The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Wednesday, Dec 24, 1870 Local and General News.

Lake County Press, Volume VIII, Issue 450, 24 December 1879, Page 2

The Arrow Observer, AND LAKES DISTRICT CHRONICLE. Arrowtown, Wednesday, Dec 24, 1870 Local and General News.

We have received a telegram from the Commissioner of Crown Lands intimating that the registered residence-areas in ■ the borough extension are withdrawn from sale. Particulars of the alteration will appear in our next issue. Dr Dickinson has now taken up his residence in the house on the terrace formerly occupied by Dr Scott, adjacent to the English church. A "wonderful illusionary performance," including ." Pepper's Ghost," is announced for the Library Hall on Saturday and Monday evenings next, and for the Town Hall, Queenstown, on Tuesday and Wednesday. A distribution of prizes is included in the programme. Mr E. Gruber, who was recently elected District Deputy of the Good Templars in the Wakatip, has received his commission from the G.W.C.T. (Rev. Dr. Roseby). One of our local '' Knights of the cleaver " made a, most effective " Christmas Show " of meat in his establishment to-day, reminding us strongly of the custom which holds in large towns, where competition is keen and show a desideratum. The decorations were most tasty; but the main attraction was a splendid carcase of beef, which surpasses anything we have ever seen in the district. The bullock referred to was one of a mob brought from Southland by Mr Colville, and weighed 9891b5. The Gibbston Sports Committee advertise a really good programme for New Tear's Day; and, as there is nothing to engage the attention of pleasure-seekers, at this end of the district on that day, we expect to see a large gathering. Owing to a railway excursion from Invercargill to Kingston on Boxing-day, the Mountaineer is advertised to make two trips from Queenstown to Kingston, one at six o'clock in the morning and one at six o'clock in the evening. An important notice to ratepayers in the borough appears in our advertisement columns this week, to the effect that all defaulters will be placed on the "Defaulter's List" after the 31st inst. , The Race Committee have altered the ) Handicap Hurdle Race on the 27th to a postentry instead of a nomination event. We believe that Mr G. Heller has carried off the palm this year in the district for early cucumbers. On Saturday last he cut some which he has grown measuring nine inches in length, and proportionately bulky. This i gentleman takes great pains to secure early 1 specimens, and succeeds well.

The following are the -weights for horses entered in the Grand Stand and Arrow Handicaps : Speculation, 9st 101b; Pert Philip Buck, Bst 101b; Etty, Bst. - For the Grand Stand Handicap all accepted; and for the Arrow Handicap Speculation and Port Philip Buck. Dimant and Co. are extending their stay in the Arrow over the New Tear holidays. We hare received from Messrs G. R. West and Co., Dunedin, No. 2 of their "New Zealand Musical Magazine," just issued. It contains twelve of the most popular drawingroom pieces, waltzes, sehottisches, and songs ; and, like the first number published a short » time since, is highly creditable to all concerned in its production. This is a venture which all lovers of music should support heartily, as supplying a long-felt want in the shape of cheap standard music' and songs. The price of each number—one shillingbrings them within the reach of all. A valuable mare, the property of Mr G. A. Barker, fell over the bank on to the river beach at the end of Wiltshire Street yesterday, and broke its back. An end was put to the poor brute's suffering by shooting as soon as it was discovered. We understand that Mr Barker had sold the mare at a good price to a person, who was in town for the purpose of taking her away. We have received a letter from " A Subscriber ". to the •■ mcaukie ru.ua " u>kin 9 f o * particulars as to amount and appropriation of funds collected. Mr J. A. MillerJwiQ be happy to give full information on the subject to any subscribers who apply to him. Mr and Mrs J. Galland were appointed wardsman and matron to the Arrow District Hospital at a special meeting of the Committee on Friday evening last, the salary being £IOO per annum, with all found. There was one other application received, bnt as no salary was mentioned, it could not be considered. Mr and Mrs Galland enter upon their duties on the Ist proximo ; on which date the hospital will be opened for patients. The Rev. D. Ross preached a temperance sermon, as announced, in St. John's Church on Sunday morning last, basing his discourse upon Romans xiv.—21, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink -wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." The nomination of a, Councillor for Bush Ward in room of Councillor Jenkins (resigned) is fixed by the Returning Officer for Saturday next, at noon. It is to be hoped that a repetition of the difficulty experienced in filling the last vacant seat in the Council will not occur—as each failure of nomination entails an additional outlay of borough funds for advertising. By a printer's error last week in some of our copies the Ward for which the vacancy existed was loft in doubt, but in our present issue the advertisement appears in accurate form. The Arrow District Hospital Committee invite tenders for supplies to the institution for six months. Tenders close on the 2nd proximo; on which day the last ordinary meeting of the present Committee will be held, rendering a full attendance of members particularly desirable. Mr France, one of the rifle shots in England, has arrived in AVellington from Homo in the Are'thusa. He has with him an iron safe about 2ft. 6in. full of cups and trophies won by that gentleman in various contestsjat Home. Ho has, says a local paper, at least substantial credentials for board and lodgings. The Waimate correspondent of the ' Morning Herald' says :—" The almost continuous downpour of rain which has lasted for the past six weeks still continues, and it is feared that the crops throughout the district will suffer severely. Rot has already appeared in some of the crops on the low lying farms where the ground is covered with water. The roads are also severely damaged in consequence of the continual flow of water. The Waimate Main Bush road is so damaged as to become almost impassable, and business in the timber line is at a stand-still, as it is impossible for men to work, the ground having become a perfect quagmire. A London cablegram to the ' Argus' states that the Admiralty have, at the instance of the New Zealand Government, despatched H.M.'s corvette Comas to the Crozet Islands in search of the wreck of the ship Kixncsley Hall, which left London for Lyttelton in June last and has not since been heard of. At the last sitting of the Waste Lands Board Messrs Connell and Moodie, on behalf of E. A. Dooley, applied for seven years' lease of coal pit area at Deep Creek, Gibbston, lately licensed to W. N. Scheib, deceased. —Referred to the Warden, in order that one month's notice to surrender license may be served upon representatives of late licensee. A shocking accident occurred at Emerald Hill (Victoria) quite recently. A man carried his little son to the top of a scaffolding of the tower of the local Town Hall, and becoming giddy dropped the child nearly 200 ft, also falling himself. _ The boy was killed and the : man seriously injured. A disease called "The Black Tongue " has appeared in London townships, Canada. The medical men are baffled. The people attacked die speedily. The disease is said to be a virulent form of diphtheria. By a private letter received from the North the 'North Otago Times' learns that the people of Wellington "count with comparative certainty upon another and Jinal Maori war." The writer, whose position enables him to speak with authority, adds, " everything here points to it." . A Liverpool medical man, writing to a contemporory, says :—" That having been called to attend a man who was suffering from the result of a carouse on the occasion of his niece's marriage, he found a dozen persons, mostly young women, in a room with full glasses before them, a three-gallon jar of strong ale on the table, and several bottles of whisky. The revels were kept up for five days; the drink alone costing £2O. Several young fellows appeared to have clubbed together to meet the" cost, and had been, in fact, saving up for weeks previously so as to have a full indulgence. The father pawned his watch and several articles of furniture; one young fellow pledged his coat, hat, and watch; and the sum of £5 was advanced on the security of their names by the publican, to find its way back into his till as fresh I supplies of liquor were called for."—A little boy, aged five, has just died at Appleby from the effects of brandy drinking. He and his elder brother had between them drank a pint of spirits which had been left in the room. The mother on returning home found both helplessly intoxicated, and only the elder rc- , covered.