A wholesale license was granted to J. Bourdeau, Arthur's Point; and a bottle license to T. O'Connor, Stoney Creek. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 10/6/1875.
Up Country Store Burned. — Our Queenstown correspondent reports that Mr T. O'Connor's store, Stoney Creek, Upper Shotover was completely destroyed by fire early on Wednesday morning; the estimated loss being said to be £1500, There were no insurances as the Companies will not accept general risks on the gold fields so hazardous goods such as kerosene, phosphorus, blasting powder and dynamite are kept on or about the premises. In this case Mrs O'Connor was left alone on the premises and escaped in her night dress. It is stated that phosphorus paste or poison was laid down between the linings of the store for rats which were there in numbers and were very destructive. She awoke and thought at first it was only the vermin at work but later on she found that it was a fire at work and then in full play. No assistance of value could be afforded Mr O'Connor is a hard working storekeeper, packs his own goods, and supplies outlying places. The loss will thus be widely felt by those dependent upon him for supplies. -Southland Times, 25/2/1887.
More Disastrous Still.— On Monday night last a fire broke out in the store of Mr T. O'Connor, who has been carrying on business at Stony Creek Terrace (Maori Point), Shotover, since the early days of the rush. Mrs O'Connor was the first to discover flames about the premises, and at once gave the alarm. Mr O'Connor being away from home, the storeman and packer had barely time to save the business books, and the house being of wood, and as dry as chip, the flames spread with surprising rapidity. The store standing in a rather isolated spot, difficult of access, as so many places up the Shotover are, no aid to subdue the flames could be rendered in time, and it being known there was a quantity of dynamite, blasting powder, and kerosene about the premises, it was thought unsafe to go near them. A short time after the fire was discovered, these articles exploded with a terrific report, scattering the store and its contents far and wide. Mr O'Connor by the accident loses the results of his quarter of ,a century's labour, during which time he has been carrying on business at Maori Point, as he was totally uninsured. In his case also, as he was generally liked and respected amongst the miners, great sympathy is felt. Mr O'Connor estimates his loss at £1500. The fire is supposed to have originated through phosphorised grain laid for the rats. -Otago Witness, 4/3/1887.
TO CONTRACTORS.
TENDERS are requested for the erection of a STORE and DWELLING-HOUSE (wood and stone) at Racecourse Terrace, Maori Point Plant and specifications to be seen at the office of D. McBride, Queenstown; S. Johnston's Otago Hotel, Skippers Point; and on application to the undersigned.
Tenders to be sent in not later TUESDAY, 22nd instant, to the undersigned. The lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted.
T. O'CONNOR, Maori Point. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 4/3/1887.
THE MAORI POINT TRACK AGAIN.
(TO the editor of the lake wakatip mail.)
Sir, — I see by last report that Mr Manders introduced a deputation to our Lake County Council at its last sitting, and in the introduction he said he did not ask for the track on personal grounds, so that up here we all put it down that it was on behalf of O'Connor's Donkey. We all think that a nobler advocacy would have served him better or a better cause. I should have taken no notice of Mr O'Connor's statements, but that the Councillors seemed to be in a fog as to why the track was not shown on the plan, and no doubt cast grave reflections on the Survey Department, which they have no possible excuse for so doing. If O'Connor and party had not cut two acres from the face of the ground the track would have shown on the plan of lease. Now, it puzzles me bow a man can go before a public body and say "I never shifted the track," when he knows perfectly well — so do all of his neighbours —that his wages man did so, and he paid him for the work done. This same man said to me once — "If you want any one about the track call on me." Not only that, but he actually asked our Lake County Inspector if he would come up and pass it. If a man pays for work done the man who employs is the culprit: I think that is the British law. Then again, in answer to Mr Aspinall, he says, "I never stopped anyone from crossing," which is as false as his other statement. The day he tied the chair he took a Chinaman with him to cross his goods, and before he had them out of the box the lad was there waiting to come over; so that if he did not tie the chair his man did. My brother saw it all and went down and let the chair go. Why, it was only a trip or two before that the packer came and told me that O'Connor had threatened to stop him if he did not pay him 25s. I told the man to take no notice of such a man. Mr Romans, of Arrowtown, also spoke to me and I told him to give O'Connor nothing, as the chair did not belong to him. I might claim just as much right because the iron work was done by A. Fiaser at my forge. Then, again, Mr O'Connor — poor fellow — says he would have been killed with all his pack horses had not some of his kind friends warned him. He does not say who it was that gave his kind friends the information. It was my brother who sent a wages man over to O'Connor's house to to tell his wife and friends that the track was gone and they had better look out for him; but he kept that to himself. So you see we are not as black as some would make us out to be.
Now, about this track being made by the old Provincial Government, I believe the statement to be false, and that at the time when the tracks were let by tender for maintenance this one was never included. The above statements I am prepared to prove before the Council or anyone they may appoint. They put the track where it is, thinking we had not pluck enough to wash it away, but when men know they are in the right they have no cause to fear. There is a surveyed road passing by O'Connor's house, and which was laid off by surveyors. The County has spent nearly £100 in making and repairing it, but O'Connor has this road blocked at both ends and still wants to humbug us. In conclusion I must state that it is impossible to allow the County Council to come and interfere with our operations, as money, if expended, would only be thrown away. I am sure Mr Aspinall has no idea of what he is talking about when he says a road can be made across our tailrace. I would advise rather a balloon; and, besides, this mode of transit for Mr O'Connor and his pack-horses would not interfere with us in the least. — I am, &c., W. L. Davis. Stoney Creek, July 12, 1887. -Lake Wakaktip Mail, 15/7/1887.
It was reported in town yesterday that Mr T. O'Connor, for many years carrying on business at Maori point, had died at Dunedin, whither he had gone for medical advice. Deceased, who was well up in years, was a hard-working man, and sustained a very heavy monetary loss (nearly £2000) two or three years ago in the total destruction of his stock and premises. It is not unlikely that the grief consequent on the total loss of the gain of so many years labour had something to do with the painful disease —cancer of the stomach — which is said to have caused his end. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 19/9/1890.
Obituary. — On Thursday last Mr Timothy O'Connor, a resident at the Upper Shotover since the early days of the gold rush, and where he was engaged both as a miner and storekeeper for many years, died at Dunedin of some internal ailment which is described as cancer in the stomach. Mr O'Connor, who had been ailing for about eight months, went to Dunedin recently for a change and medical advice. The deceased was highly respected and liked by all his neighbours and acquaintances, as was shown after the terrible accident by which his store and stock was almost completely wrecked through an explosion of powder and dynamite which formed part of the stock, leading to a loss of over £2000. The deceased leaves a widow and a grown up son and daughter. -Otago Witness, 25/9/1890.
Going Ahead! — Mr O'Connor, who for many years has carried on the business of storekeeper at Maori Point, has removed his premises to the opposite side (that is, the east side) of the Shotover river, where is situated the Skipper's dray road and the Reefer's Arms Hotel, which Mr O'Connor has lately acquired. Under the supervision of Mr S. Dewar, in charge of the Queenstown Telegraph Office, the telephone and post office connected with Mr O'Connor's store was successfully re-erected upon its new site. With a hotel erected on one side of the road and a store and post and telephone offices on the other, some of the old glories of Maori Point have returned to this famous spot. The removal of the offices will be a boon to the whole population on the Shotover. -Otago Witness, 26/1/1893.
(LAKE COUNTY PRESS CORRESPONDENT). July 30.
I am sorry to state that there is a great deal of sickness in this district at present. Several of the children have been suffering from whooping cough, and the infant daughter of Mr Robert Stevenson succumbed to the trouble recently, whilst the youngest daughter of Mr James Stephenson is at present in the Frankton Hospital in a rather precarious condition with the same complaint. I also regret to state that Miss O’Connor, of Maori Point, is at present in a very critical state, suffering from pneumonia. -Lake County Press, 2/8/1894.
We are sorry to have to record another death at the Upper Shotover, namely Miss M. O'Connor, the only daughter of the late Mr T. O'Connor, of Maori Point, she having succumbed to pneumonia at her home on Monday evening last. The deceased who was about 24 years of age, was a native of the Shotover district, and had only been ailing a few days before her death. The body was brought to Queenstown yesterday, en route to Dunedin (where deceased's father lies buried), when a large number turned out to show their sympathies with the bereaved ones. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 3/8/1894.
LAKE COUNTY.
August 4. — Now is the time of year when all the ills that human flesh is heir to are most rife. "A mild and short winter makes a fat churchyard in the spring" is an old saying; and though serious cases of sickness so far are few, coughs and colds are prevalent in all parts of our district. It is especially the young who are attacked, and a death or two have occurred of very young children, who naturally are most subject to catching disease. A very sad case is the death of Miss Minnie O'Connor, the only daughter of Mrs O'Connor, of Maori Point, at the early age of 24, who succumbed on the 30th ult. to an attack of influenza which developed feverish symptoms. Deceased was a most amiable young lady, and was a favourite with everyone in the district. She was the mainstay of her mother, who is heartbroken at her loss, and who has the heartfelt sympathy of the district in her affliction. Deceased was taken to Dunedin to be buried with her father, who died some three years ago. -Otago Witness, 9/8/1894.
DEATHS.
O'CONNOR — On the 1st June, at her residence, Grosvenor street, Kensington, Jane, relict of the late Timothy O'Connor, Maori Point, Upper Shotover; aged 74 years. R.I.P. — Private interment. -Otago Daily Times, 2/6/1904.
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