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Lake County Press, Issue 79, 6 December 1872, Page 2

WE regret having to hold over till next week a letter from a corresponding in answer to “ Hydraulic,” it being received too late for this issue. On Tuesday the usual meeting of the Depasturing Board again lapsed for want of a quorum. We believe the Secretary neglected to notify members of the date of meeting, and consequently those who did attend had their journey for nothing. The programme of the second series of Arrow Christmas Sports is published in another column. It is varied and liberal, and will now doubt attract a large concourse of competitors and spectators. The committee are using their best efforts to render these annual sports an institution worthy of the districtLast Friday’s escort took down the following quantities of gold from this dis. trict:—Arrowtown, 1,188 ozs; Queenstown, 1,619 ounces^—making a total of 2,807 ounces. Of the Arrow gold, 800 ounces was forwarded by the Bank of Otago; the balance by the local Bank of New Zealand. The Wakatip Mail has been hoaxed in the matter of reply to a telegram from a carrier—not a merchant —asking if there were a drey road from Arrow to Skippers. Instead of the silly answer foisted on our e mtemporary, a reply was sent which will in all probability prevent the waggoner going on to Queenstown —which we take to be (he “instructive” part of the Mail paragraph. At the mining, Conference Tuapeka, tho following districts are represented bv delegates : Arrowtown, Alexandra, Blacks, Cardrona, Cromwell, Clyde, Naseby, Switzers, Tuapeka, 'fable Hill, Upper Shotover, Waitahuna and Waipori. The VVaka'ip is repre-ented by Mr. J. A. Miller (Arrow), Mr T. Allen (Cardrona), and Mr John Edgar (Shotover). Some of our Wakatip farmers are not alone in the industry noted below ; indeed some of them might compete for the prize with a good chance of success. The limes remark Sorrel is extensively and success, uI ly grown in the Tuapeka district. 'J he soil and climate are not favorable to it, but by the great care and attention that has been bestowed on its cultivation, it has been thoroughly acclimatised. We are given to understand that a prize is to he awarded to the owner of the best paddock of this useful plant during the ensuing summer. We are sure there will bo no lack of competitors. At the inquest on the body of Murdoch M'Lean, who was found drowned in the Washdyke Creek Timaru, the jury returned an open verdict. It is said there is little doubt that M'Lean met his death by his own act. It would appear that he attached a piece of pig iron, weighing 73 lbs, to his neck with flax, and waded with the iron upon his shoulder into the deep water where his body was found. In the case of the body found in a Creek near Mount Horrible, (while searching for M'Lean) it was identified as that of a man tlie'jury was dissatisfied with the medical testimony, and the body was ordered to be exhumed for examination by two doctors. A verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown has since been returned. The weather since our last issue has been of a most varied and disagreeable nature. Last Saturday a much-needed rain descended, and it came clown with a will; but so parched was the ground that on Sunday—which was a beautiful genial day—not a sign remained of the previous day’s heavy rain save perhaps the refreshed appearance of field and garden. Monday, was cloudy, with occasional heavy showers and towards evening piercingly cold and wintry. The change between Sunday and Monday may be realized from the fact that at noon on the former day the barometer registered 81 ° in the shade, while during the evening of the latter it was down to 48 ° . Since that time the weather has been variable, and on the upper ranges a fresh coating of snow appears. Although such weather may benefit tho parched crops, it is very trying to the human system.

A man named Moses Kay was killed by a fall of earth on the Clutha Hallway last we< k. Mk officiates as H.M. and Warden at Queenstown during the absence of Mr Beethaui on a tour to Martin’s Bay. Rumor [has it that Mr Simpson, C.E. has been appointed Provincial Engineer, in the room of Mr G. M. Barr, C.E., resigned. The new constitution of the Waste Land Board is Messrs J. T. Thomson and W. A. Tolmie, Chief Commissioners ; Messrs Hughes, Duncan, Allan, and Heidi Commissioners. The stamp on newspapers, on and after the Ist January, 1873, will be one halfpenny, instead of one penny, as at present ; and after the same date duty on gold will be reduced from 2s 6d to 2s per ounce. On Monday, Mr Bewes, Hoad Engineer fixed the levels of the main street, which we take as an evidence that the Arrow town Improvement Committee and Board of Words are still thinking of doing something towards giving it a better appearance than it now presents. Mr Horace Bastings, M.P.C., has been appointed by his Honor the Superintendent a member of the Executive Council, and also Secretary for the Goldfields and Secretary for Public Works. The Tucipeka Times says :—“ There are some good claims yet in Otago. The Break-’em-All Claim, Winding Creek, Switzers, turned out 1000/ worth of gold during the last eight weeks. The last week’s work yielded 67 ounces of the glittering metal.” Prom a Dunedin contemporary we learn that the Superintendent has received the following telegram from his excellency : “ The Governor and Lady Bowen shall have great pleasure in attending the Caledonian games on Ist January ; also the Masonic ball, to which they have been invited on the 26th December. Hi s Excellency has just had a very sucesaful meeting at Foxton with all the leading chiefs and tribes. He congratulates Otago that his successor is a Scotchman.” The amount of Provincial Revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30 last was 57,449/; and the expenditure during the same period 46,656/. The items of revenue were—Crow n lands, 26,271/ i gold export duty, 4214/ ; g-ildfields revenue, 4004/ ; harbor dues 68/ ; dog tax, 426/; sale of Government buildings, 281/ ; repayments by the General Government under Public Works account, 1016/ ; do. do., Roads Boards and Public Works account, 3582/ , repayments, 465/ ; education, 953/; licenses, 311/; tolls, 2805/ ; railways, 1616/, and the balance sundries. Rt the c'Urtesy of the respective postmasters, we are enabled to p .blish lists of unclaimed letters lying at the Arrow and Quoenstowu offices at end of November -Arrowtown ; James Anderson, Matt Craig, B. Hallett, care Brown and Turnen William Farrell, James Jones (3), D Kinnear, Charlotte M'Douald, (2), Patrick O’Loughlin, Messrs Rogers and Cooper, Charles Skelton, W. H. Treeby, Richard Walsh, Mr Whrightson, Thos. Williams, Ah Lah, Sin Hung Chung.— Queenstown: Alexander Anderson, George Ash William Boial, John Henry Brown Collins! Kobert Elliot, John H, Galagher, James Gallard, Duncan Gardlor, Morgan Hays, James Inch, J. T. Lakeman, Robt Ren. frew, G, F. Sutherland, Jas. Stewart, J, JEs™* j, Richard Trip, Robert W. The Colonial Champion Combination Comedy Company played in the Library Hall on Wednesday and Thursday even, ings to full houses. Notwithstandig the stage was far too limited for a good display of dramatic power, yet the company, spite of many difficulties, rendered the pieces chosen in a highly effective style. On the first night “Miriam’s Crime” was produced, Miss F. Anstead sustaining the principal character, and Mr J. P. Hydes (whose face was familiar to many here from old associations) and Mr J. South 11 Riles” and “ Muffins” respectively. The minor characters were also played with credit. A laughable farce concluded the irst night’s entertainment. On Thursday evening, “Love’s Test,” and “A Kiss in the Hark,” were given and the hearty applause and bursts ot laughter proved the company had a most appreciative audience. They ate announced to again visittbis district at the Races ; if they do so, not only will they be welcomed to Arrowtown, but the accommodation will be more suited to the display of their histrionic abilities. '

We observe that the enterprising firm o Butel Bros, have purchased an improved thrashing machine, and a. e ro.dy to enter into engagements with it As the machin.is one ot the latest improvements we doubt not the enterprise of the Messrs Butel will be well encouraged by farmers. WE are glad to perceive from our police report that constable Quinn has commenced to take action in a matter which should long ago have occupied the attention of officers stationed here—namely, the putting a stop to horses and cattle wandering about the streets of the town. For years past has this pe.,t been suffered, and we feel certain that some of our cowkeepers animals have had an instinctive knowledge they were at full liberty from the easy and cunning art they have achieved of feloniously entering and p!undering gardens, &c. In fact, nothing seems to have come amiss to them. Put a pair of pants over your garden fence at night, and ten to one you would find only the buttons in the morning ; leave a tub of clothes at your back door, and during the night they are mashed to a shapeless pulp. And all this beside the annoyance of cattle bellowing in your ear’from “ dewey eve till rosey morn.” This kind of thing has been allowed to go on so long that it is no wonder the two offenders of last week looked upon themselves a s injured individuals. It certainly does seem hard that Jopp and Muirhead should be the first to come under the law seeing they are carriers on the road, and could not well help their horses wanderings ; but we trust that the police officers will be equally vigilant with those more deserving of punishment,—townspeople who allow their horses and cows to roam about the town at all hours of the day and night. There should be no partiality shown, but the same measure meted out to all ; and we trust Constable Quinn will persevere in his course of action till we are free from the annoyance.