fell on Mr John Colhoun, who, howeycr, did not hold office long, being succeeded by Mr Wm. Hayes. It is very interesting to follow the old records, and later on I .will again refer to them. The annual meeting of the Tuapeka Agricultural Society was held in Lawrence on Saturday evening, and was very well attended; Mr -Hugh Cameron in the chair. The balance-sheet submitted by the secretary showed that the receipts from all sources for the year (including a balance in hand of £3l) amounted to £lB2 9s, the chief items being; Membership fees £4B, entries agricultural show £3l, donations £44 ss, and gate money £25 6s 6d. The expenditure amounted to £136 17s 9d, the chief items being; Show expenses £46, and cash prizes £7B; leaving a credit balance of £45 lls 3d. In moving the adoption of the balancesheet, the Chairman said they had great cause for congratulation that the society’s last annual show had turned out so successfully. and he was hopeful that their next show would be equally as successful from every standpoint. Mr Geo. Smith seconded the motion for the adoption of the balancesheet, which was declared carried. Mr H. Cameron was re-elected president of the society, and Messrs A. Robertson, W. Mmidell, and A. C. Leary vice-presidents. It was resolved that the Committee of Management consist of the -whole membership of the society. The sub-oommitee who had been appointed at a previous meeting to arrange for the acquirement of a piece of ground for a show ground reported that the site which was regarded as most suitable was at the foot of Gabriel’s Gully, and was known as the quarry reserve. It possessed the advantage of being close to the township and bandy to the Volunteer Hall and the band room, which would be available for dairy produce and root and grain and like exhibits The chief disadvantage was that the site was on the small side, and that it would entail a fair expenditure to put it in suitable order. It was eventually resolved to hold a meeting of the Management Committee on the ground on Thursday afternoon to finally decide what further action will be taken in relation to the site.

The local bowlers on Friday evening entertained in their pavilion five members of the 17th . Reinforcements, natives of this district, who are on their final leave. There was a capital attendance, and a most enjoyable time was spent. Mr Alex. Blair, president of the Bowling Club, filled the chair, and was watchful that- everything moved right merrily. During the course of the evening the Mayor, on behalf of the Patriotic Committee, presented Private Arthur Stokes with a wallet, Private' Grainger Clarke with a safety razor, and Privates Murdoch Anderson, Edward Roughen, and Thomas Oliver each with a case pipe. It was mentioned that Private Anderson was the third son in his family to volunteer for the front, and so also was Private Oliver. A capital supper was provided by the club. The wife of Mr Daniel Anderson, now of Mosgiel, and more recently of Balfour, and at one time manager of Bellamy Station, near Lawrence, died at the first-named place a few days ago, and was laid to rest here. Many of our oldtime residents will bring to recollection that Mrs Anderson was, very badly injured ixi an accident which occurred to Cob and Co.’s mail coach on April 4, 1874, when coming down the Big Hill from Rue’s Junction towards Beaumont. The coach, driven by Mr Wm. Duff, carried 13 passengers, including six Chinamen. The driver had a fair amount of way on, and in atempting to control Ms team the brake snapped, and almost immediately afterwards the coach overturned, causing more or less injury to most of the passengers. Mrs Anderson had her breastbone broken, as well as several ribs, and one of her boys (aged four) received a compound fracture of. one of his legs and had an arm broken. The mother and son were removed, to the Tuapeka Hospital,, where the later died a day or so afterwards. Mrs Anderson recovered from her injuries, and atrihe time of her death was in her seventy-eighth year. Mrs Uren, sen., who has been a resident of this district for about 57 years, passed away at her son’s residence at Blue Spur on Monday morning. She was a native of Christow, Devonshire (England), and was in her ninety-first year. About' three years ago she slipped and fractured her right thigh, and was since then a confirmed invalid. Eight up to the last she was in full possession of all her faculties, and was always bright and cheerful, despite tho great pain she suffered at times. Her husband predeceased her many years ago. Her eldest son (John) is> well known in mining circles, and was working manager of the Blue Spur and Gabriel’s Consolidated Gold Mining Company for a great number of years. The deceased leaves eight grandchildren and a similar number of great-grandchildren to mourn her demise. There is a strong demand in this district for cattle, particularly young stock, which command very good prices. Young cows coming to profit are' not readily picked up, and local buyers have to go afield. Big prices rule for stock of this class. Ploughing is being pushed forward in every direction with a good deal of I understand that there will be a compara-' tively small area in wheat in this district tMs season. There will be a large area in oats, and a larger area than usual set aside for turnip-growing, j Garden work is receiving a good deal of attention on every hand just now. There is every indication that we are to have an early spring, and those who are fond of early potatoes and green peas are busy plantinf. The weather for some days has been very mild indeed, though there is a certain amount -of chilliness in the atmosphere in the evening and early morning. Anyhow, we have no cause to grumble. Lawrence, August 15.