LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Lake County Press, Issue 2254, 7 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Officer Commanding the District will inspect tho Wakatipu Mounted Rifles on the 24th inst. The Queenstown Regatta Committee has issued a very attractive programme for the

annual regatta on the 18th April (Easter Saturday). Tho sum of .£69 will be given in prizes for first-class rowing events. The different excursions' up Lake Wakatipu during the holidays were liberally patronised by local people and visitors, who were loud in their praises of the scenic beauties of Elfin Bay and Head of Lake. Tourists still continue to fiock to Queenstown in large numbers, some 90 odd arriving by Saturday night's boat. Accommodation is fairly we'll taxed. The first of the weekend excursions commences on Saturday next. Mb J. A. Algie, Queenstown's now postmaster, took up his duties on the 2nd. Mr Keele left the same day for Lyttelton. Prior to his departure Mr Keele was presented with a gift from the Bowling Club as a token of esteem and regard. The Arrow Club's bowling green is playing well and is being liberally patronised by bowlers and f heir friends. A tournament is being held at present, and is creating a good deal of interest. The prize is a set of pipes, generously donated by a member of the Club. Tho Dunedin mails arriving in Arrowtpwn on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings are now sorted in the boxes on arrival of the coach. The Department has reduced the annual charge for post office boxes from £1 to 10s. Who wouldn't have a box at this very reasonable rate ! J A correspondent informs us of the sudden illness of several men at To Anau Downs Station. They ate some buns for lunch, and in a few minutes became ill, vomiting at intervals. Doubtless the. ingredients of the buns will be analysed. We understand the matter is in the hands of the police. Is conversation with Mr R. A. Cruickshank, Mayer,of Bluff, who visited Arrowtown on Tuesday with Mr W. Ross, his brother-in-law, we learned that alreay lambs are being taken to the freezing works there and a good season is anticipated. The Bluff Harbor Board, always anxious to improve its port, has adopted.a new method for the removal of rock from the channel. Previously the rock was blasted out but now an appliance is used for crushing the rock. It has a force of 50 ton and is doing good work. The year, previous to last, was an exceptionally big one at the freezing works, the .exports totalling a very large amount in monetary value. As the train was leaving Bluff station on Saturday night a man attempted to board it. He slipped between a carriage and the platform, but fortunately escaped without injury. A resident of the Bluff, named George Thomas, about 30 years of age, was found drowned in Bluff harbor on Sunday morning. The previous night was very dark and it is thought he lost his footing while going aboard a cutter. Wakatipu people have no occasion what ever to send to tho cities for jewellery. You can obtain it in endless variety, first-class quality, and moderate cost at S. B. Pettersson's, Queenstown. The Oamaru police met the first express from the north on Thursday, and a search of one or two carriages resulted in the discovery of two Gladstone bags and a carefullysewn sack, which were not addressed or labelled and wore not claimed by anyone on the car, but which were promptly claimed by the police and removed to the police station, whore a display was made of 52 bottles of whiskey and six of beer, evidently intended for the. New Year festivities. It has been ascertained that the packages came from Timaru, and although no one admitted ownership, the police believe they have sufficient evidence to obtain a conviction against a local resident who jumped off tho same carriage when the train pulled up. Many interesting things about Machnpw, " the tallest man on earth," who is appearing at the Grand Theatre, Birmingham, England, were told by Mr O. Bollinger, his agent. To begin with, feeding of the giant is no small thing. Machnow's 9i't 2iu are only supported by a very liberal diet. His breakfast may consist of half a gallon of tea, one loaf of bread, lib of butter, and half a dozen eggs, with a follow on of marmalade. For lunch he can dispose without effort of 41b of meat, 21b of vegetables, the whole of a pudding, and various etceteras. Afternoon tea, taken Russian fashion, keeps him going until his work in tho halls is concluded, when he sits down to enjoy a substantial supper, at which he will sometimes polish off the whole of a leg of mutton or make havoc of a. sirloin of beef. A helping of pickles usually means the whole of tho coutenls of a bottle., and a satisfying drink not infrequently takes the form of a dozen hotihs. of beer. Supper over, Mnehnow thinks of sleep, for winch purpose three beds are laid side by side in order to supply him with the requisite length of resting place.

Admiral''Sperry's fleet has arrived at Suez. A serious riot has taken place at Broken Hill. An attempt was made to blow up a line of tramways. A double drowning fatality occurred in Pelorous Sound, on Christmas Day, two young men, Percy Blackbie and Thomas Wakefield, losing their lives. A Washington telegram implies that the cruise of Admiral Sperry's fleet of 16 battleships has cost j£ 10,000,000, the bill of coaling alone running into .£5,500,000. There is a demand for housos in Arrowtown. A couple of years back there were several empty ; now not one. This speaks well for the-prosperity of tho place. The Masterton dredge has been a veritable gold mine. It was started four years ago with a capital of .£SOOO, and has paid £25,000 in dividends, equal to over 100 per cent, per annum. A cjooi) article commands a fair price, and good workmanship is a necessary attendant. One goes with the other. For watch repairs, go to S. B. Pcttersson Queenstown. Firstclass workmanship guaranteed, and good value for money always obtainable.