Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1887.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1578, 25 February 1887, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1887.

Portion of our police report and some communications of local interest are unavoidably held over. The fine weather on Wednesday morning afforded residents a good opportunity of witnessing the annular eclipse of the snn. St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was well filled on Sunday for the purpose of listening to Mission addresses. In the morning Miss Lindley, who is connected with the London Mission Society, cave a very interesting address on Zenana work in India, describing the customs and superstitions of the natives of that country, and the work done in leading them to embrace the Christian faith. In the evening the Rev. H. Scott was to have given an address on Mission work in New Guinea, but owing to serious indisposition (although he opened the service) he was unable to carry out his intentions. The Rev. Mr Walker, however (an old acquaintance who has been travelling with Mr Scott), ably supplied the want, and gave an interesting account of the nature of the country of the natives and of the work of the missionaries in that newly acquired British possession. Our readers generally will regret to hear of the death of an esteemed colonist, Mr Macandrew, who died yesterday from the effects of a buggy accident, whereby two of his ribs were broken, and other internal injuries were sustained. Prof. Black took his departure from this district on Tuesday, after a rather hasty visit—owing to detention at the Hall trial in Dnnedin. He states that he hopes to make a longer stay next season, and that a valuable collection of mineral specimens is on its way from Home, and is intended as the nucleus of a museum at Queenstown. Dr Black tells us that he has a lot of work to do at the West Coast, which is an extensive field of operation in his line. We regret to notice that Mr E. G. Scolon, formerly manager of the Walter Peak station, and latterly sheep inspector at Timaru, has met his death through a fall from a horse. Mr Scolon leaves a wife and five children to mourn his loss. The missing John Murphy, of Stoney Creek, is, after all, amongst the living, and turned up on Monday in Queenstown, as fresh as a daisy. It would appear that he left his hut, some five or six weeks ago—without telling anyone—and made a short cut over the ranges to the head of the 25Mile creek, where he has struck "ile" in the shape of one alluvial claim yielding three or four ounces a week. He made tracks back to his new claim on Tuesday with fresh tucker. We reeret to state that the dwelling house and store of Mr T. O'Conuor, Maori Point, were totally destroyed by fire on Monday night at about nine o'clock—and what is sadder is the fact that there was not a penny insurance on the property. Mr O'Connor was at Queenstown at the time, but, from what we can learn, the fire originated in the dining room of the residence, from phosphorised grain laid under the floor to poison rats. The cash box taken by Mrs O'Connor and the books by a person in the house at the time, were all that could be saved—the remainder being consumed by the devouring elements in about 20 minutes. Mr O'Connor states that he does not think £ISOO would cover his loss of the hard earnings of 25 years on the Shotover. The case is a very sad one and we sincerely sympathise with Mr O'Connor in his heart-rending loss. The nomination of candidates as members of licensing committees have, so far, passed off quietly. As may be seen by notices elsewhere, the required number has been nomiuated and elected for the districts of Greenstone and Matukituki. For Arrowtown borough also there were only the required number, namely, Messrs J. Beier, H. Donaldson, G. Hellar, G. H. Romans and G. Stoddart. No nominations were lodged for Queenstown district, and it is probable that the Governor will appoint the five gentlemen elected for Greenstone. We are glad to hear that Mr J. Baker is making very satisfactory progress with the two sections of Martin's Bay track, for which he is contractor. It iR reported that some stacks of grain, owned by Mr A. Grant, farmer, Frankton, were burnt down yesterday morning at about one o'lock, but the extent of loss is not stated, nor as to whether the stacks were insured or what was the origin. On Friday morning at about half-past 2 o'clock some of the residents of Eichardt's Hotel were considerably startled by an alarm of fire in one of the rooms in the new addition. The fire seems to have originated through a lady visitor not extinguishing her candle. Mr C. Burrell, barman (who was about retiring to rest), and some of the boarders were quickly on the spot, and extinguished the flames without doing serious damage beyond destruction of curtains and Borne of the bedding and furniture. The battery of the Phoenix mine has unfortunately been at a standstill for the past week or more. The stoppage of works is owing to an accident to the electric motor, which will take at least three weeks more to put in order, owing to the difficulty of getting insulated wire and the tedious nature of the work to be executed. The new armatures will possess a great increase in power—at least 50 per cent greater—but like all the new electric machines they require reconstruction. The boiler and engine has been rebuilt in and stsrted with the battery last night. The prospects of the mine in the deep ground were good in the first run, but the drive is not extended east sufficiently far to strike the main run of gold, but it will be so in the course of a fortnight. A fine run of stone was struck yesterday on the main lode going well into the centre of the claim, and it will be the most important discovery yet made if present prospects continue. It is anticipated to be a continuation of the main run of gold that was cut off from the middle lode by a cross course, and if this surmise prove true it will show a heave of nearly 300 feet—a feature of mining not new, but startling for the colonies and seldom proved. A correspondent, writing from Skippers Point under date, 21st instant, says:—"On Saturday evening a concert and dance were given in the Library Hall in aid of the Oliver family, the father having been in the hospital about four months, and whilst there his house was burned down. It is not often we have a visit from professionals or exprofessionals, but Mrs Oliver (an old stage hand) highly delighted the audience by her sentimental, comic and minstrel songs. Considering the little assistance that Mrs Oliver had, she surprised the company by the manner in which she kept up the life of the evening, and the quickness with which she changed her costumes to suit the different characters. Mrs Oliver also gave two or three specimens of her dancing capabilities. Messrs H. Cowan and Sainsbury kindly came forward and sang whilst Mrs Oliver was changing her habiliments. Mr Phillipini presided at the grand new harmonium (lately bought by the Library Committed), and Mr Travers, with bis uauaj ability, accompanied on the cornet.