LAKE COUNTY.

December 5.-^iast season there was occasion to sing the praises of our climate and prognosticate a bounteous harvest about the beginning of December, and the same pleasing prospect offers again this year, but with even surer promise. For some time past there has been a copious shower every week, unaccompanied with the usual fall in temperature ; indeed for the last few weeks we have had absolute heat, the thermometer ranging about 80deg in the shade, and all vegetation is showing the effect of it by clothing native, pastures, fields, and gardens with the most vivid of green shades and the most luxuriant growth. The hillsides teem with grass of the most tempting description, looking much more like those of the water-colour amateur who has received his colour box as a present than Ithe actual presentment of our old familiar dun grey slopes, deserving to the very letter the aphorism of " a smiling landscape. In the fields the grain crops are "waving their supple stalks with the glee and wanton assurance of strength and health, spreading out their leaves m prodigal profusion, and have now reached that stage in almost every part of the district when the plant becomes its own protection against the heat of the sun drying "P its roots. In the orchard the green fruit is " visibly swelling before our very eyes," promising a luscious feast for— the codhn moth. The garden surprises even the most sanguine toiler with its unusual prodigality of blossoms, flowers, and green things. Never were there roses with such colour and scents ; never was the garden gayer with as many or such intense hues. Nature really seems bent upon showing us what she can do when she has a mind to. And all this wonderful transformation has been brought about by a few showers at well-timed intervals, and accompanied by a fair proportion of heat. Let him who rej oices thereat be thankful — but this is generally the last thing he thinks of. Accidents. — Quite a chapter might be filled with accidents that might have been worse," and with the causes why they were not, but it will suffice to recapitulate the following. On Saturday last J. Cameron was navigating a heavy log of timber on a wire across the Arrow river, at the falls, when the rope gave way and he fell about 22ft, landing under the log. The latter being the heavier of the two, Cameron would inevitably have been crushed to death by the gear

and the log had the latter not landed with one end on a friendly stone wall, keeping the log from falling on him. As it was he escaped with a sprained ankle. It may be mentioned that there was no necessity for man and log crossing together, provision being made for the man by a perfectly safe bridge.— On the same day John M'Lennan received some rather severe injuriesfromalfall of stony earth coming upon him while at work at his claim, near Gentle Annie Hill. Both sufferers were taken to the Arrow Hospital, where they are getting on as well as their injuries will allow.— A gun accident happened to Ah Ouong at the Head of the Lake. He was assisting a passenger into the boat, and held a loaded gun in his left hand. This went off without giving any warning— a way guns seem to have pretty often— shattering his left hand and part of the fore arm. , . , Acclimatisation Society.— Several items of business of an important character were transacted at the last meeting of this society. It was once more agreed to take all necessary steps to procure red deer calves, and a sub-committee was appointed for the purpose.— In consequence of a letter from Mr F. J. Sullivan, Dunedin r pointing out that if the licenses for selling trout were enforced the Dunedin and Invercargill markets would be closed to trout from this district, this question was taken into consideration. As such a step would seriously affect the lessees of -net fishing areas upon Lake Wakatipu, the local society agreed to represent their position to the Otago and Southland Societies, with the view i of keeping these markets open for Lake Wakatipu. trout, as it was stated fishmongers would not take out the required licenses, and without them could not sell the trout from this .district.— The local society also agreed to be represented at a.con= ference suggested by the Marine department for the object of amalgamating several acclimatisation societies. The curator's report was a very favourable one, showing that there were 200,000 strong and healthy fry ready for distribution. ' The society decided that the fines accruing from the recent poaching cases should be handed over to the police, and a vote of thanks was recorded to Mr W. J. Marsh for his action in the matter.^ Come Before His Time.— Mr L. Hotop, the father of Arbour Day in New Zealand, and member of tho Queenstown School Committee, seems to be in advance of his time, as many other geniuses and reformers have been, to their cos.t. For some time past he has been hammering away at the introduction of technical classes for the Queenstown School, having for their object teaching the more advanced boys the practical use of tools. The school committee being in funds, and the outlay not being expected to exceed LlO, there being a gentleman willing to undertake the teaching part gratuitously, there seemed to be nothing in the way of the scheme being carried out. However,_ the opponents of the scheme in their wisdom raised overwhelming objections, and a well-meant and useful innovation stands inde* finitely postponed. . Rifles.— Members of the Lakes District Association are keeping matters moving, an effort being made to hold a contest early in January next at the Arthur's Point range. Mr W. Selby, of Arrowtown, has presented a silver cup for competition, and other donations are spoken of. In the meantime a challenge match is on the tapis. . Entertainment. — A bazaar mixed up with vocal and • instrumental music, by which St. Peter's Anglican Church at Queenstown benefited to the tune of LBO or L9O, came off last [week, and was a striking proof of the taste of the ladies responsible for its success. Both as regards the production of material, and the more intellectual works disposed of, it was an unqualified success!