TEVIOT' NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16467, 4 July 1917, Page 10

TEVIOT' NOTES

[Special to the ‘ Stab.’] _ ' . ROXBURGH. July 3. The weather (hiring the past few weeks has been decidedly favorable for this season of the year in Teviot. Soma very '■overo frosts have been experienced, but at period*— sometime* for several days at a stretch— the conditions have been exceedingly mild, resembling spring more than winter. An outstanding feature of the meteorological conditions is the absence of rain, the fall for the month of June vlz -> 60 .points—being very light compared with the same period for several years past. Consequently the main roan between Beaumont and Roxburgh is in a better state than is generally the case in midwinter, although in places in the gorges, sheltered from the wind and sun, the surface is rutty and greasy, with the consequence that drivers of motor cars 'are compelled to exorcise a good’deal of care. At the present time motor lorry carriers do not care to venture further than Island Block, where the goods are transferred and taken on to the railhead by horse waggons. Favorablo climatic conditions have enabled orchardists to get ahead with their pruning, which is now in full swung, and agricultural operations are fairly well advanced. In some instances, however, the constant heavy drain on tho manhood of the district to the military training camps is greatly retarding progress. The Teviot-Moly-neux Gold Mining Company aro being 'badly handicapped on account of tho shortage of labor, which is causing the shareholders some uneasiness. It is over six years since the undertaking, which is the largest of its kind in the Dominion, was put in hand, and although over £40,000 has been expended on tho works and plant, tho claim is not yet far enough advanced to bring in remunerative returns. Two elevators are now in operation, and up to the present £COO worth of gold lias been won; but the yellow metal wall not be procurable in payable quant! ties until the bottom is reached, they have yet to go down between 20' and 30 feet, when there is a reasonable nope of securing within the next eight or nine months £20,000 worth of gold. A good deal, however, will depend upon the supply of labor available. At the present time there are about 15 men on the claim, and the company would employ double this number if they could bo obtained.

Since last writing several well-known old identities have crossed the great divide. Amongst the departed is .Mrs M. J. O’Brien, .who passed away at her residence on May 11 last, at the ago of 7-1 years. Deceased came out to New Zealand from Limerick in the ship Dunbilin in 1873, and two years later was married in Roxiniigb, then a primitive gold mining township. Her husband, who was a gold miner, predeceased her by 28 years.—The death of Mr Thomas Redman, son., at the age of S3 years, at his son’s residence oil May 22, removed another of Otago’s pioneers. Born in Suiujprlnnd, England, in 183-1, the deceased set out for Victoria 23 years later. He married, and in 1860 came to New Zealand, settling down at Gabriel’s Gully, where he opened a blacksmiihing business. M hen the gold boom ceased he removed to Blue Spur, continuing in his trade there for a number of years, ultimately removing to Roxburgh'.— The late Edward Jackson Vernon, whoso death occurred at his residence, Roxburgh, on June 12, was well known amongst the gold diggers in the early days. Ho was born in Derbyshire, England, in IS3O, and landed in Victoria by the ship Albatross in 1855. In 1863 he came over to Now Zealand, and settled down at Tuapoka Mouth (which ha claimed to havo named) for about six years. From there he went to Waikaia, thence to tho lonely regions of the Whitcombe, coming over to Coal Creek about 13 years ago. The deceased frequently, wrote to the Press on current topics, and in letters to tho daily papers many years ago strongly condemned the action of the Government in encouraging Chinese immigration. Deceased was the father of tho late Sergeant Samuel E. P. Vernon, who was killed in action in France, and about whom much was written in the daily papers at the time of his death.

A short time ago a meeting was convened by the residents of Miller’s Flat f<?r tho purpose of considering tho erection of a fruit and rabbit-canning factory. A committee was formed with the object of ascertaining the cost of a plant and the support that would bo forthcoming, and I understand the reports havo been very encouraging. With such a plentiful supply of rabbits •and fruit, residents have every confidence in the future of a factory built on up-to-date principles, and it is hoped before long a start will be made with tho erection of tho necessary buddings.

The Teviot Fruitgrowers are remaining firm in their decision to charge for cases, in spite of the fact that the proposal has been practically “ turned down” by tho federation. At a meeting of tho local association on Saturday night, when there was a full attendance of orchardists, members were unanimous on tho point, and expressed surprise that the federation, after having agreed at the recent conference in Dunedin to support it, should now deem it advisable that the charge be not enforced until the growers are better organised. The chairman made reference to tho high price of timber, and explained that retailers were only asked to defray half the cost of cases, which was a very reasonable request. After a brief discussion it was resolved to adhere to tho charge decided upon, and to ask for the co-operation of other associations in the matter. The question regarding the proposed formation of a co-operative trading company was also discussed. It was intimated that Mr Shelton (secretary and manager of the federation) and Mr Wilson (chairman of the Waitemata" Association) would bo in Dunedin this week in connection with this matter, and it was decided to send Mr J. H. Waigth (secretary) and Mr J. Bennetts (chairman) as delegates from the local body to attend a meeting to be held in Dunedin on July 5. Teviot orchardists are strongly in favor of the establishment of a cooperative trading concern. In keeping with the progress of the district generally, there is shortly to be established in Roxburgh an np-to-dato telephone exchange. Those living beyond the borough limits are going in frpjgly for the party line system, and. it is considered only a matter of time when all the orchardists in Coal Creek Dumbarton, and Roxburgh East will be linked up by telephone. Tlie innovation will prove a boon to growers, especially in the fruit season. On Thursday last telephonic communication was established between Alexandra and Roxburgh. Previously the only means of getting a message through between those places was by post or telegraph.