LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 34

LAKE COUNTY.

43" Correspondents are reminded that all letters for the current week's issua must reach Dunedin NOT LATER THAN MONDAY NIGHT. Letters coming to hand on Tuesday are too late, and are thiis a, week old when they appear.

May 12,— Until Thursday the weather continued Tinbroken, but on that night showed signs of clearing. Friday broke clear and bright, followed by quite a hard frost at night. To-day has been all that could be desired, but there is not the appearance of continued gcod weather. It will not be surprising if it breaks again in a day or two. There is less snow on tho mountains than there was 10 days £go, the rains having melted a- great portion. The continue 3 wet weather is causing some of the roads to move where c\it in to lcose cour.try. The Macetown road is afc present impassable to wheeled traffic owing to a large slip lhat has completely covered the way. It is a bid fall, and will take threeor four days to clear. Pilfering. — Queenstown shopkeepers comp'ain of a number of petty thefts taking place there recently. One of them advertises in. the local paper politely inviting the person, who was seen removing some goods- to return. tLein. The offender can scarcely ignore such. a wholly reasoria-bie -request. I believe that tho represent ativ* -of one of the Dmusdin houses — Ijlerbert, Hsynes, and -Co., I fancymissed some article of feminine sdornment valued at £3 3s while in Queenstown this •week.

Open-air Meetings. — A series of addresses, both open-air and from the platform, is being conducted at Que&natown and Arrowlown by a few Christian young men, who, I be'.ieve, propose going right through the goldfields. Arrowtown is just now the scene of their labour. Some very eloquent and stirring testimonies have been given, reulting, it is pleasing to note, in an increased interest in spiritual matters. I do not think, however, that many converts will be made; and the reason is not far to seek. The population, in country districts is small, and it is fixed. One may say that almost every resident for many miles is known. "With, all these residents the local ministers of religion are in touch, and whatever spiritual comfort they desire is supplied them, by their pastor. In a city or in overcrowded places, where there is a large floating population, with which resident clergy have not the opportunity of coming into touch, then open-air meetings certainly offer to the we-ary wanderer a comfort a>nd spiritual rest. But not so in small towns and districts where there are resident pastors and a. small population. The conditions are 'entirely different. Presentations. — The county clerk. Mr H. O. Harte, whose duties end at the beginning of next month, was presented at the last meeting of the Foresters' Lodge in Queenstewn with a handsome silver-mounted pips and tobacco pouch. The Chief Ranger, in making the presentation, spoke in bigh terms of the interest taken by Mr Harte in the lodge, and of the esteem in which he was there held. Mr Harte. taken- completely by surprise, responded briefly but suitably. — Ai happy party of the Qneenstown Presbyterian. Church members journeyed in the oil launch, last night across the lake to Beach Bay, their destination bsing Mr Hugh Mackenzie's homestead there. The object of + his was to present Mrs MacKenzie, who prior to her recent wedding had been Jong a diligent worker in th« church, with a token of the regard in which she was held by ihe members. Many eulogistic references were made tn the services of the recipient. The visitor? were very hospitably entertained by- -Mr and Mrs> WacKenzie. Bowang. — The season in Queenstown has now ended, and will be formally marked by a pocial and dance on .Tune 4. During th:summer many matches have beon played for the silver ferns — tokens which the members of the victorious rink wear, but which may be challenged by another rink at any time. The last match for the "ferns"— simple emblems of valour— resulted in "Messrs Canning. Craig. Bon.ner, and Pope (skip) becoming the holders.