Mr W. T. Talboys (chairman of directors) presided.
The adoption of the annual report and balance sheet was moved by the chairman, and seconded by Mr L. D. Ritchie.
The Chairman said that, a fortnight ago, the directors went over both the claims, and Mr J. Horn, who had been the local director up till a short time ago, would submit a report.
They had had bad seasons now for the last five years, and the effect of the mild winters with few frosts, had been to reduce the working time considerably.
That made the upkeep much more costly than under ordinary circumstances.
A week or a fortnight would be spent in opening out, and then, before a return was won, the river might be up again.
Mr Horn stated that they had discovered that, by strengthening the machine and keeping it in good repair, they were able to work ground untouched previously.
It was the feeling of the directors that the company should be kept in existence as long as it was paying its way and returning a little to the shareholders.
Two or three proposals had been considered.
One was to stop the No. 2 dredge and use its parts on the No. 1, for the two dredges were duplicates.
That would mean a saving of about £600 a year.
The directors had decided, however, that there was another season’s work in the gorge where the No. 2 was, and they would therefore leave matters as they were for another 12 months.
By this time next year he thought they would be in a position to distribute something to the shareholders.
The Chairman said there was no doubt that there was very good ground where the No. 2 was if they could only get the river low enough to work it.
• Mr and Mrs M. Fraer, of George street, received yesterday a big sheaf of letters and telegrams congratulating them on the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, and hosts of friends called at the house for the same purpose.
The bride of 50 years ago was Miss Jane Anderson, eldest daughter of Mr David Anderson, of Hokonui.
Mr Fraer was at the time in business as a stationer at Queenstown, where the wedding took place.
Five years later Mr Fraer went to Cromwell as junior partner in the firm of Messrs I. Hallenstein and Co., and nearly five years after that he went to Lawrence to take over a business which was bought by the firm.
Subsequently this business became Mr Fraer’s own property, and he carried it on until 20 years ago, when he moved to Dunedin.
He is now inquiry officer in the employ of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.
During the whole period of his manhood Mr Fraer has done yeoman service in public affairs — councillor at Queenstown, Mayor at Cromwell, Mayor at Lawrence, and he was on the Education Board for 17 years, being chairman for three years.
Mr and Mrs Fraer have enjoyed good health all the time, and they have reared 12 out of 13 children, the eldest being employed at Herbert, Haynes and Co.’s and the youngest serving the King in the artillery.
Mr Fraer was presented with a hot-water kettle for his wife and himself, this being the gift of the staff of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Mr J. Jacobs made the presentation.
• The Director of Education, Wellington, wrote stating that there were 13,000 pupils in Otago schools seated on forms without backs, and, while commending the action of the board in setting up a plant for the manufacture of a proper type of seat with back, expressed the hope that the new form of seat would be substituted as quickly as possible.
A report on the matter was received from the architect.
It was resolved to inform the department that the board was furnishing the desks to the schools as expeditiously as the funds at its disposal would permit, and that the board would furnish the seats to all schools provided the department supplied the money required.
• One of the stiffest examinations outside London University is a little contrivance called "Knowledge of London" tests, which Scotland Yard keeps in hand for flooring ambitious neophytes who aspire to drive a taxi-cab.
It is all done in question-and-answer by word of mouth, with only 450 "possible routes" to comfort the poor candidate and give him "heart".
Once they tried written replies for two months. Not one candidate passed. — ODT, 21.10.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
