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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1834, 28 August 1891, Page 2

The fate of Government measures has been pretty well decided upon. The Criminal Code, Civil Service, and Industrial Conciliation Bills will probably be dropped, and possibly the Bankruptcy, Libel, and Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill. The following, however, will if possible be passed into law :—The Land Bill, Electoral Bill, Payment of Members' Bill, Mining Bill, Legislative Council Reform Bill, Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill, School Committees' Election JBill, Naval and Military Settlers' and Volunteers' Land Bill, Counties Act Amendment Bill, and Post Office Amendment Bill. The debate in the House on Monday evening, over Sir John Hall's Female Franchise Bill, is more than usually lively reading, and would have passed off pleaseutly but for the fact that Mr Fish was very obstructive, lost his temper and deserted the Government. Unusual interest was taken in the debate, and the ladies gallery was crowded. The second reading of the bill was carried by 33 votes to 8 besides which there were 14 pairs. We omitted to mention last week that the management of the Convent Schools co-operated heartily in the celebration of Arbor Day, and the pupils were given a holiday on the occasion. The bazaar to be held next week, in aid of the

Queenstown School'fuuds, bids fair to prove remarkably successful, as the committee have met with very liberal response from nearly all quarters. The conse juence is that a large and varied collection of articles—many ofthem both handsome and valuable —are in hand, and, we hear, others are yet to come in. The goods were opened out in the school-house last evening for the purpose of being priced, but the committee and lady assistants Mere unable to get through more than about half, although engaged till near midnight. The members of St. Paul's (Wesleyan) Literary and Musical Society aud those{of the Union Debating Club luvercargill united their forces on Wednesday evening (says the local Times) for the purpose of debating a question which is just now receiving a good deal of attention—that of the extension of the franchise to women, and after a most animated discussion, a vote was taken, with the result that a large majority of those present pronouued against the extension of electoral rights. On Monday Mr T. Hicks (on behalf of the donors, Misses Robertson and Miss Mooney) presented the Queenstown Brass Band with a very handsome flag for use in the Park Rotunda and ou other fitting occasions. The banner, which is about 6ft x 4ft. has a blue ground with white border, and in the ceutre, nicely worked in gold, are a lyre and the initials '•Q.8.8." Mr A. Fraser, conductor, on behalf of the members, expressed himself as highly delighted with the very welcome donotion and, at a meeting held in the evening, a hearty vote of thanks was passed by the Band to the kind donors. A most enjoyable dance (under the auspice* of the Queenstown Quadrille Assembly) was held in the Garrison Hall on Wednesday evening last. There was a very good attendance and dancing was kept up until about one o'clock, when all went away quite content with their evening's pleasure. The music (piano) «%as supplied by Mr A. E. Aldridge, aud the splendid instrument used on the occasion was very generously lent by Mrs M'Bride, of M'Bride's Family Hotel, for which the committee return their best thanks. Mr Small acted as M.C. in his usual efficient manner.

A scratch football match between the following local teams will played on the reserve at 4 p.m. sharp, on Wednesday Dext :—(Blues) Backs—F, Hotop, Firth, Wilson, A. Robertson, VV. Sloan ; forwards, Small, Daniel, G. Anderson, C. Gavin, C. Robertson, VV. Mayne, C. Shore and D. Matheson, Yellows :—Backs—VV. Warren, Malaghan, F. M'Donald, M. Gavin, H. Lorden ; forwards J. Powell, J. Reid, J. C. M Bride, W. Robertson S. Hadley, W. Stenhouse and C. Keay. The team to play against Bannockburn to-morrow week will be chosen from the following:—Backs—S. Feiguson, Golding, Firth, M 'Donald, Wilson, Malaghan, Lorden; forwards—J. Reid, M. J. Gaviu, J. Simmers, H. Small, F. Daniel, S. Hadley, A. Robertson, G. Cuuniugham, J. W. Gardiner, W. Mayne, W. Sloan, C Gavin and W. Powell. The Band have kindly offered to discoi.rce sweet music on the occasion.

The interprovincial football match on Saturday between Canterbury and Wellington, was a rather fast one, but the Cantabs wi-rt too good for their opponents, and they won by 16 points to 1. Peter Curtain a railway carpenter, met with a rather serious accident at Kingston yesterday morning, having cut the calf of one of his legs nearly through. He was conveyed to luvercargiil for surgical treatment by the mid-day train. Our correspondent does not state how the accident occurred. Mr J. Black, County engineer, has just returned from the Dart valley, whither he went some three weeks ago to survey a road line there. We hear that a few miles of most impasssable portions of what is a rather rouyh country has been laid off, and, as soon as plans, etc. can be brepared, tenders will be called for the work.

Our obituary coloumu records the death of one of our oldest Shotover miners, Mr J. Gemmell, who, although of a very quiet, retiring disposition, was well kuown by the residents generally, and much repected by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, for his sterling qualities. A special meeting of the local Acclimatisation Society is fixed for Wednesday next, with the object of amending the Rules. It will be noticed by advertisement elsewhere that a meeting of those interested is called for Wednesday, at M'Biide's Hotel, for the purpose of considering the advisability of taking steps to hold a spring race meeting. Borough Council nomiuations for annual election in place of three retiring councillors and of Mr M'Bride, resigned, are to be seut in by noon of Wednesday next. The time is short, but still long enough we hope to secure good candidates. The annual concert and ball, in aid of Shotover School funds is announced for the 18th next month. The affair has iuvariably turned out a very enjoyable and successful one, and there need be little fear, we think, that the oue pending will prove otherwise. Mr Walde announces that he has on hand a small quantity of that favorite cereal, velvet wheat, for sale. Messrs Howden and Moncrieff, seedsmen, Dunedin, intimate in their business notice, that Mr J. J. M'Bride, of this town, is their local agent. Mr A. E. Aldridge intimates that he is prepared to receive pupils desirious of learning Pitman's admirable system of shorthand.