Wetherstones , in the county of Tuapeka, is one of the oldest goldmining centres in Otago. It is within two miles of Lawrence, and surrounded by hilly country, where farming is now carried on, in addition to sluicing and dredging for gold. Wetherstones has a public school, post and telegraph office, and also an excellent brewery. Religious services are held in the school.

Black Horse Brewery (James Kerr Simpson and Benjamin Hart, proprietors), Wetherstones. This property was established in 1868 by a Mr. Coverlid, and was owned successively by Messrs Bastings and Koeford, Hays and Koeford, and Clayton and McNab, until it became the property of Messrs Simpson and Hart. The buildings stand within fifty acres of freehold land, and are of brick; and the main building is three stories in height. Spring water is used for brewing and cooling down purposes, and the storage well has a capacity of 10,000 gallons. At the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition of 1889–90, the firm secured the second prize for stout. The firm's business connection extends to Timaru in the north, and to the Bluff in the south, as well as throughout the Otago goldfields and Lake district, and its traveller periodically visits the various centres. The proprietors were the pioneers of the dredging industry on the river Molyneux, and mining took a decided spurt after their successful flotage of the Golden Run, Golden Treasure, Golden Gate, and Otago Dredging Companies. They still lend a helping hand in pushing on any local enterprise.

Mr. J. K. Simpson Is referred to in another article as a member of the Tuapeka County Council.

Pope, Thomas , Farmer, Wetherstones. Mr. Pope was born in Surrey, England, in 1836. He emigrated in 1858 to Melbourne, where he became an assistant in the establishment of Messrs Spears and Pond, wholesale wine and spirit merchants. In 1861 he landed in Dunedin, and, in conjunction with Mr. J. T. Crofts, opened the first cafe and reading-room in the town, under the style of Crofts and Co., Farley's Arcade. Mr. Pope spent twenty years in coaching, and page 690 drove from Lawrence to Tokomairiro when there were no roads, but only the spurs to follow. On one occasion, when Mr. Anthony Trollope was a passenger, the coach stuck in the snow and had to be dug out; and on six different occasions Mr. Pope's team was blown over, but without damaging anything except the coach itself. A portion of the Cromwell-Queenstown road was cut out of the cliffs, with precipitous rocks above and precipices below, yet despite such roads and the want of bridges, Mr. Pope escaped without loss of life to his passengers and without serious accidents. In 1882, Mr. Pope went to the North Island and became a partner in the firm of Young, Pope and Co., coach proprietors and mail contractors, between Ohinemutu, Tauranga and the Thames. The journey taken to commence this service was unprecedented in the history of New Zealand coaching. Mr. Pope set out with the plant, consisting of five coaches, fifty horses, eleven men and all necessary travelling baggage and equipment. He went by a special train of sixteen carriages from Wanganui to Palmerston North, whence he travelled overland to Ohinemutu and Taurunga, resting only at night. The journey was accomplished in twelve days, although the weather was severe and snow was encountered on the way. Mr. Pope returned to Lawrence in 1883, and now follows farming. He takes much interest in mining affairs, and is a director of three companies. Mr. Pope is married to a lady who came to the Colony in 1863, and their family consists of two daughters and eight sons.

Mr. T. Pope.

Goldsmith, William , Miner, Wetherstones. Mr. Goldsmith was born in the Isle of Man in 1835. After leading a seafaring life, he came to Melbourne in the “Stately” in 1860, and to New Zealand in 1861, by the “King of Italy.” He has since resided at Wetherstones, where he has experienced the usual ups and downs of a miner's life. Mr. Goldsmith is a member of the Wetherstones school committee, and he belongs to the Masonic brotherhood and the Oddfollows. His wife came out to the Colony in 1863, in the ship “Arema.” She was born in East Lothian, Scotland, in 1838. Her maiden name was Isabella Brander, and she has been teacher in the Wetherstones Sunday school since 1864.

Mr. W. Goldsmith.

Mrs W. Goldsmith.