QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 325, 1 February 1876, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

.[from, our own correspondent.] . January 28, 1876. There has been a mental darkness hanging over the inhabitants of Queenstown for the past few days. It is a physiological fact that the want of enlightenment gives the features a stolid heavy look, and for a few hours I was puzzled to account for the change in the physiognomies of my friends. Nothing but my own stupidity ; .the effect of the general cause could account for this. The Cromwell Argus had not arrived, was late, was lost! Don't let this happen again unless you want to make nerve-change experiments on the Anglo-Celtic denizens of the mountains. With bad times and other calamities I assure you we have enough to contend against without having to bear the additional strain on our system which the loss of your paper would produce. The election excitement is not yet over. The Wahdip Mail k teeming with assertions and contradictions, charges and recriminations. Many people feel sore at being, as they term it, "sold." The wisest plan would be to bury the past, and try to strengthen the hands of the member returned, so long as he adheres to his pledges. This is now as much the duty of the minority as of his friends. It certainly goes very much against the grain of some, but it is nevertheless a stern public duty, and all will come round to it in the end except the few who make the excitement of an election serve some personal grudge. ' The Provincial Government are expending a few hundreds on tracks, which is giving 'employment to a few river-bed miners. I hear that one or tivo residents are about tendering for the Kingston section of the railway, and to employ the miners if they can obtain them. In this I believe they are right, as any one ordinary miner is really worth, for railway work, two new chums or colonial navvies. It is painful to see some men who call themselves laborers trying to "use a pick and shovel. I hear that our Volunteers are making arrangements to hold sports and matches at the°Shotover at Easter—in fact, to hold a small encampment. Everything will be definitely settled as soon as they hear whether Government can supply them with tents, &c. It is a pity the railway is not finished, as they could brigade with the lnvercargill men in some central place, and spend their holidays en joy ably, coming home with that renewed vigor which military drill always imparts. We have had ocular demonstration every day for the past fortnight of the suitability of the water of Lake Wakatip for rearing large trout. One about six pounds weight has made his home under Robertson's jetty ;

he is a beautiful fish and resembles a sea more than a brown trout. I never saw a fresh water fish like him. . However, there lie is, a proof of our acclimatisers' success ; and the fact must be very gratifying, especially to Mr Worthington, who has persevered almost alone to the end in the cause of fish culture. Very few are aware of the importance of bis success, not only to the present, but future generations of the town. A hundred tourists will be drawn here when fishing can be obtained instead of one who would come merely for the sake of the scenery. It is to be hoped, however, that they will be allowed to thoroughly establish themselves before fishing is permitted. Mr Stewart, Presbyterian missionary, at present residing here, gave a lecture on the " Spirit of the Age" in aid of the hospital funds a few days ago which has elicited a considerable amount of feeling one way and another. The lecture was a very able one for so young a man, and he brought out his conclusions, proving that democracy was a growing power all over the world, unmistakably clear. But he had occasion to remark on the avaricious spirit engendered by English commerce, and on the enslaved state of Ireland, and did it so abruptly that those who from a lack of previous reading or education were unable to follow his line of thought took deep offence. A person telling the truth should always lay it over with a little pastry. Pills ought to be coated. He could have got apt illustrations of both statements without travelling so far as Great Britain or Ireland. Napoleon's assertion that England was a nation of shopkeepers, although a cognate expression, did not mean near so much as Mr Stewart's. Many on the other hand are of opinion that he is wrong, that mercantile purity is unsullied, inspectors of weights and measures mere libels on the body mercantile, and the Irishman a model of physical independence and mental freedom, especially at election times. We have several distinguished visitors staying in town at present; they are getting fine weather. The district has met with an unexpected calamity in the death of Mr J. W. Robertson, one of our oldest residents and most useful citizens. His death is said to have been caused by general debility. He was buried yesterday with Masonic honors. His death is a real blow to the Wakatip, losing as it does in him the most respected and enterprising of its citizens. For, some time past he had been ailing, but no one suspected a fatal termination. About a month ago he seemed to rally, and went about his business as usual, but a relapse set in, which ended fatally. • His constitution was not powerful enough to resist the second attack. He was an example of what can be achieved by steady industry and ability. The funeral was very large, numbering fully 600 persons. The procession was headed by the Freemasons, of. which Order deceased was a member ; they mustered very strong, few being aware that they numbered so largely in this district. The walls of our new government buildings are nearly completed. The work is progressing slowly, but is being done very substantially, and will reflect credit both on the inspector of works and the contractor if completed in the same manner. Captain W. E. Heywood, the officer commanding the district, inspected the Queenstown and Arrow Rifle Yolunteers and Cadets last week and expressed himself pleased with their progress. They are having new uniforms provided by the Government. Messrs ETallenstien and Co. are the contractors. Some excellent shooting is. being made with the breach -loader. Lieut. Clarke scored 96 out of a possible 112. He is supposed to be the coining man as representative for Wanganui.