81 YEARS AGO

Lake County Mail, Issue 15, 3 September 1947, Page 3

81 YEARS AGO

Queenstown Events

From the Files of the Lake Wakatip Mail

May 26, 1866: , It was decided at a meeting in the Queen’s Arms Hotel, to form a Steam Navigation Company for Lake Wakatipu. The following are the provisional directors: Richard Boctham, R.M., Lowther Broad, R.M., C. E. Haughton, M.H.R., William G. Rees, J.P., James Douglas, M.D., David Weaver, W. C. Wright, B. Hallenstein, F. Roberts, James Robertson, M. Malaghan, William Fuller, F. Williamson. Telegraphic communication between Dunedin and the Dunstan has been completed. June, 1866; The Otago Quartz Mining Company commenced work on June 7, 1866. The mine was officially opened in the presence of a large number of people. The powerful machine was driven by a turbine wheel, the first of its kind to be brought to the province. Mr A. Southberg opened the proceedings, and Mrs Worth christened the company with'the usual bottle of champagne. There were six shareholders. The entire works cost about £SOOO. June 6, 1866: Assault by G. T. Bracken at Bracken’s Hotel. One of three roughs trying to gain admission, Patrick Campbell, was killed, and at the inquiry held in the hospital at Hokitika Bracken was charged with murder, but the verdict went in favour of Bracken as there was no evidence to show who had inflicted the blow. A blunt instrument was used. A small allotment of some' nine or 10 feet frontage in Rees street was -sold for £llO. This included the,building. A great reproach to Queenstown is the lack of any means of passing an evening in anything like intellectual and social manner. There is no athenaeum or public library, where the numerous unmarried portion of the community can pass an evening profit*ably or agreeably. At a meeting in Powell’s Hotel it was decided to form an Acclimatisation Society with the object of the introduction of game, salmon, and the letting loose of various animals. Several gentlemen released a number of rabbits presented by Mr McCpnochie of the Lake-View Gardens. This commencement was characterised by a hearty warmth. In a subsequent reference it was stated that 14 rabbits were seen and satisfaction was expressed that they survived the winter The first meeting took place on July 3. W. G. Rees was elected president. July, 1866: The number of money orders issued 1 a.t the Post Office, Queenstown, last month were 30, amounting to £2Ol 11s; the number paid, one, amounting to £5. In July money orders issued amounted to £l7O, while £l3O was paid out.

When we tell a person to go to Jericho we really mean go to the devil, we Avill have nothing more to do with him, we condemn him to continue living in his own selfish life. Jesus Christ never condemns us to that oblivion, and He tells his followers never to do so either. A person may be half dead in sin and selfishness, but while there is a spark of life there is hope, and (he Church is there, established on the way of life to help and to heal on Christ’s behalf those who have fallen by the wayside, who have been robbed of all that they had, or had earned in the Holy City. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and forever will bind up the broken hearted and set them afresh and alive again on the Road of life. / Philip C. Williams.