GORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 33

GORE.

Septcmbe- 15.— The very lengthened spell of fine wither still continues, and empty tanks have been quite common for weeks x>ast. Occasionally we have had a shower through the night, which would wash the loofs down, and lea^e a few inches, of tasty water m the tai.ks. Tha spell of lough winter weather which our piophets foretold as sure to come has not yet arr.ved, and there is no indication of its approach. We shall live in hopes thol it lias somehow got mislaid. Fire.— Ths long-fHmiVir '"M'Gibbon's Corner" has disappeared from our town, having "gone vp < in smoke" early on the morning of the 6th inst. Not only were Messrs M'Gibbon and Sons' drapery and grocery establishments a prey to the flames, but the "devour.ng element" also consurnpd Mr S. G. Inder's butcher's shox? and livery stables (the latter containing all his buggies and harness and nine horses), Mr C. J. Moloney's tobnecomst's shop and billiard saloon, and the respective offices of Messrs J. S. Neave and W. Inder. solicitors. The Southland Hotel had a very nai- o-v es^aijo. getting off with a scorching on the side nearest the fire, all the windows on that side b.OAer, and some of the window sashes burnt out. I understand that Mr S. G. Inder is a very heavy loser, as his x>lant was uninsured. I hear that the corner is to be le-built in three storeyed brick buildings, which will greatly improve the appearance of the town. Mining Notes. — The returns from working dredges near Gore have been increasing all lound lately, and it is agreed that said returns have not by any means reached '"top" yet. Even now, wiien they are getting 40oz and more X?er week lor weeks in succession, the x 3ron ts should be something handsome, seeing that working expenses here are less than half of what they are in other parts of the country. — The Central Mataura Company have started work with their jtt'ospecting dredge; and their other dredge, thp pontoon of which is ready for riveting up, should be working in about six weeks' time. — Ihe Mataura is now being prosX>ected, and the returns, I understand, are very good, especially on the bottom, or, rather, I should say, towards the bottom. The question is, where is the bottom of the Mataura? There is in places a" depth of over 50ft of wash, and no signs of bottom. When the bottom of the Mataura is reached, "Your Own" would like to get just one hatful. Japanese Fair. — A successful and extremely pretty "Japanese Fair" was held m the Town Hall on the evenings of the sth to the Bth mst. inclusive. The affair was got up for the Xaurxoose of adding to the funds of Holy Trinity (Anglican) Church ; and it is to be hoped that it was as successful financially as it was from an artistic, point of view. The stalls were most prettily decorated, and the articles displayed thereon were of quite a superior quality. Bevies of ladies m Japanese costume added to the brightness of the scene, and the ipioceedings were enlivened at intervals by some very pretty dances on the stage — the fan and umbrella dance, a lantern dance, and the DjmDjin dance from " The Geisha. '