SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4327, 17 August 1937, Page 5

SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

(From the files of the L.W. Mail.) Owing to the unprecedented fine weather, the harvest is at least three weeks earlier this season than usual. Messrs 13. Hallenstein, Brown and Turner and some others have commenced cutting their wheat crops. Hands are scarce at present, but the men likely to be released from the wool sheds during the next two or three weeks will probably be sufficient to supply the increasing demand. The present rates arc £2 to £2 10s. —8.1.73. * * * * * The Christmas escort, which left the district last week, under charge of Sergeant Hunt, took, down a total of 4,733 ounces of gold, made up as ' follows From Queenstown. 2,1300z5; Arrow town 1,180, and Cardrona Oil ounces. * * * * * VTe are informed that a party of miners named \V. Bennett, J. Xeal, and T. Moore proceeded up the Lake in the Antrim this morning for the purpose of prospecting the country in in the neighbourhood of the Upper Dart. They took with them two horses, besides sufficient provisions to last them a couple of months. # * * * * AVe are informed that arrangements have been completed with Messrs Grace and party and Mr 11. Eagar for the working of their claims on Pleasant Greek Terrace by means of a Company to bo formed under the Joint Stock Mining Company's Act, with a nominal capital of £30,000. It is stated that the terms upon which the holders have transferred their rights are liberal; that the greater portion of payment will be taken by them in paid-up shares, and, as a further guarantee of good faith that a portion of the cash payment is to ■be received from gold taken out of the ground by the new company. The prospectus of the Company will probably be issued in a few days. » * * * * The Arrowtown correspondent of the ‘Star’ has led that journal into an error, and upon which a leading article is based. Our contemporary accepts the conclusions that nearly all the gold comes from two rich claims upon the Shotover, and from the Chinese; that the balance to be distributed amongst other -miners is so small as to render goldmining an unproductive pursuit. All we say is, that we find minors in all parts of the district prosperous, and cpiite as independent as the shareholders of the. rich claims so ostentatiously pointed out. Miners, like other people, soon find out where the boot pinches, and then seek other claims. The real truth is that while many are struggling to get on, there are, nevertheless, instances of poverty and laziness amongst the mining community, as well as, say, in a Dunedin population, though on a far less proportionate scale. The mining interest is prosperous, and the numerous applications for claims prove this. ***** The Lake District Jockey Club held their closing meeting for the season on ..Monday last, Dr. Douglas (president), in the chair. The financial statement showed that the amount : of £338 10s had been paid away \ ior passed for payment) in stakes, I and for incidental expenses, which j would leave a balance in Bank, to ; credit of the Club, of something over £3O. A discussion took place as to the placing of the Frank ton Deserve in the hands of Trustees, and it was resolved that the Superintendent (who is shortly expected to j revisit the district), should be waited! upon, and asked to use ids endeavours to attain the object, in order that Hie ground might be turned to profitable account without further delav. * * * * * The escort, in charge of Sergeant Bullen, took down on Friday the following quantities of gold:—From Queenstown, 2,073 ounces; Arrowtown, Old ounces; and Cardrona odd ounces, making a total of 3,507 ounces of gold. ***** AVc have heard of some heavy yields on some of the farms. Messrs Brown, .Smith, Bell and others have had fields giving 50 bushels of wheat per acre, and Mr Bell, we hear, as high as dO bushels. But the average is not likely to exceed, if it reaches, 40 bushels. So far as information goes at present, oats are light, the ( average about 30 bushels, which is not a paying crop, even at 2s dd , per bushel hero. j