THE FUTURE OF TUAPEKA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 25 April 1874, Page 3

THE FUTURE OF TUAPEKA.

{To the Editor.) Sib, —The present appear to me to be goahead times in Tuapeka, both in the township and around it. What with town buildings of a public character } great mining projects, such as the working of the Spur tailings; practical, and withal intricate discussions on the great subject of farming; and last, but not least, railway extension from the metropolis to our very doors, we may soon expect to find comparisons made between these parts and the Great Sacramento Valley. The death of " Tom Hungerford," and the disappearance of " A Mother " from your columns, must be very consoling to every reader of your paper —especially when their places arc occupied by the wise inspirations of men of practical experience, in both the farming and themining industries. The thanks of the public generally are due to Jthose writers who have lately been contributing to your columns. Mr. W. D. Morrison deserves great praise for reviving the subject of the workings of the Blue Spur tailings. Should he ever see a proper sludge channel up Gabriels Gully and the tailings washed away, I doubt not but a much larger yield of gold will be obtained therefrom than Mr- 'MoM?i»nn psi.imntos. Hio wmarks on the apathy of the people of the district are true to the letter. If a Ballarat, or even a Thames, company had the same chance of a certainty, wouldn't they pounce upon it quickly. The result would be a carriage-and-four for each shareholder in the course of a fow months. The Spur tailings will, before long, be spotted by some outsiders, and the people around will say, as my neighbor said to me on one occasion when it was too late, " If I had known you were going to take up that aero of land, I would have taken it up before you." Ye 3 ; many will bemoan their want of pluck iv not going in for the speculation when they sec others reaping the glorious harvest they themselves might have been reaoing. Mr. Morrison correctly states that we have not asked tho Government for assist.! uce, as other places have done. This may be partly accounted for by the manly and independent spirit of tho people of this district, who do not wish to be as others —asking tho Government to do everything for them. I hope the same spirit will long continue to exist; and when the tailings company is fornieJ, I would suggest that the Government be allowed ouly a limited number of shares iv it, and be paid their returns as other shareholders. This would be reproductive in the proper sense. Now for a few words about "Practical Farmer." I feel sure every farmer in the district will, in future, be encouraged to keep their hands to the plough, looking forward to the returns as set forth by our practical friend's figures. The likelihood of a man of such experience as " Practical Farmer" making a mistake is very remote. For thirty long years he followed the plough, and considering that he had the assistance and experience of his great grandfather, who discovered it practicable to lift stones from a knoll and raise a large crop from the bare rock, his experience should be of inestimable value to his co-workers iv Tuapeka. It is greatly to be regretted we have so few men of his stamp, as they might also gratuitously give us their practical experience, solely for the benefit of their fellow creatures. How could an ungrateful country suitably acknowledge the worth of such noble sons of the soil ? I come now to " Plough Boy," whoso timely warning to his farming brethren cannot be too highly estimated; and should it be the means of preventing even one intending settler from calling some day on Mr. "Leech to file a schedule of his affairs, he will not be without his reward. But I fear " Plough Boy" is dreading too much the snort of tho iron horse. Probably the land laws of the country are too tight for him, as he may have been reared in the far West, where the borne knife could be used at will, and the blood of the red man often made to flow, and where, if farming did not pay, all that was required of him was to leave a notice !on his door —" Gone to Texas." But as he is not a practical farmer, neither his experience nor his calculations are to bo relied upon. —l am, &c, Observes.