MACETOWN.

Lake County Press, Issue 2460, 9 January 1913, Page 5

MACETOWN.

Brighter prospects exist for raining in this part than has been the case for a long time. It is anticipated that the Homeward Bound mine will yet prove highly payable. Mr Mainland is busily engaged having an aerial, tramway erected to the other mines. Alluvial mining is also engaging the attention of several parties. Macetown must have a bright future as it is known to many that quartz-reefing, considering the number of reefs in the locality, is yet in its infancy The annual sports and picnic were held on New Year's Day. The weather was beautiful. All the local residents were present, and a number of visitors journeyed to Macetown for the day. Races and games were got up for young and old. Much credit is due the fol» lowing ladies and gentleman for successfully carrying out the arrangements and providing such a capital day's enjoyment: Mesdames Ritchie, Anderson, W. Thomson, and Miss Ross, and Messrs Anderson Bros., E Kelly, J. Cowan, Ross, and W. Hannah. In the evening a happy time was spent at a dance in the hall. Capital music was supplied by Mr W. Thomson, and Mr James Anderson made an efficient M.C. Refreshments were kindly supplied in the schoolhouse by a Committee of ladies.

A correspondent writes : Perhaps in the annals of Macetown history there is no record of a New Year's Day more happily spent than that of January Ist, 1913. Favored by the elements, and all bent on giving of their best tq the fullest enjoyment of the rest, old and youm; turned out and revelled in the fun till night came down and little could be seen save the occasional flare of some bursting fireworks, or the bent forms of the boys as they lighted the tapers. But to go back to the beginning ; shortly after 8 h.m. the noise of hammer and saw could be heard in the erecting of tables, and men, women, youths and maidens might have been seen flitting hither and thither, some carrying the baskets of good things, others coal and water, while inside the schoolroom the ham and bread etc., were being quickly transformed into the daintiest of sandwiches. By mid-day all was in readines3 within, the tables covered with good things and graced with the sweetest of flowers. The children enjoyed it all but I venture to add that the elders were equally as happy. While they were feasting the judge was thoughtfully pacing the Athenaeum floor, pausing here and there, adjusting this leaf, bringing into fuller view the bloom till all were arranged in order of merit and the prizetakers placed at the top showing the tickets of Ist and 2nd. Still he is noi; dona ; now come the vegetables, and with the same care and good judgment each lot is put in its place and the prizes awarded accordingly. The exhibits would have been hard to beat in the district. Truly tbare was a nice display for a little place, perhaps not very forward compared with, say, Arrowtown, but given time even Arrow might well envy it and take stock of its advantages. The young growers are to be congratulated indeed. The judge looks around to find the children trooping in, with their mothers and fathers followin >, eager to see who have carried off the prizes. An animated discussion now begins and the pros and cons are weighed and weighed again. It is deafening to be near. Outside the fun has begun in real earnest; number 1 race for the big girls has just finished, and number i for the big boys of the same ago is about to be off. Arrangements were made beforehand and no time was lost in getting the events off. Race after race is run in quick succession till the signal is given and games are indulged in for nearly an hour by the greater number, though not a few men proceed to the quoits. A gain the sports are resumed, children and mothers taking part, and now and then a young men's race to vary the pr ;ceeding. The wheelbarrow race created much merriment, ! the potato and three-legged race being too funny for anything.