LAKE WAKATIPU.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 831, 17 March 1885, Page 3

LAKE WAKATIPU.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Queenstown, March 16. Legal business has been to the fore this week. On Monday was heard the case against Thomas Gibson, arrested on a charge ot having a stolen horse in his possession. The informant, Mr Thomas Bell, farmer, conducted his own case. He failed to prove any felonious intent. The accused was discharged without a stain upon his character by Mr J. S. Hickson, R.M. It was well-known that disputed ownership was at stake between three parties to whom Gibson had severally assigned this horse and other property. jgP Thomas Gibson, a bankrupt, was on Friday submitted to examination and cross-examination lasting over four hour 3. The result was that he appeared to have got into a mess. The opinion was that he was more a stupid than a rogue. Mr James Ashcroft (official assignee) presided, and had to censure the bankrupt several times. Still, it appeared nothing was absolutely done dishonestly, though the several dealings are very questionable. The result, in a few words, is that the Official Assignee saw his way to clear the separate demands of these various sales to the several parties for the sum of £35. Each thus forgoes interest, each has to pay expenses for secured property, or thought to be so ; and lastlyeach come into adistnbution of an involved estate. The position is that the secured creditors pay through the nose, and the unsecured creditors may have given credit for " nix." Mr Ashcroft managed affairs with tact and ability. It is admitted that the best settlement has been arrived at. Wounds are not thoroughly healed, however. Outside creditors may act "ugly," and Judge Ward will have another spoke in the wheel for foreign creditors. The losses of Gibson are unaccountable except by over-speculation in landed estate. This is one of the saddest cases of bankruptcy your correspondent has ever had to record. A whole family wrecked through sheer stupidity. Quite £7O have been subscribed for various sports, shooting, and band contests at the Easter Volunteer Demonstration. The tourists have subscribed very fairly, but the publicans are chiefly to the fore. Our Court last week showed the heavy infliction enforced by the Rabbit Department. Over £IOO in penalties was placed upon residents. Mr Hickson held that he could not do otherwise in face of the Rabbit Act but to fine defendants if they could not prove their land free of the so-named pest. To the Magistrate's credit let it be said that he denounced the Act as faulty, but he was left no option but to fine. Mr Turton, solicitor, acting for the Crown, reaped a harvest. The constant infliction of this Act must dishearten and drive fanners and others out of the Colony. Runs are being offered every day for sale, and in a mountain region like this the rabbit had better be made an article of industry. This, point haa been referred to before in these letters of mine. Rain again has fallen in just enough quantity. The. weather on Sunday was cold. Cheap excursion trips are falling away. Only 30 came up by last trip from Southland on Saturday evening. There are, however, plenty of tourists from Home and from the other colonies here. Prospects indicate a fair escort for this month, despite want of water in places. A regatta will take place at Easter, but independent of the Volunteer Review. It will, however—if weather be fine—be a pleasing feature. Shares in the Invincible reef are up in pnce. The yield ia stated to be increasing.