TUAPEKA NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 20988, 30 December 1931, Page 12

TUAPEKA NEWS

MINING REVIVAL [From Ohb Correspondent.] LAWRENCE, December 29. The holiday season brought a goodly number of visitors to Wetherstones and Blue Spur to gain some knowledge of the extent ol the cement deposit at either place, and likewise to form some idea on the ground where mining operations later on will bo commenced on a big scale The Wetherstones basin is said to contain 413,000,000 cubic yards of the conglomerate commonly known as “ cement.’’ It is reported that a number of men are engaged in prospecting for gold in the neighbourhood of Waipari, and that some of them have found it “ worth while.” One man in particular, who had some knowledge of the locality in days gone by, is said to have struck it rich in Xardoo Creek, getting on to a patch that give him 2m weight of the precious metal for a few days’ labour. This certainly was “ worth while,” with gold LG odd per ounce in London and New York in these clays of its reported world-wide scarcity. It is on the cards that steps are to bo taken to reopen the O.P.Q. mine at Waipori. A local gentleman who has had considerable experience iu mining has the matter in hand, and ho is quite satisfied that he will succeed with his project. The country in which the O.P.Q. reef is located is said to be freehold property, _ and the owners thereof are also said to be favourably disposed toward,, the reopening of the mine. It is just possible that the Dunedin City Corporation will strenuously oppose the movement, mainly on the ground that the polluted water from quartz-reefing operations which will find its way into Loch Luella and thence into Lake Mahinerangi will bo a serious interference with the corporation’s unrestricted rights within the Waipori watershed, which simply spell prohibition to mining where spoil is discharged into a stream within the aforesaid watershed area. Time alone will tell wether there■ is any reality or not in the report. The O.P.Q. (indicating the “ Otago Pioneer Quartz-mining Company ”) has an extended histoiy. It was discovered by a party of twelve Shetlanders in 1861, and for some time was worked by them with fair results. It passed through a number of hands elf and on for years, with varying degrees of success. In 1898 it was reopened, giving employment to twenty-six men. A shaft was sunk to a depth of 150ft_ and a level driven for a distance of 450 ft. In the following year 170 tons of stone were treated weekly for a total yield of 851 oz. In 1900 the reef was reported to bo 10ft wide at the lowest level, 280 ft from the surface. The average yield is given as Stdwt per ton, and the gold won during the year was worth £9,000. In 1903, however, the work was stopped “ Cash and carry ” as applied to the grocery business is a phrase that has its own peculiar significance, and is not unknown in the cities and the _ larger centres. But its use and significance are gradually becoming known in tlio country towns, too. It is out now to take possession of the country grocery trade, and already in three or four centres it has disclosed its identity and its aims and objects. It has come thus far: it has entered the borough of Lawrence. And here the old-established grocery businesses are out to fight it, and with the aid of time and a 10 per cent, cut in grocery prices and meeting the opposition whole-heartedly in other ways are hopeful of success. Meanwhile the grocery-consuming public are reaping a decided benefit in the reduced cost of household necessaries, and arc taking the fullest advantage thereof. The branch line train Milton to Roxburgh is now carrying a fair number of passengers, though the numbers are small in comparison to the traffic of former years. The motor cycle and the motor car traffic has been heavy for the past ten days on the main highway, though the uncertain weather at times must have told against the numbers travelling. Lawrence at one time was a great resort for visitors at the Christmas season, but of late lias had to give way in that respect to Roxburgh and the other attractive centres further inland. It is noticeable that the fruit traffic on the branch line is now assuming considerable dimensions, giving evidence that some of the orchards in the Teviot district suffered less than was the case at- Ettrick, Miller’s Flat, and Dumbarton.

The weather of the past fortnight has boon decidedly “ mixed,’’ heavy rainfalls being frequent, with an accompanying cold wind. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve there was an exceptionally heavy rainfall lasting a couple of hours. It was apparently a cloudburst, one of a series rather common in the country districts for some time past. The rain has been helpful to pasture lands ant) the turnip crops, which are coming along nicely in many parts of the district.