81 YEARS AGO

Lake County Mail, Issue 17, 17 September 1947, Page 5

81 YEARS AGO

Queenstown Events

From the Files of the Lake Wakatip Mail

The Criterion Quartz Mining Company’s works, Arrowtown, were opened on 30th April, 1866. Upwards of 250 persons were present, including a number of ladies. Mrs W. G. Rees undertook the ceremony of christening the wheel. Dr Douglas gave a resume of the progress of the company. We fear that the formation of a new Fire Brigade, or, rather, the reorganisation of the old one, is at present in one of those comatose states so peculiar to Queenstown. Surely the matter will not drop until bitter experience proves the consequences of such inertness. Mr Malaghan, the Captain, intends seeing as many old members as he can to put it on a better footing. The annual cost to the Government for postal services in this district, including Arrow, is £.1050. April, 1866: The average school attendance is between 30 and 40, and the children are being taught in the Church building. £350 was voted by the Provincial Council last session for a building. The plant to be conveyed to the Scandinavian reef, Skipper’s Gully, weighs fifty tons, and for the purpose of carriage a great number of horses may shortly be expected.