QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XI, Issue 575, 16 November 1880, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

(FROM Ot J& OWN CORRESPONDENT.) , . j '.November 13. _£his week, Queenstown has contributed her small quota to assist in. swelling, the . vast horde of visitors to the Melbourne Exhibition. Among those who have gone I spM’ally notice the Rev. Donald Ross, as his departure was-preceded by-what must have ~heen tp hipi a most gratifying proof of the esteem in which he is held by his people. At ‘ameeting held in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian bhurdh Mr Ross was presented with.a cheque for £SO, accompanied by the heartfelt good wishes of the congregation for his return to 'th&t health and strength which are requisite ipr such labors as his. For some time Mr ‘ Ross has needed a complete rest and change, and the manner in which the opportunity is Offered him cannot fail to be gratifying. ,A very sad death occurred at Frankton last week. A young man named Francis Butler, -in the,employ of Messrs Boyes, was drowned attempting to swim across the lake just -above the falls. It is supposed that he was i anxious to return undetected to the station, as it was after ten at night, the hour at which -Messrs Boyes have their -ferry-boats locked. ' The unfortunate young man’s body was not found for some days, and a considerable 0 number of people meantime believed that he bad never attempted to swim the lake as he had said he would do. The funeral not taking place until the 10th, j a ,great many persons who otherwise would - have attended the picnic on the 9th absented j.themselves, from feelings of sympathy with the relatives of deceased, li- The Prince of Wales’ annniversary picnic • was not so largely attended as on former Occasions, partly owing to the reason given above and partly to the fact that the morning '•Was gloomy - looking and threatened both 'Wind and rain. Happily, however, the day , improved as it grew older, and those who 1 went spent a most pleasant day. The affair 3 W»9 liqder the auspices of the Oddfellows, who had engaged the services of the Garrison Band. Thespaaious deck of the Mountaineer presented a tempting space for enthusiastic I dancers, r who thus ( forestalled the evening’s ball. It was proposed to picnic at the Greenstone, but seeing that landing by boat would .be rather rough, ; it was decided to go up -to, the..Head. The steamer returned about to Queenstown Jetty, and discharged her passenger* fo t4e parting strains of the feand!, ,In theevening a ball was Held la the Town kail, which was qiiite sufficiently crowded on the occasion. Dancing was kept up till an early hour next morning. Some

people—ladies—thought ft woultl haveSeeV an improvoment liad washed ; while others—th On—wondered why more of the patrons of the ball were not present, hi,s Worship the Mayor being the, only reprcthe formidable list of patrons , Imnderstand; Mr barren intends stapling! for the mayoralty this , year. The contest is j not likely to be exciting, as , .the office does not appear to be a coveted one among the worthy burghers. >i: hj m ■ ,’t tol vt.o-.-iv ; Major Keddell, the new E.M. gives'satisfaction, and he will I fancy Ad a good* deal towards making the district pull together, insteadof paving everything made a question of Arrow against Queenstown and uice' rem. Yon may say the only case lasi sitting was ope of Collins v. Bourdeau, assault at .Skippers, and which was thrown put. It was a trumpery information, arising put of ill-feel-ing, and ought never to have been brought into Court. Collins served under Bourdeau from u boyhood’s hour,” but 4 ‘ there aire chords” which even Bourdeau must not touch. Davis and party are working away in earnest at' their reef at the Rees River, and shortly expect to have such prospects as will justify, the ordering of machinery without further delay. It is a great pity that other miners do not take up claims at the head of the Lake. Mr Sonthberg,. of the reefs, Upper Shotover, it is rumored, will have a good crushing soon—the reef is looking splendid. The Mount Aurum Company continues to make a good return to the shareholders, and the Phoenix Company, under the able managership of Mr Evans, will soon satisfy the district as to the success or otherwise ,of the new machinery procured from Melbourne. r,: