QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XVII, Issue 832, 24 March 1885, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN.

' t ■ March 23. St. Patrick’s Day passed away pleasantly but dull. The most pleasurable features were a scratch cricket match and some impromptu foot ..races.- The “ancients” had a race to themselves. They are much respected and their names are therefore withheld. It was good sport. The ■winner was Mr Gilmour. As to the scratch cricket match, Mr Warren’s selection was overmatched every way, though his bowlers did good sendee. His team took the field and scored for first innings 22 to batsmen’s account

wides and byes five, or 27 in all. Mr Crawshaw’s side were equally as fortunate at the wicket as they had been in the field. They put together a record of 116 runs. VV e hope yet t > have a game with your allied clubs. The wilow is here and the ground in good order. In the evening there was another pleasant affair an amateur concert, some athletic feats, and band performance, winding up with the usual dance. It proved a success in all respects, both regarding the promoters and performers. The Town Hall room was well filled, and the funds of the Volunteer Demonstration were increased to the extent of £ls. This will be added to amount before promised or subscribed, say something like £7O, The Committee will therefore not be short of funds. The Band enlivened the town by an outdoor promenade during the evening. The past week has been noted by constant changes from rain to summer weather, then suddenly plunged into cold blustering squalls with rain. Still it has not been on the whole bad harvest weather. We have exported a good deal of fruit this season. The plum crop proved a very good one. Grapes and peaches are a failure, and the same may be said about pears. The cause of this was the late frosts, followed by dry parching winds. The crushing of the Invincible Company for four weeks gave a yield of 256 ounces out of 365 tons of stone, or 14dwts to the ton, valued at £3 15s per ounce, which amounts to £960. A dividend has been declared of 6d per 21,000 th share. £BO is carried over to the general account. Some seven or eight ounces were obtained at the mill besides the above yield. The prospects of the mine are reported as excellent by all who have examined it. Ihe directors have made arrangements with Mr James atson, of the Sheelite' Mineral Prospecting Claim, to allow them to work for four years their tailings, upon a percentage of 15 per cent of the gold obtained, and 20 per cent, upon that portion of the tailings saved and stacked. Mr Neale is Mr Watson’s local agent at Earnslaw. He is confident of success, and heartily is it to be desired. If that follows, mining enterprise will] receive a great impetoua, and following such a success our auriferous hills, or rather mountains, may be worked upon a new system. There can be no enormous difficulty in the way. Mr Andrew Southberg’s new discovery, the Victoria Reef, is turning out good stone. He will soon be enabled to crush 20 tons, having already packed for a long distance 11 tons to his mill. This is a new discovery. A portion of the Government reward may and will probably be claimed. Richly does this indefatigable miner deserve a “ change of luck ” for the better. As the Hon, the Minister of Mines will arrive here this week his case will be submitted to Government. The Gallant Tipperary and Invincible might also be classed under the same head. They were undertaken when the vote was a lump sum one, and not so well classified as at present. The sensation of the week was the catching of two unlicensed persons, both officers of the Southland Acclimatisation Society, for being illegally in possession of trout fish. Constable Young and Ranger Mackin went down by the Mountaineer on Monday afternoon. A boat came off from Half-way Bay with a brandy case nailed up, which two paseengers put on board, carefully putting it under the tarpaulin on deck. On looking round they espied the Constable and the Ranger, who made a pounce for the box, which under due authority they insisted to have opened. of the law was useless. Lo ! and behold, it did not contain a dozen of fine old cognac, but ten grand trout in prime condition. Some words took place, and Ranger Mackin found himself floored by a blow on the side of his head, one of the fish being the weapon of assault. Exertions are reported to have been made to patch or hush up the affair. The public demands a full magisterial enquiry, and cannot understand why men in poorer circumstances should be heavily fined while men, who could not like others plead ignorance, should be allowed to escape scott free. There is a good deal of net fishing going on, particularly at Glenorchy and Arrow districts.