Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 1878.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1056, 21 February 1878, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, THURSDAY, FEB. 21, 1878.

Reports of the R.M. and Warden's and Queenstown Assessment Courts, held yesterday and today, are held over; also Municipal Council report. At the Assessment Court the majority of objections were not sustained, but there was much hard fighting over them. Mr Turton appeared for the majority of objectors; Mr Geisow for National Bank; and Mr Finn on behalf of the Corporation. A break in one of the cogs of the Nugget and Cornish Company's machinery brought the battery to a stand-still on Thursday last. However, the defect has been repaired, and we believe crushing commenced again on Monday last. As it is not unlikely the Premier will visit South, land during his official tour of the provincial districts, we trust he will be induced to visit the Lakes. Sir George paid a vice-regal visit here many years since, and we are sure he will be as heartily welcomed now as the chief of the Colonial Cabinet.

A general meeting of the Volunteer Demonstration Committee is appointed for Saturday evening at Eichardt's Hotel. The business to be considered is, we believe, very important, and it is therefore to be hoped that the attendance will be good A partial (about four-fifths) eclipse of the moon, very indifferently noticed in our provincial calendars, occasioned considerable interest amongst spectators in this district on Sunday night. The moon being at its full and the night fine, the phenomenon was very clearly defined. The beginning of the eclipse was about a quarter to nine o'clock and the termination some four hours afterwards. The Oamaru Mail understands that Mr Larnach will not resign his position in the Ministry. He proceeds to England by the first opportunity, and will return during the progress of next session. Richmond Beetham Esq., R.M., has been gazetted a Judge of the Assessment Court for no fewer than twenty six highway districts, and one municipality. Very like '' plurality of offices."

We have been requested to draw attention to a notice in another colum inviting offers for the barvesting of Mr M 'Caugnan's crops. The land is some of the best in Southland—consequently a favorable opportunity is presented to good farming hands of entering into what should be a very profitable undertaking.

An iuquest was held on Tuesday, before Mr Stratford, coroner, touching the death of William Egan, when the jury returned a verdict ef accidental death. Oar Skippers correspondent gives an account of the sad accident. Deceased, who is brother-in-law to Mr M. Dwyer, of Frankton, was highly respected by all who knew him, and his remains were yesterday followed by a large number of horsemen and persons in vehicles from here to Frankton Cemetery. The funeral sen-ice was performed by the Rev. Father M'Kay. So far as the harvest has progressed it is amply repaying the husbandmen. The wheat crop will probably average forty bushels per acre and in numerous cases is of course much heavier than this—from 50 to 60 bushels. The grain is plump, hard and dry and we hear few complaints of sudden ripening and shedding of the grain. It has been as the farmer styles it, a good harvest gathering. It is a month behind the early seasons, bnt the crops have on the other hand, been gradually

ripening—according to the circumstances of sowing ; nature of land and seed; aspect, shelter and other mat era, and the weather, although threatening, still continues fine. Farmers will therefore do well to secure their stacks from rain. The oat crop is also coming forward fast and is very promising, bnt it is not a large one, more attention having been given last year to the sowing of wheat. Barley looks well but it is a small crop. We shall therefore this year be able to send away flour supplies and must depend upon the Southland market for support. That market has chiefly in the past drawn upon Oamaru for wheat or flour for mixing purposes. The grain it is well known is harder and drier and our flour better than obtained from thence. With every additional ten miles of railway from Kingston to Athol being completed we approach the market more closely. Of course, the question of approach to the Southland markets w also governed by price and this must be effected by cost of transit; hence our reference to the completion of the line of railway which will also give this district the benefit of the Bluff Harbor for export purposes. The price per bushel will probably range at first from 4s 6d to 5s delivered at Kingston or Queenstown.

The Rev. J. Copeland, from New Hebrides, who has been paying a visit to the district, left by steam r this morning. He preached in the Presbyterian Churches last Sunday at Arrowtown, Frankton and Queenstown. Very interesting information respecting the islands of New Hebrides was given as to the climate, the vegetable productions and the people in their heathen and Christian state. There were from twenty to thirty islands in the group, the natives of every one speaking a different language; they had a population of 150,000. The fist missionary that landed on them was the heroic John Williams, who fell a martyr on Erromanger. Now there were 10 Missionaries and 3,000 attending Christian worship. There are 2,000 at school. The mean temperature in the sun was 133 degrees Fah. and the highest 162 degrees. Much cruelty and superstition reigned among the heathen of those islands yet, whilst infanticide and polygamy were still practised. Left to themselves, there was no tendency to rise, but to sink lower and lower in morality. There was a Mission vessel called the "Day Spring" kept for the use of the Missionaries at an annual cost of £1,900 and provided by the Sunday Schools of the Colonies.