FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 22892, 25 February 1938, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO

FROM ‘ STAR * FILES Some particulars are now available of a wonderfully rich patch that was recently obtained from the Four-mile diggings. “ Everyone, of course,” says the ‘ Mount Ida Chronicle,’ “ has heard of Fullarton’s, the locality where a digger familiarly known as ‘ Wheelbarrow Jack ’ obtained a big rise for a few weeks’ work. The wash dirt was 100 ft in length, 25ft wide, and 6ft deep, and the amount of gold ’it yielded was lib weight to the barrow of dirt. This represents 120 oz a load, 10 barrows making a load or ton of dirt. From this patch ‘ Wheelbarrow ’ cleared over £7,000. The gross yield was £B,OOO, or over 2,0000 zof gold. After this, who will deny the claim of this diggings to being considered the richest deposit in New Zealand?” * » * * Writing to the ‘ Star ’ concerning tho founding of a public library, Mr C. 11. Chapman says: “The principal objection of the councillors and all aspirants to municipal honours to the question of a public library is that there are no funds. Now, sir, we all know that ‘ where there is a will there is a way.’ Of course, there is no doubt but that the City Council is not in a very flourishing condition; but I will point out a way in which we can have a public library in a small way, and yet the city funds will not be encroached upon. The mayor has been in the custom of receiving £4OO per annum, and I propose that in future £2OO only should be voted for this purpose, and the other £2OO applied toward supplying a public reading room, I do not think that the city would suffer much in consequence, for as much, if not more, talent would be found aspiring to the civic chair, and I have no doubt it would he as honestly and ably filled as it has been in the past.”

Queen Victoria has issued an order that the Jubilee medal, of which about a thousand have been give'n away, is to rank above all other medals, and it is always to be worn on full dress occasions when ordinary medals are de rigueur.

Intelligence has been received in New York of a disastrous cyclone which swept the State of Illinois. Half of the town of Mount Vernon, the capital of Jefferson County, was destroyed, and, the ruins taking fire, an awful panic ensued. The flames spread with wonderful rapidity, and a great many persons were burnt to death. Fortunately for the safety of that portion of the town which had escaped the full fury of the cyclone, a heavy rain set in and quenched the flames. Over 100 people were (killed, and fully 200 injured by falling houses, etc. A good deal of destitution prevails, many families having lost all their possessions.

# * * • Wrecking the city and province of Yunnan (China), one of the severest earthquakes experienced in that country brought destruction in a few minutes. Immediately after the shock flames burst out in the capital and in villages throughout the province. Hundreds of the inhabitants were injured by the falling buildings, and others were helplessly burned to death. Whole families were buried beneath the ruins of their homes. In some cases houses were lifted by the shock and were carried some distance away, being deposited intact.

River, drawn by the engine last finished. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson, at a dinner to celebrate the occasion, said he trusted the completion of the first locomotive made within the colony would have a marked effect in encouraging manufacturers to vje with one another in preventing the importation of what could be made here. As the high wages in New Zealand prevented to some extent competition with European makers, it was the duty of the State to render some assistance. He trusted that the Tariff Bill to be presented next session would tend to promote industry and satisfy manufacturers and people generally.

Following a discussion in our columns on the cultivation of blackberries, a resident of North-east Valley brought for our inspection a sample of ripe fruit gathered from bushes raised from slips in his garden. He assures us that the blackberry is the easiest of .all fruits to grow in Dunedin, and what makes its culture a pleasure is that the bushes require no looking after beyond reasonably curtailing the too-luxuriant growth. The bushes thrive in any situation, however exposed, and, providing there is sufficient sun to ripen the fruit, a good crop is assured.; ’’i