THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3185, 6 May 1873, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Tuapeka. —Great excitement < was caused here last week by certain operations in land. On Friday last, Mr Matthew Hay offered for sale, on behalf of the Government, some land known as the Qiurry Reserve. This land is situated on the Dunedin road, a long way from the centre of the town, and consists of a swamp and a fidge so steep that a goat can scarcely climb it; yet it realised for one lot. L‘22 per acre, and L2l per for tho remainder. The bidding was very spirited, Mr Spcdding, of Dunedin, becoming the purchaser. Shortly afterwards, Mr Spedding purchased a paddock, containing about seven acres, for L4OO. This paddock is very unfavorably situated, and the land is not particularly good. Some eight months ago, a resident of the town was considered by his friends an idiot for buying it at Ll5O. However, as things have turned out, he has made a capital speculation. _ High offers have been made for other properties, but owners tenaciously stick to their holdings, and refuse prices that a month ago would have been considered fabulous. The Masonic Hotel, Ross place, was sold on Saturday last for L 452, subject to a mortgage of Ll4O. The building is old and rickety, but the land is in a good position. It may be worthy of note that all the sections of the town of Lawrence are in private hands, —ln mining I have little to report. The recent rainfall has enabled sluiccrs to resume operation, which they were not slow to take advantage of. There is now a good supply of water in the Phoenix reservoir, which for a long time was nearly dry. O’Neill and party have completed the cutting of their water-race, and will set in to work at once on some ground that was tunnelled in years gone by, situated near to Tyler’s farm, Tuapeka creek. Tho race is four miles long, and has taken many months to construct. It derives its water supply from Gabriel’s creek, which is lifted at Lawrence. An ingenious process, known as "skinning tho water,” is used for preventing the Blue Spur tailings from entering the races. It consists of a board ‘ fixed across the creek where the race comes out, about two feet from the bottom. It Is anticipated that the water charged with tailings, being the heaviest, will flow underneath the “ skinner,’-’- and the water free from tailings wi|l be into the race. The Blue Spur churns are being worked as usual, and a very large take is expected to be yielded by the Gabriels Gully Quarto; Reqf. Prospecting for reefs, with the exception of at the Black Hill, Munro’s Gully, anil at Clark’s Hill, Gabriel’s, is for the time being' suspended.— The Lawrence Town Council are gbing in “ big licks.” A proposition is tp he brought before that body byCr. Hay to borrow L 6,000 on debentures at six per : cpqt., for the purpose of redeeming the wafer debentures, the erection of a town hall, the formation of streets, the ex. tension of the waterworks, and other purposes. The Council have already L 1,500 worth of work going on besides the Lancaster street cutting, on which seven or eight prisoners are employed, and has resolved upon tho erection of lampposts in various parts of the town. If our civic rulers continue in their present energetic mood, the metropolis of Otago’s premier goldfields will very soon be the model Municipality. While, however, the Council are planning great deeds, the citizens are growling fiercely about the state of the water brought in at a cost to the town of L 1,500. The only use to which this water is applied is to wash horses at the two principal hostelrics, aa in color and consistency it generally hears a close affinity to pea-soup.— A Polycultural Society has been formed under the auspices of our worthy Warden, Mr Tyke. Its object is to encourage and improve tiie’ state of horticulture, floriculture, arboriculture, and animal culture. There can be no doubt that an association of this kind will he productive of immense benefit to those engaged m gardening and faming, of whatever nature. Tuapeka is a sort of border land lying between the Victorians of the interior, and the old identities of “down country,” and, like all border Countries, it partakes largely of the had qualities of each side. We are far behind in many respects, particularly in the cultivation of vegetables, fruit, and flowers. The interchange of experiences among agriculturist* will lend to show' what crops are adapted to tho soil and climate, prevent much of the unprofitable cultivation now carried on, and promote the general prosperity of the district in many ways. —The Athenreum readings, last Thursday evening, were not so successful aa those given on the opening night, but the attendance was fair. —The tailings, which threatened the safety of property in Ross place, have been washed away by tho flood ; but in order to prevent a recurrence of the danger recently threatened, the Town Council have brought the Blue Spur shareholders to hook, —Much speculation exists as to which Warden will replace Mr Pyke.