AN OLD-TIME NEWSPAPER

Evening Star, Issue 18533, 16 January 1924, Page 9

AN OLD-TIME NEWSPAPER

* [By Canon Nevile.] Through the kindness of Mr Body, of the Trustees, Executors (Dunedin), I have been permitted to eeo a most interesting relic of the old days in his possession, which I have copied. It is a pen-written newspaper entitled ‘The Nokomai Herald,’ Saturday, 25th November, 1871, only that Nokomai is spelt Nokomia. The loader is headed ‘ Taxation,’ and runs as followsi—“The Ministry, driven to their wits’ end to devise means of taxation, and finding none to suit their purpose which they have not already tried, are compelled to revert to the old expedient of doubling or Increasing items already under contribution. The ill-advised and scandalous duty just imposed on receipts and cheques, which will assuredly fall on the poor man only, whilst bills of sales and mortgages are exempted, is so eminently unjust as to require no comment. Let ns suggest to the Government taxes that would far exceed any they have lately proposed and which would give entire satisfaction to the mining community viz “A further tax on wool. “A tax on absentee squatters. “ And one still heavier on absentee landlords. . “ Has not Ireland suffered enough from this last curse that England and English colonies shall still continue to put up with it? Are we never to learn, or is tho national obtuseness to follow it to the end of the world? The taxes proposed by us aro right and lawful, taxes which would fall on men able to pay and willing so to do as soon as they are made, but who now full heavily enjoy the fact that their own class only are representing the colony and making the land—or that if by chance some constituency is so independent as to be enabled to return a supposed unfettered representative he is either bought over, or his unsupported vote is worthless.” « « » « THE GORGE ROAD. We hear the road inspector or engineer again visited the proposed lino of en road from the Nokomai-to last week. What his recommendation to the Govornmen may be is impossible to say, but no doubt all sides of the question will be well ventilated before tho matter is decided on. No answer has yet been received, that we aro aware of, to the petitionJorwarded on the subject to the Superintendent by the Nokomai residents. ft » » ■» ■ TABLE TALK. Mr Garvey, tho clerk of the court at Switzers is appointed Registrar of Marriages and Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths for the Switzers and Nokomai districts. So far as the Nokomai is concerned, ho might as well reside at Timbuctoo. * * * ft Fresh butter in tie CJlutha district is 6d per lb, and in all the country places very low, and 2a per lb on tho Nokomai is too high, a ft « & Flax of good quality is in demand in England, and the following are the latest prices i—Per ship Agnes Muir, £2B j per Caducew, from £25 10s to £33 10s. * « a The principal storekeepers at Queenstown now close their premises at 7 o’clock, and although, owing to our stores being also public-houses, we cannot follow the same good example, wo might, however, dispense with tho fair held every Sunday for the Chinkeys’ benefit. No storekeeper can go to divine worship or sit in peace with his family or servants, or animals get rest, so long as the present system of suiting ourselves to Chinese practice prevails. ft ft ft ® From information received by us we warn the miners that there is an intention of giving a reduced price for Nokoraai gold if the “ raw ” can once be established, so let them beware and sell none under full value. ft ft ft ft The presentation of the -testimonial to Mr Henry Lapham, teacher at the Nokomai School, took place Thursday evening, the 25rd inst. The room was crowded, but the parties having the management of the affair were loudly and justly blamed for being upwards of one hour after tho advertised time of meeting. Keeping ladies and children chilled and miserable, sitting in a cold room is no joke, and common politeness demands the due fulfilment of that royal virtue—punctuality. Mr Middleton proposed Mi Hanson as chairman, in response to a few opening remarks by Mr Rowe, and the motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman stated the business of tho evening, and called on Mr Aston to present tho testimonial. Mr Aston came forward and said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, —I have very great pleasure in presentufg the testimonial (folded) to Mr Lapham, and sincerely congratulate him, on the very efficient manner in which the children have processed.” He was happy to state Mr Lapham had the goodwill and esteem of all—•(“Hear, hear”)—and ho trusted the testimonial would be of service to him, and that he would by his present conduct always return the opinion now entertained •■for him. Mr Lapham, who was loudly cheered, said that the approbation of the parents was his chief and sufficient reward, but he would now do all he could to advance the Interests of the school and merit their good opinion. The usual votes of thanks concluded formal part of the evening’s proceedings, after which a social reunion took place, _ We may mention that the purse containing the gift was a very handsome one and the present of Mrs Whitaker, of the Nokomai. Then follows a serial story, 'The Black Hut and its Inhabitants,’ a story by Mr Henry Lapham (continued from bur last). Then a Poets’ Comer with a poem about ‘My Love.' I hen Arithmetical Querist.—Our readers are invited to send us the solution of tho following question, it being a rule that would be very useful to some of them: Three artillery horses wore bought for £2(X>-—Dobbin, Folly, and Punch. Dobbin could draw- a piece of ordnance from Woolwich to tho Tower in ten hours, with tho assistance of Folly in six hours, and when. Punch assisted Dobbin without Folly they did it in four hours. What wan the value of each horse?

Rules forcalcnlating odds on belting; Add together the odds for and against; divide the given sum into as many parts as there are odds, and give to each party as many shaves as he has chances (over page). » & » * Y.R. The warden will hold the next coufi at the Nokomai on Wednesday, the 13th December. <» «• * 9 v y.r. LOWTHER, A court will he held on Tuesday, the sth December, to hoar applications for publicans’ licenses, etc. Wear Kingsland’s boots. To bo had at any store. »■» # » R. PARSONS, Gianeral storekeeper. Goods packed, Nokomai Creek (opposite Bullock’s Head). « * # « Nokomai School.—Notice of public examination. Mackay’s Otago Almanac for 1871. Piea.se leave orders at once.—H. Evans. Then comes a copy - of tbo testimonial to Mr Lapham. Names appended are W. Middleton, J. Michaels, T. Alton, T. 'Whitaker,- H. Evans, W. Bailey, S. Butson, W. .Armstrong, J. Coulam, H. King, L. Bladen, B. Shaw. J. 11. Rowe, Peter Duncan, W. Roper, H. Boyers, Big Race Co., G. R. Hanse, B. Parsons, J. Martin, A. Cameron, J.- Metcalf, R. Munson. A!f Price, Frank Henderson, Thos. Howell, 0. ShoesiVift-h. W. Smallwood, John HarDi a Hugh OganeroHj

y.B. United States Hotel, Store, and Rost 'Office, Nokomai.—Job Coulam, proprietor. i» » ft « Myall Hotel and Store.—Thomas Alton, Provincial Hotel and Store.—Thomas Whitaker. » ft ft ft V.R. Post Office, Hotel, and Store.—David Roche, proprietor, AthoL « « ft ft On the first page is the motto Union is Strength.” There is a Business Directory. « ft ft » Reports of Wardens’ Court:—'Thursday, 23rd November, before Mr J. N. Wood, R.M., tho following applications for claims and races were granted:—Ah Chin and party, Black Ball; You Young, Donkey Flat; Ah Heo and Co., Dome Creek; Sam Cow, Sharks Bay. William Middleton’s application for ninety days’ protection was granted. ft ft ft ft MUIRHEAD v. O’BRIEN. Application by plaintiff lor a dissolution of partnership. Defendant applied for postponement, as he was taken by surprise, and tho .paddock was stripped and j ready for washing up. The court granted I tho postponement. The warden said it would be advisable for all parties to know how the paddock yielded. Case postponed till next court on defendant paying costs, plaintiff and witness. ft « ft ft MINING NEWS. Tho export of gold from Tasmania is increasing; during tho first six months 1,719j|0z, value £6,616, sent away. Greenstone diggings have turned up | another nugget, this time a 20oz one. The j last, got a week or two since, was 670 z. j Tho Lake district for the quarter ending I September 30 yielded 8,9560 z 17dwt®25grj gold. ] A large number of Chinese have gone to Waipori. One party have started to turn the river for tho distance of about a mile. A race is now in course of making from the Beaumont to the west aide oi Tuapeka. It is being done entirely by private enterprise. Wo fancy tho Switzers escort won’t make so good a show for the future, as the Nokomai gold will most probably find its way to Invercargill and Queenstown, as the Switzers (torn) has lowered the price for it. Tho Scandinavian reef is turning out some splendid stone, and there is every prospect of its amply repaying the Messrs Bullon tho £15,000 Lately expended on it, We have on good authority that tho Bank of New Zealand has fixed tho price for Nokomai gold £3 14s tho ounce. Tho gold is said to have a great deal of quartz in it.