MILLAR'S FLAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 39

MILLAR'S FLAT.

January 4.— The year 1908 hae jU6t de- ' parted, and fco be honest with an old ! servant we cannot dismiss it without giving it. a good character. For somo time back 1 doubte were entertained by the Miller's Flat people as to whether they were going jto have another dry reason. Certainly all I the indications were in that direction, and crops of everything, including graes, looked anything but flourishing. But a splendid downfall of rain set in during the holidays, and the result is luxuriant growth, and the usual growl amonc farm«re is! not hear*], 1 but a grin of satisfaction has taken it* j place. In some of the orchards tree? are I bi-eaki ng down under the heavy load of fruit, and all that ie wanted now to complete our prosperity is the active prosecui tion of the Lawrence-RoNbuigb railway. Sporte. — Our holiday sports and picnic, though somewhat marred by the wet weather, weo-e nevertheless wel] attended, and ■ it is wonderful where the money cotnes from There seems io be no lack of fun<l« to meet the demands of an elaborate piogramme and substantial prizes for the different events. Mining. — In mining matteia we are holding our own ; and perhaps a little more. Tf we look at the list of the -weekly ro-turns of all the Otago and Southland dredges tho total wiM not equal the average return of a single dredge on our best claims a few vear3 back. The mining investor must direct his attention to some other eomce in the production^ of gold than that of dredges. As I have pointed out time after time, our mineral wealth in the back country is practically untapped, and 1 it is to bo hoped the Government will fulfil its promise in giving more liberal conceesion in aid of prospecting. The Lanrrwrmcor Sluicing Company, lately floated for developing the gold resources of the Upper Taieri, are not letting th« grass grow

under their feet. They had close on 20 men at work before the holidays, and intend to increase the nuioiber to 30 during" the rest of the season. The work ought to be well advanced and the company aWe to begin sluicing by the end of next spring. In the same locality M'Loud and Grant's party hare taken up another big claim, with the right to an unfailing water supply that can be brought on the ground at a "" ~"— ■? u --£O6t, and intend to have the claim systemaTtt»»u^ a^ E p,.p eotie< j g season They have every coiittt*^^^^ getting factory results. TKsr*>C-^_J^i eT)t y mO re ground in this district thatrn — *»—^^jnear future should, if properly developed/~sttp-^ port a considerable mining population, without eaying anything of the possibilities of several gold-bearing reefs that interest this district. It will be nothing- lees than a slur on our otherwise enterprising industry if these are left much longer untested. Obituary. — I regret to announce the death last week in Dunedin of Mr Timothyi Sheeny, jun. Deceased was a native of Miller's Flat, and for several years carried on business as local hotelkeeper. He was highly respected by the residents of t.h© district and the travelling public. Mr Sheehy had been Ir failing health for a> considerable time, in consequence of which he had tc place his business in the hands of his brother John, who still maintains the reputation of the hotel at the usual hiijh standard. Much sympathy i« felt for Mrs Sheehy and her young family.