CURRENT TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7445, 20 May 1911, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS

LAND FOR CLOSE SETTLEMENT. A rich area of land suitable for close settlement, the Wbitiatara block of 1300 acres, was inspected by .the Hon. James Carroll, Asting-Prime Minister, when he visited Talkapau this week. The block lies' midway between Norsewood and Takapa.u, and has a nice aspect. It was formerly held on Icoto from the Maoris, a.ud wae sold by them to the Government to be disposed of as ordinary Grown )»ndMr Carroll states that the survey for subdivision -will commence immediately. He regards it as a nice property, well suited for dairying, and was told locally that it could be cut up with advantage into fifty-acre, 'farms.; though this is a matter which he will leave to the-Gov-ernment’s officers to determine. GABRIEL’S GULLY GOLD RUSH. The jubilee of the Gabriel’s Gully gold discovery, to attend which, the Hon. R. McKenzie left Wellington last night, recalls the- most vividly interesting incident in the history of New Zealand gold discoveriSß, It was in Hay. 1861, that Gabriel Read found alluvial gold at Tuapeka, getting, it is said, £2Si worth in ten hours with no better implement than a butcher’s knife. He at onco informed the Otago Provincial Superintendent, and immediately the rush set in. The sober Scotch community had looked askance at the influx of. adventurers which the discoveries encouraged, and for a long time they remained tinpossive, but the Gabriel’s Gully find electrified everyone. TWcomairiro,. the nearest township, was promptly deserted, only the minister and precentor being left to attend the Sunday service. Although it was the middle of punter, half Dunedin marched off to the diggings, encountering snowstorms and ninny other hardships, suoh as lack of fuel. Timber'was so scarce that a gin-case will gp down into, history ns , having changied hands at £5. It was required to make a miner’s ‘'cradle.” Cartage’ cost as much as JJISO a ton, and all necessaries were tremendously dear. The field gave a good return, thousands making a comfortable living, and a few were rewarded more amnly. The gold outnut of the Otago fields rose to two ; millions sterling in .the year 1563. “MOTHERS’ DAT." The Wellington Y.M.C.A. will hold its second annual celebration of “Mothers’ Day” to-morrow afternoon at 4. o’clock, when the speakers will include Mr Oliver Burgess, missioner of China, and Mrs E. 0. Blnmires. Mr H. N. Holmes, local socrotory, has received letters from parents thanking him for inaugurating "Mothers’ Day” in Wellington, and saying how much their sons in distant lands appreciated the turning of their thoughts homewards on such oevo -ions. The, general idea of "Mothers’ Day’’ is a world wide emphasis of the love and reverence men. women and children owe to a good mather. The special object is to honour and uplift motherhood and to give comfort and happiness to "the best mother who ever lived." t, •