PASSING EVENTS'.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 121, 2 June 1870, Page 5

PASSING EVENTS'.

Tuapeka is one of the most benevolent ' places I know of. When I reckon up the large sums of money raised every year by voluntary contributions towards churches, chapels, and our local Hospital, besides the not insignificant sums for private charities, and the money raised by amateur and professional entertainments, I am quite astounded. The following figures, I think, are not far from correct : Churches and chapels - - £2000 Private charities - 200 Hospital . ... 600 Amateur and professional entertainments - 300 Something <over £3000 represents the selfimposed tax- oh the district I should be , sorry to say this som is too much to give towards such benevolent objects, but I think it is more than the district can afford. It would be interesting to know how much of that £3000 is given willingly, and how much is dragged out of the people — how much, in fact, represents the y.ery life-blood: of the population. And having "ascertained that fact, it would | be interesting further "to know what value ! is given for it—what benefit the district i derives, from this large expenditure. But j these are not the only receptacles for the spondoolix of the district. In Lawrence there is a vortex which swallows ofttimes more than the surplus cash at hand. There is a greedy landlord known by the name of the Building Society, who makes a monthly call upon the Lawrence residents for somewhere about £200. If the unfortunates who are under the rule of this tryant fail to stump up at the exact minute, a heavy fine is imposed ; and if they fail for three or four months, they

are liable to be deprived of their lodging. With all these demands upon them, I do not wonder at people here being hard up ; and once down, even in Tuapeka, it is a hard fight to get up again. I notice from an Auckland paper that a company is about to be formed to advance sums ranging from £5 to £500 to householders at a reasoiwble interest. This is the very thing we want in Tuapeka, and I should like to see such' a company started. Perhaps, Mr. Editor, you are not aware of the current interest in Lawrence. lam sorry I can speak from experience, I know full well what it is to give 50 per cent, to get a three months' legitimate trade bill discounted. Why not take it to the bank? you say. My dear Mr. Editor, you make a grave mistake in calling these up-country agencies banks. Agencies is the proper name. We have not a bank in Lawrence. If these agents were free agents they would be a blessing to the district, but unfortunately they are not. Take a good bill to them — they can only recommend it to head quarters. But they have no discriminating power given to them : they can buy gold ; .but any storekeeper can do that. They can keep an open acoount for you ; but woe betide you if it is a shilling overdrawn beyond three o'clock on Monday afternoon. These agencies are no doubt t>seful in their -way ; but I find fault Yfith them simply because they are not more useful. They are standing in their- own light. Tokomairiro is more fortunate than Tuapeka in this respect, There they are attended to by managers, who are allowed to use their own judgment in executing the business of the bank. Now, the gentlemen who act as agents in Lawrence know pretty well the position of most of the business people in the place, and I think should have more extended powers granted to them. Have you heard whether any of the many prospectors who have been wandering about the neighbouring hills lately have discovered, any gold-bearing quartz ? I paid a visit the other day to the newlydiscovered reef in the vicinity of Gabriels. I inspected it long and closely, but could see nothing nearer the colour of gold than mundic, and there was plenty of that. I wonder some of the enterprising business people of Lawrence don't get up a swindle of some sort. A quartz excitement would do the place good. Anything rather than the dull monotony which reigns in Lawrence. Why don't you stir up the young men to form a Volunteer corps ? I can count about forty who would rush to ihe ranks. Just consider the number of tall, handsome fellows in the district who are obliged to spend their evenings at cards or at the billiard-table, having no other amusement to fall back upon. I was glad to see you take some notice last week of the sale of the O.P.Q. Keef. You remark that "something must be wrong somewhere " when such a valuable plant was sold for £160. The sale, I believe, was quite a legitimate one, but it is surprising that the sum realised should be so trifling in these days of quartz reefs. I expected there would have been a keen competition between some of the Cromwell companies. Not so, however. Mr. Manning the.machinist was the purchaser ; but how the Waipori people allowed it to pass out of their hands requires explanation. When a poor unfortunate horse or cow falls into a hole there is always a degree of sympathy exhibited by people which it is pleasant to observe. On Sunday last one of my neighbours was taking a stroll over by the old cemetery, and was attracted to a particular spot by his dog, which showed signs of anxiety. On reaching the place, he saw a horse in one of those dangerous holes which are so numerous on the Cemetery Hill. The poor brute was plunging away at a terrible rate, and the perspiration from his body could be seen rising in vapour from the place. A large crowd gathered round the spot, and many willing hands set to work and succeeded in extricating the poor nag from his perilous position, but not till after a couple hours of hard work. On being raised to the surface, a bottle of gin was administered to his lips, and he soon showed signs of inebriation, having to be supported by the crowd. He was led, not without some difficulty, to the Commercial stables, whore, under the careful groomage of Mr. Pyne, he showed rapid signs of recovery. The Corporation ought really to employ some small boys to fill up these holes, which are so dangerous to man and beast. I hear that Mr. H>r& of Wetherstones lost a cow last week, and Mr. Geeves a horse, from a similar mishap. The other morning two old hats were discovered lying in the gutter in Ross Place. I have not heard if their owners have turned up. Of course no one will acknowledge them. I have no doubt, however, their owners are down at the mouth because of the loss. On the afternoon of Friday last a fire broke out in the stackyard of Mr. Campbell, farmer, Ross' Gully. It was first observed by Mrs. Campbell, who immediately gave the alarm, whe»> a man who had been fencing within a short distance of the stacks and several other persons set to, work. Only a few minutes elapsed before buckets full of water were thrown on the blazing wheat, but the flames, as might be imagined, soon spread over the dry straw, and they found it too much for them. Soon, however, a number of people, attracted from a distance by the flames which the dusk of the evening revealed more and more distinctly, joined in assisting to allay the destructive element. Fortunately there was an old water race close at hand, in which there was an abundant supply of water ; and a chain of somewhere about twenty men was formed, and passed the water along in buckets and every imaginable discription of vessels in rapid succession, but not quick enough to stay the raging flames, which by this time had caught two of the adjoining stacks. It then became evident that the only way to save the other stacks would be to pull the fourth one to pieces and remove it beyond the reach of the flames, and this several, hands set to work and accomplished as if by magic. Meanwhile a constant stream of water was brought to bear upon the three stacks, which were now enveloped in flames, and after several hours' unremitting zeal on the part of the crowd of visitors the fire was got under and at last extinguished. T visited thb wreck on the following day ; it was indeed a sad ai^hi. The origin of the fire has given rise to many questions, none of which have been

answered. How did it occur ? Was it the act of an incendiary ? Was it merely accidental, from some one working about the place lighting his pipe 1 or how ? One of the men had passed the stack where the fire was first observed a dozen times the same afternoon, and saw nothing like smoke or anything to indicate fh"e ; and that same party, I am informed, does not smoke, and has not indulged in the weed for years. The spontaneous combustion of a dry wheat stack is out of the question ; besides, is it possible for corn or anything else to germinate heat to such an extent without producing smoke some considerable time before it would ignite and burst into flames ? I think not. Well, the first thing that was observed was a small patch of flame at the eaves of the stack. Mr. Campbell told me he was not aware that he had a single enemy in the district, so the only charitable way to look at the unfortunate affair is to put it down as an accident. An inquest was arranged to be held, so T have no doubt the facts of the case will be elicited, and probably something will crop out that will reveal the cause. Mr. Campbell values his loss at £60. Dame Fortune has not been smiling on poor Campbell lately ; his troubles have been coming all together.