LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lake County Press, Issue 2115, 26 April 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

This football, season was opened yesterday by a scratch match. Mr W. Fraser, M.U.R., wires us that bo will bo in Arrowtown all Monday forenoon, 30fch inst, until the coach leaves for Cromwell. Thk Otago Acclimatisation Society’s request to make the present a close season for ducks, has not been acceded to. ■ Ma 11 McKibbin has boon elected Mayor of Arrowtown, and Mr M. J. Gavin, Mayor of Queenstown. Both wore unopposed. Tjik sub-enumerators are at work distributing census papers. The census is to be taken on Sunday night next, and the papers will ha collected on the following Monday. Farwkus and others are reminded of (ho important stock sale by Cotier Bros at Ayrburn yards tomorrow, commencing at 2p m sharp. Further entries have been received, so carefully peruse the advt. Bci'ciai. attention is drawn to Messrs Bcouilar and Chisholm's advt. on page (5, and Mr Alex. Thomson's on same page. A perusal of both advts. will prove beneficial to our numerous j-eadera.

We understand the shouting season opens on the Ist Slay. The banks are reducing the rate of interest on fixed deposits for nut less than 12 months to 2 A- per cent. The profits of the tour of the New Zealand football team in Groat Britain totalled £11,971, and the expenditure £G00:l The ordinary meeting of Lake County Council will bo held on Tuesday next, which applications for the clerkship of the Council will be dealt with, Ai’peioations are invited by the Southland Education Board for the position of first assistant (female) for the Arrow Public School; salary £OS per annum. A touch of winter was experienced on Friday and Saturday last. Rain foil on Thursday night, followed by a fall of snow on the mountain tops The rivers wore also in a state of flood but lino weather again prevails. J. Euhgois, fireman on the Waikaka dredge, was coming off shift on Saturday morning in a punt with his mate, when the craft got into the stream (the river being in flood) and half filled. Both men jumped out, and Burgoia was drowned. We regret to record the death at Dunedin of Mr Robert White, who for some time was dredgemaster of the Sandhills dredge, Upper Shotover. He wars much respected and esteemed, and the news of his demise will be received with feelings of the deepest regret. Much sympathy prevails for his widow' and family in their sad bereavement. Gbocebibs —What householder does not require groceries ? Mr J. S. Baxter of Invercargill, who is a largo importer, is prepared to supply all commodities at most reasonable rates, and, in addition wiil make rebate on railage, and discount as well for prompt payment. Mr Baxter solicits a trial order, to which he will give best attention, Pbiok to their departure from Glenorchy, Mr and Mrs J. Dunery were tendered a complimentary social. Mr and Mrs Dunery being held in very iiigh esteem, were respectively presented with a. writing desk and dressing case by Glenorchy residents. Mr A. Fra. 3- made the presentations, and referred to the many sterling qualities of Mi 1 and Mrs Dunery. In our advertising columns will be found the advt of Mr A. W. Hensley, of Manor Street, Dunedin. Mr Hensley is a maker of grave railings, iron garden gate, front fencing and all kinds of general ornamental iron work. Anyone in this or other goldfields districts requiring any of the above cannot do better than communicate with him. He guarantees first-class workmanship, and in addition to this, executes all orders at extremely moderate prices. We understand that some time ago Mr Ussher, of the Public Works Department, made a journey through from the Hoad of Lake Wanal:a to Arrowtown by way of the Matatapu, and was so pleased with the picturesque nature of the country and the possibilities of easy road construction that ho lias strongly recommended (ho construction of a road for traffic through the Matatapu. It might bo as well for the County Council to consider this proposal when arranging for Government grants for road construction at their next meeting. Ekeouts have been made by the local Council to have the postmaster’s residence erected and improvements made to the post office. The member for the district, Mr Eraser, has also endeavored to get the work carried out at once. Why the work has not been put in hand (seeing the money has been voted) is difficult to understand. What we do know is that the public is inconvenienced by the improvements not being made to the post office, while the delay in erection of the residence is equally unfair to the postmaster and the public. Wo trust the Department will delay no longer in such an important matter. Wk have just received from Messrs Skene and Fleming, the well-known seedsmen, of Dunedin, their illustrated catalogue of productive seeds and price list. This enterprising firm have presented, in their catalogue, a useful book to the. farmer, the orchardist, ortho general gardener. They supplyall seeds (except the very heavy seeds) free of carriage, and allow 5 per cent in all cash payments or 2J per cent in monthly payments. Their finely-pre-pared catalogue will be sent free to anyone desiring one, and the illustrations contained therein will hoof much value to intending purchasers. The smallest order receives most careful attention. Mu G. W, Moon, of the Government Tourist Department, Christchurch, is at present in the district for the purpose of making himself fully acquainted with the different tourist centres and gaining information on the several requirements of each district. Mr Moon passed through Arrowtown the otherday en route Cor Queenstown, where Ire intends spending a few days, lie will visit the Hoad of Lake Wakatipu, and inspect the country through the Routehum Valley to Lake Harris Saddle. Wo understand that Mr Moon will place his recommendations before the Department on his arrival in Wellington, which will bo in the course of a week or two. Mr Moon spent several days in the Wanaka district, and informed our reporter that lie was arranging for the liberating of door on Pigeon Island, Lake Wanaka. MINE OPENING-. Tlio Grille] Load Sluicing Oo„ Ltd. (By our sna.-un ra-ronxEi,). An official opening of this Company’s works took place on the claims at Cardrona on Monday, the IGth inst., in the nresenco of a largo number of the residents of the district. Mr Louis Cards, of Dunedin, accornmnDc! In- Mr

Hobt M'Dougall, director, and the secretary, Mr Trythali, were empowered to conduct the ceremony. Mr Louis Cards, in opening the proceedings, stated how pleased he was at seeing so largo an assembly present, particularly as a goodly number were ladies. It was clearly seen that this event was considered an important one for the district, as it was the opening, not the closing down, of a mine. The pipe line and plant he considered one of, if not the best, in Otago, and to see the whole of the long line of pipes in position and carrying such a pressure of water without tho vestige of a leak, spoke volumes for the workmanship of the plant and more so for tho ability of the manager in putting it together. Moreover, the energy displayed in cutting tho race, in which a vast amount of rock was met with, and fixing the whole of tho plant so satisfactorily in so short a time as three months and a few days, enabled him to express to the manager and tho men employed by him on behalf of tho directors and shareholders a warm tribute of praise. He would call on the secretary, Mr Trythali, to speak a few Avords, after which he hoped those present would join in partaking or the good things provided and drink success to the Crifiel Lead Sluicing Company. Mr Trythali, in response, stated that he looked upon this Company as his protege, ho having floated it at a time when almost everyone refused to take shares. He trusted and conscientiously believed that, when sluicing was in full string, those Avho had taken shares would thank him for inducing them to invest in such a promising and safe mining property, for he felt assured large returns would be paid to the lucky shareholders. That tho gold set out in tho prospectus was in the claims w r as abundantly proved by many of those present, Avho had been Avorking hero for years and the company bad further proof of this in the drive they had put iu at a loav level, where they had struck the Avash and which gave an average of several pennyweights of gold to tho cubic yard. As he had been to the head of tho race and saw the amount of rock cutting AA T hich was met Avith in its construction, he could only wonder that they had progressed so rapidly in bringing it to its efficient stage, and he had great pleasure in also endorsing the praise due to the manager for his ability and energy, and to the whole of the men who so ably assisted in carrying out the work. He would ask the manager and men to still continue tho good AA r ork, as it Avould undoubtedly tend to success, and the success of this company w r ould mean a groat deal for the district and each and everyone associated Avith it might take to himself a share of the praise in having raised Cardrona to a high pitch of prosperity. Wo should giA r e Cardrona tlie motto “ Resurgara” (1 rise again), and ho trusted it will be fully borne out. IsLv Robert M‘Dougall, the resident local director, in briefly addressing the assembly said lie had no doubt Avhatever in his own mind of the value of the Crifiel Lead, and now that they had an efficient plant with a plentiful supply of water to work it, as it should be worked, be was quite content to leave the future in tho hands of the manager, Mr Dugald Maogregor, avlio was a man who know his work thoroughly and all pertaining to a claim of this description. As it had been his duty to report tho progress of the works right along to the office iu Dunedin, it being highly satisfactory on these occasions, if. made the duty an easy and a pleasant one ; he had seen a I‘oav Avorks of this description, but none, he could assure them, that Avould compare with this. Tho manager, Dir Dugald Maogregor, who next addressed the assembly, Avas greeted with much warmth on rising, and ho expressed himself as greatly cheered by tho kind words spoken of him that day, and for Avhich lie thanked them. Ho had undoubtedly had a great task to do, and perhaps only a limited time to do it in, as at the first he had given estimates of tho probable cost for cutting the race and the time it Avould take to complete it; bad it not been for the great amount of rock Avhich bad to bo blasted out and which necessitated a lot of dynamite, etc., he would have been perhaps ready 9 or 10 days before instead of beyond the three months ho quoted, and only for the large amount of explosives used the cost of construction as estimated by him Avould have been quite correct. Much of the praise meted out to him should be given to tho men, who so ably carried out his instructions. A bettor or more Avilling crowd he had never before met, and he attributed to bis two foremen, Mr E. Hayes and Mr 0. Fleming, who never spared themselves, and to their ability and exertions, the fact that things Avere all ready to start sluicing this day. Another item he Avould like to speak of was that in tho whole of tho race there was not a particle of fluming; one portion in particular, Mr Hayes had built up a wall of some magnitude and had made an aqueduct of it, and which was most praiseworthy. He was quite sure the claim Avas a very rich one. and although he had a good amount of stripping to do before he could get the water on to tho Avash or lead, he anticipated no difficulties but what bo could overcome, and next season he had no doubt but Avhat some handsome returns Avould he forthcoming, lie again thanked thorn for their kind expressions toAvards him and the staff of men under him. Mr Charles Fleming, as the oldest member of the A’endors, and Avho still retained a large interest in the company, and as one of the Avorkmen, was i proud to see this day, when a capable plant was fixed on Crifiel Face Avith plenty of Avaler to work the lead as it shoal I bo worked. He added that there Avas plenty of gold in Crifiel Face, and it would not be long now b loro they I would be getting it out, and plenty of it, too. The manager was a good man j and they all knew it, and ho expected and hoped for the sake of all interested the future of the Crifiel Lead Sluicing Co. to he a highly prosperous one. Ho bcr'fred to thank' them, for himself

and his mates for the kind expressions-, on the Avay the Avorks had been carried out. Mr Louis Cards then asked the manager to have the water turned on,, and the work of sluicing a tail-race was commenced by Mr Trythali, the secretary, holding the nozzle under the manager’s direction. After this Mr Ross proposed the toast _of success to The Criffel Lead, Sluicing Co , which was drunk with enthusiasm, and, cheers being given icr the manager and the ladies, brought the interesting ceremony to a close.