QUEENSTOWN NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 11

QUEENSTOWN NOTES

[From Our Correspondent.] Ideal weather has prevailed at Queenstown during the week. With the big holiday season knocking at the, door the prospect of a continuation oi lino conditions is very satisfactory indeed Following on an unprecedentedly mild winter the spring was far from genial, in consequence of which growth was very backward. However, about a month ago the weather became thoroughly seasonable, and except for an odd wet day it has been all that people are accustomed to associate with Wakatipu. The tourist season promises to be the busiest ever known in Queenstown. The reservations commenced very early, and the bookings up to the present at hotels and boarding-houses have been heavy. All the available furnished cottages have been taken, while it is very difficult—well-nigh impossible, indeed —to get rooms, as all the accommodation of this kind has been presised into service. These remarks, of course, refer to the immediate Christmas and New Year holidays. After the first week in January some of the crowd will be moving on, thus making room for those whose business arrangements allow of their having some choice of the time they shall leave the rush and bustle : of the city behind them for a short season. Great preparations are being made here for a Christmas and_ New Year carnival. This is the‘first time a movement 1 of the kind has taken place at tha City of the Lakes. Some week? ago the idea was mooted, and it was taken up so enthusiastically that there is every prospect of its being carried to a highly successful issue. The revelry will commence on Boxing Day, and it will continue for a week, most of the events being confined to the evenings. Already the waterfront is being transformed into a playground, where the gay populace will abandon itself to the spirit of the carnival. It is hoped to make the decorations and lighting a special feature.. The programme includes a “ Night in Venice,’* marine and confetti battles, a gold rash and treasure hunt, athletic sports and swimming events, pets’ parade, fancy dress parades, etc., with dancing and music every evening. City people who purpose spending the holidays at Queenstown are advised to bring with them their fancy 5 dresses, also their musical instruments (if they possess ary). Those who. are not qualified by age or experience or talent to make street music will bo supplied with toy instruments that are guaranteed not to mar the harmony of the whole! • School break-ups have been the order here this week. At the local public school the following awards of note were made:—Dux of school, Elsie Perkins (Mr W. H. Berry’s medal); second in Standard VI., Ruth Berry and Jeanette M'Brido (Rev. John Collie’s prizes); third in Standard VI., Ruby Gower (Mr H. Gordon's prize); dux of Standard V., Violet Dunn (Mrs S. B. Pettersson’s medal); dux of Standard FV.. Harriet Buckham (Mr H. Lorden’s medal). The following were the sucoesslul candidates in the proficiency examinations :—Queenstown jvublic school. Douglas and Alfred Beaden, Helen Burns, Leonie Barker, Ruth Berry, James Buckham, Colin Clayton, Ruby Gower, Charles Inglis, Colleen and Ethel M'Bride, Elsie Perkins, William Robins; competency, Norman Cumlall. Dominican Convent; Thomas Murdoch, Ed O’Connell, Robert Robertson. A cricket match between twelve-a-side teams from Wanaka and Queenstown public schools was played on the local recreation ground during the week, when the visitors scored a win with a margin of 9 runs, the totals being 68 and 59. Of the latter a lad named Lewis, the son of a well-known “ old hand,” made 42. Clay pigeon shooting has found a place in local pastimes this season, and it bids fair to become firmly established in favour. On Saturday a team of six members of the Alexandra Gun Club paid a visit to Queenstown to play a return match with local enthusiasts. Mr J. Munro, of the local team, won the first sweepstake with seven out of nine birds, T. B. M'Kinlay, AV. Waters (Alexandra), and L. Maun tiouig tor second place with six each. Messrs M‘Kinlay,‘Maun, Waters (Alexandra), and Hasson (Alexandra) tied with five birds each out of eight in the second sweepstake, dividing the first prizeThe aggregates were: Queenstown, oU, Alexandra, 47. At the close of the match the customary courtesies were exchanged by Father Ardagh, president of the local club, and Father 0 Connell, vice-president of the Alexandra Club. It has been decided to bold a reunion of ex-pupils of the Queenstown public school in celebration of the übilee of the institution. Though the event actually falls this year the reunion will not take place till February or March, as the school building is in course of remodelling at the present time. The jubilee celebrations, therefore, will be made to coincide with the reopening of the building. An' effort is being made to form a branch of the Plunket Society in Queenstown, and with this end in view a public meeting is being held hero this evening. A swimming club was recently established here, with a promise of a very largo membership. The official opening, which took place this afternoon, proved a very successful affair. Mr Thos. Rutherford is president of the club. Dr Spedding, of Mosgiel, has been visiting Queenstown. . . ~ Mr Robt. Christie, Balclutha, and Miss Christie, who is on the nursing staff of the Timaru Hospital, were guests at Walter P.eak. station for the week-end. The Rev. Stanley Hurd, of Invercargill, who has been appointed the vicar of Otantau, and his sister are visiting Wakatipu.