COAL CREEK FLAT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1869, 6 February 1892, Page 3

COAL CREEK FLAT.

(From our own Correspondent.) Almost everyone here is busy picking and packing his fruit for the Dunedin market. Nearly twenty tons were sent away last week from here, which will give you an idea of the extent of our fruit industry. There is a good crop of stone fruit this season, and nearly all of it is carried to the Lawrence railway station. We are sorry to hear that Mr W. Rolfe has bean transferred to Dunedin ; be was an obliging official, and we hope his successor will be as kind and courteous as Mr Rolfe has always been. He was always ready to study the convenience of the fruitgrowers, who sometimes have to travel all night to get their fruit to market, only arriving at the station just as the train is preparing to start ; yet Mr Rolfe took care to see it forwarded, sometimes delaying the train for a few minutes for that purpose. We hope to see Mr Rolfe receive speedy promotion in the Government service. Nearly all the oats are cut around here, and the returns are expected to be very good. At Moa Flat the wheat is grand to look at, especially in Mr E. Tubman's as well as his neighbours' paddocks. Tbe small birds are a great nuisance, they must eat and destroy vast quantities of grain. I saw thousands of them in Mr Jas. Bennet's crop at Raes Jnnction last week, all engaged in their work of destruction. Mr G. A. Smith was married to Miss C. Elliott at her father's house at the Benger station last Wednesday by the Rev. Mr Telford. In the evening a grand ball was held in the new woolshed, which was attended by nearly all the youth and beauty of our

1 district, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves till five or six in the morning, dance music being supplied by Mr M'Leod on the piano and Mr Boyd on the violin. I wish Mr and Mrs Smith every blessing. It is a bad job the Commissioners Flat Co. s plant is sold without the claim receiving a fair trial ; but the claim is there and will soon be worked by other parties, Mercor and party having decided on givinjr it a tliorfuipli and final trial. I am not myself without confidence in the property, nor are any of those whose opinions should be reliable. I believe, if things are properly handled, the venture will turn out well. The County Council should buy the bridge built by the Company across the river ; it is a great convenience for a foot-bridge, and is strongly constructed and will last for many years. I expect the Council could buy it for less than the cost of the material. The Dunedin dredge is making steady headway. The hull has been lengthened 12fb by constructing a new boat, which is square and overhangs the water several fe,ct. This will give tbfl dred?e greater buoyancy, and greatly increase her working power. The company have built a t ew iron pontoon 80ft long, 6ft 6in wide, an 1 sft or 6ft deep. It is divided into watertight compartments, and in every respect well hoished and suitable for the work on which it 1 tto be en gaged. The buckets will work in a space between the pontoon and the dredge, and will be provided with every modern contrivance for saving gold. H will be set to work when the continuation of good ground is opened up by th<s renovated dredge. I think the yield will astonish people, and show that Mr Pyke's "Pactolus " is not quite a dream. Johns and party have driven a long way in tbe reef, but have not yet struck the deep ground. Our school committee held its monthly meeting on Saturday evening, and would have nominated Messrs Clark and Neil for seats on the Education Board but found it too late to commence business. I have no doubt they would have given their votes to Mr H. Clark, who is an old and tried friend of our country schools, and to Mr Neil. An unfortunate Chinaman, Ah Moon, was killed by a kick from a horse at the Teviot station on Friday. John Chinaman has kept his New Year in good style and burnt a lot of crackers. 2nd February, 1892.