Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Friday, January 1, 1897.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2138, 1 January 1897, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Friday, January 1, 1897.

As the next issue of the Mail will be published on Friday morning, instead of evening, advertisers are requested to forward any orders a day earlier than usual. Ring out the old and ring in the new." Our streets presented a lively appearance last evening, and at midnight the band,{followed by the fire brigade, foimed a torchlight procession to the cheeiing strains of music. Of course there were the timehonoured congratulations and shake-hands all round. We, in turn, share in the rejoicings, and greet our numerous readers, one and all, wishing them many Happy Returns or the Day.

Mr T. F. Malaghau, secretary, informs us that Activity and Harold were this afternoon sciatcbed for the Two-mile Trot, Since our last issue has been very like a carnival week, for scarcely a day has passed without some kind of recreation or festivity. There are more to follow, to wit, the annual sports to-day of the Qaeenstown Athletic Club and on Saturday another lake excursion to that delightful resort, Kere Lake. Next Thursday is fixed for the usual picnic of the Presbyterian Church Sunday School, whilst on that and the following day the race meeting of the Lake County Jockey Club is to take place. Reports of event! of the present week appear in other parts of this issue, with the exception of an account (crowded out) of the association cricket match here on Wednesday between the Cardrona and Queenstown clubs, when the former—who had deserved a better fate but for their indifferent fielding—lost a well contested match by two wickets. The events, as a whole passed off very successfully, and with equally fine weather in the near future, coming events bi<l fair to be equally successful. The appeal made to the members of the Church of England, in this district to reduce the debt owing, met with a hearty response from the congregation of St Peter's, Queenstown on Christmas day, the voluntary offerings amounting to £l2 18s, and from amounts since sent in, we understand the total is now over £l4. Some disappointment was experienced that the country members of the church did not respond to the appeal in such numbers as were expected : but, as there i 3 still a considerable sum owing, no doubt many of them will yet send in contributions to the Rev. A. D. Mitchell, or to any member of the vestry, or they will probably take tickets for the concert to be held in the Town Hall on 21st January, for the same object. The excursion to Rere Lake on Boxing Day was well patronised, the p,s. Mountaineer being almost crowded. No representative from the ' Mail ! office was present, but we learn fiom passengers that the outing was very enjoyable for one and all—to which pleasure the care and attention of Capts. Wing and Simmers and their men contributed in no small degree. Mr and Mrs Thomas, Kingston, the death of whose son is recorded elsewhere, wish to tender their sincere thanks to the numerous friends who showed so much sympathy during their recent sad bereavement. Deceased, who was a fine healthy young man .died from the effects of a severe attack of pleurisy. The body was conveyed on Tuesday to Kingston for interment there. In the shop window of Mr Pettersson, Rees-street may be seen some handsome trophies presented through Messrs O'Meara and Co for competition at to-day's bicycle races. There are a beautifully chased plated butter cooler given by Messrs Thomson, Bridger itnd Co. a lamp by Messrs Briscoe and Co. and a cruet stand by the N.Z. Hardware Co,, all of Dunedin. Wesleyan services on Sunday next, by Rev W. A. Gann, as follow :—Queenstown, 11; Lower Shotover, 3; Arrowtown 7Local supplies at Queenstown and Bullendale 7 p.m.

Church of England services on Sunday next as follows (Rev. A. D. Mitchell) : Arrojetown.il a.m. (H.C.) ; Queenstown, 7 p.m. January 12. Pembroke, 7.30 p.m. ; 14th, Cardrona, 7.30 p.m., and loth, Crown Terrace, 7.30 p.m. Presbyteriau services by the Rev. R. H. Blair on Sunday at Arrowtown, 11 a.m. and Queenstown, 7 p.m. ; and by Mr J. R. .Shore at Queenstown, 11 a.m. ; Miller's Flat, 2.30; and Arrowtown, 7 p.m. List week's return from the Sew Hoy Big Beach Co was 82oz 7£dwts of retorted gold.

Chambeilain's Cough remedy cures colds croup, and whooping cough. It is pleasant, safe and reliable. For sale bv L. Hotop, chemwl:

Mr R. C. White,the respected manager of the Sandbilla Dredge Co., waa lately the recipient of a handsome present from the dredge employees, the occasion being his marriage with Miss Asplnall. The gift—a splendid marble clock suitably inscribed—was presented on behalf of the employees by Mr H. Present, who in a pleasing and appropriate speech, wished Mr White and the bride a long and happy life, and asked him to accept the time piece as a smsll token of the good feeling which had always eiisted between himself aod the dredge employees. Mr Samuel Cowan, an old and esteemed resident was found dead in his hut at Macetown oa Christmas Day, the causa of death being heart disease. Deceased was 73 years of age* The system of lighting the express carriages on the Christchnrch-Dnnedin and Duuedin-Invercargill sections of railway by means of compressed gas has'proved so successful thst a similar installation for the Aucklaod-Rotorua railway has been ordered from London. It is also intended to light the trains on the Wellington-Wairarapa section in the same manner some time next year. The cost of the gas is leas than that of kerosene, and the carriages on the Southern lines are much better lighted than before the adoption of the system now in rogue.—Wellington * Post.'

Mills Dick and Co's. Directory for the current ytar contains the usual quantity of information, useful alike to all classes of the community. Mr R. Pritchard announces that he' is carrying on busines in the Athenamm Hall, Arrow town.

Lady Cook concludes a long letter to young men as follows:—" Everyone should endeavour to live a full life, to exercise and perfect, as far as may "be, all his best faculties, to repress the lower and raise the higher instincts. A noble life demands much self-sacrifice, but self-indulgence will extinguish every spark of true nobility in the noblest natures. He who tries to live for himself only violates the universal law of nature which demands sacrifices from every living creature. Each is a connected link in the chain of eternal sequences, "and feels the weight before aud after. To see life is to be earnest, intelligent, temperate, honest in word aod thought, and deed, just, modest, clean in body and mind, cheerful and industrious. Any healthy young man can attain these, and he who does so will find that he has not lived in vain, but has enriched others and found happiness for himself. This is the course which nature aud God prescribe, and is the only perfect life." The ' Taieri Advocate' says that one of the late candidates for the Caversham seat was greatly disappointed at the result, for he had laid the nattering unction to his soul that he would, after the numbers were up, be entitled to add the letters M.H.R. to his name. His fond hope was not fulfilled, and be is seeking revenge. He was a prominent man in certain religious circles and used to do a great deal of preaching. He is imbued with the idea that the members of hia church did not vote for him quite as solidly as he expected, and-he now refuses to do any more preaching. If they would not vote for him he won't preach for them, and strained relations now exist. Relations are a little strained between the D. J.C. and the South Island Trotting Association. The Metropolitan Club refused to recognise the Association's jurisdiction except over trotting meetings pure and simple, and the latter retaliated by disqualifying all trotting horses, etc., competing at meetings under the jurisdiction of the D.J.C. where the programmes have not been passed by the Association. Since then the Association has backed down and removed the disqualifications.

It is said that on election day one of tbe leading Wellington firms stopped twopencehalfpenoy from the wages of a poor apprentice girl so as not to lose anything by the holiday. Her pay was tivepence a dayhalf a crown a week.

Probably the most delicate compliment to an Australian actor says the ' Bulletin ' was that paid by Du Maurier, author of 'Trilby,' to Geo. Darrell. George started out to play Svengali, and Du Mauiier died the very next day !', Half a century ago no customs duties were levied in New Zealand, the revenue being raised by direct taxation. A friend has Ipft at the office of the ' Hawke's Bay Herald' a volume of the " Primitive Methodist Magazine" for 1845, containing an article by Mr Robert Ward, of New Plymouth, dated 3rd of March 1845, in which he said :—" In September the Governor (Captain Fitzroy) proclaimed every port in New Zealand free, and in lieu of the duty which was paid ou all goods landed for sale, the property and income tax has been substituted. Every person who has property or income (whether salary or otherwise) amounting to £SO ind under £IOO per annum must pay £1 per annum ; if £IOO and under £2OO, £2 per annum; if £2OO and under £3OO, £3 per annum; and in a similar proportion upwards. If any persons wish not to have their property and income stated, they may by paying £l2 a year be free." Although there were *o millionaires in those days a tine loophole was afforded owners of thousands of pounds escaping their equitable share of taxation by paying the maximum of i.l'2.

Perhaps the attitude of Mr Seddon and his party has never been more epigrammatically described than by Mr Rolleston, when, quoting Lecky'a "Liberty and Democracy," he ■aid, " Cant is never a beautiful thing, but among the forms that are now current in the world, the decking of plunder in the garment of honesty is perhaps the most nauseous." Here (says the ' Wangauui Chronicle') we have summed up almost the whole policy of the Government. " Cant " to the working man when they run dowu the capitalist as a "social pest," " Cant " to the capitalist and land-owner when they try to lead them to believe that the Government do not wish to attack capital, or the freehold tenure; "plunder in the garment of honesty " when they seize the local bodies' sinking funds, or try to take away the Crown grants of the Horrowhenua Block, or gold mining areas on private land.

Gauder has challenged the world to row him for the championship at Toronto in June, or he will meet Harding or Barry in England in August. The decision of the French army authorites to introduce the Canet gun will probably compel Germany to improve her artillery at a cost of two hundred million marks.

It is said that a man can live comfortably in Japan on £7 a year, which will pay for board and lodging, and that many live on £3.

The ' Southland Times' has been purchased by Mr R. Gilmour, who has been for many years manager of the ' Times ' Company. Mr Gilmour is an old and much respected luvercargill citizen, and we wish him success.

The Enchanted Swing, which is erected on a vacant allotment in Invercargill, seems to be something new in the way of sensation. The local * News ' says the feature of the Swing is that thesitters are under the impression that they are going to and fro while they are remaining quite still all the time, and the culminating point is reached when they seem to be in an upside down prsition. The December Shilling Double Christmas Number of the ' Windsor Magazine' will be on sale early in January. The extraordinary quantity of high-class illustrated reading matter promised, will render the production quite a notable example of publishing enterprise. The principal features will be a separate Illustrated Supplement, consisting of a long complete Novel by Guy Boothby, only otherwise obtainable at half-a-crown ; the first teu chapters of Hall Caine's New Story ; and an excellent photogravure portrait of Her Majesty the Queen. The 'Evening News,' Sydney, says in regard to the application of Eucalyptus in influenza:—" We have to exercise caution to get an article freed of its astringent constituents or else it will prevent th 6 excretion of the disease-producing germs. A preparation known as Sander and Sons Eucalypti Extract was fouud to be the only refined one, and proved to be possessed of the highest fjermhilling qnalities,"