OCCASIONAL NOTES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2139, 8 January 1897, Page 5

OCCASIONAL NOTES.

Arrowtown, 2nd January. Christmas and New Yen's festivities have come and gone, and never for many years past, have we had more beautiful weather, nor such large gatherings as those at the succession of receut sports and local entertainments.

On Boxing Day onr beautiful recreation ground was fairly crowded, and the varied colours of the ladies' costumes made it appear a perfect flower garden—the grand avenues of the dark green pine trees surrounding ths grounds making a picturesque background, and at the airae time giving a grateful shade to the hurdreds who were seated thereunder. Among one of the many new features introduced at this gathering of the Arrow Athletic Club, and materially conducing to its success and pleasure, was thst of the Queenstown Brass Band, whose playing of the liviliest strains, co-mingled with choice selec tions of a more -sentimental nature, drew well-deserved praise from all. The novelties of the bicycle race and trotting match also varied -with pleasure to the onlookers—the the ordinary run of the Club's programmeOur genial hostess, Mis Dyson, kept up a capital supply of refreshments at the booths and fruit stall, and although there must have been 600 visitors on tbe ground, sobriety was the older of the day, as hardly an inebriate was to be seen smong the large concourse; but notwithstanding this, Mrs Dyson must have realised a very handsome return for the day.

On New .Year's Eve our Hospital Ball took place as usual, and it was well patroniied. It goes without saying that the music by Mr M'Laughlin's baud, and the ball supper superintended by Mrs Perelle were both highly satisfactory.- A new, and now a favourite element in the " Alberts." was introduced here for the first time in the '• chain waltz" figure—that was the " Basket Dance." which looked exceedingly 1 graceful und pretty; Among the many elegant and be oinini! cos'umes of the ladies, some of whom were very richly dressed, the one generally admired, was that of Miss Slattery of your town, who may fairly he said to have been the " belle of the ball." We have not yet heard of the total receipts, bat believe that some 40 tickets were sold in • Macetown alone.

~, The ber.utiful cantata called the " Flower Wreath." w*« itieen on the 30th December at the Arrow Drill Hall in aid of the Wesleyau Church funds. The connective readings were given by the Rev Mr Oann in a ciear and expressive manner. The choir consisted principally of young girls from Macttown, amoug whom were four violiuis's who, with Miss Edwards (Airow) played the orchestral parts with great caie. The children's voices rang out in pure soprano, as clear as bells, and in excellent time, reflecting great credit on the teaching of tbe instructor, Mr W. Burrows, who has for some time past been " bringing out " these mountain belles, and has so perfected their natural abilities in a vocal sense, as well as instrumental, that they can now hjl'l their own ; nay, if not excel, many of the children of the larger centres in Lake County. Their voices ring clear and sweet as the Swiss "yodels," that can be heard in the European Alps. Turning from pleasure we can look backward to the general aspect which the district has assumed during the past year. With regard to our mmes a higher prospect has been given than that of tbe year preceding, for both in the Tipperary and Premier reefs stone has been struck of a payable nature ami of a good average width. The Criterion reef at Arrowtown. which had been lying untouched for some 30 years, has hi-en prospected shewing payable stone ou the surface 120 feet from the old workings, with a width of 12 feet on its " cap," and prelimi- . naiiee are being negotiated to form a Home Company to work it. the Victor /Emmanuel and Garibaldi at Maceto A*n have also recently been proved to hay e a continuation of goldeu stone, and capital is being raised to thoroughly open and work both mines as well as the old Homeward Bound and Ladye Favre lipes. The Sunrise Lease. Advance Peak, is'slso being opened out by the Glenrock Coy. (who owp the Premier). ' pi alluvial mining steps are being taken by 'Home syndicate to dredger the Rawarafl, n«ar Victoria Bridge. Several large claims have also been taken up on Cardrona River, to be worked under the dredging system by starting some miles below where the rich " lead " was lost in the early days. An asbestos lode, or deposit, has also been prospected on the Gentle Annie rauge by I'acon and party (a Home syndicate) who appear to be satisfied with the result thus far. The Arrow Flat has again been pegged off, this time by a Christ hurch syndicate, and it is iu'eoded to work 30 acres by the hydraulic system, tbe water fur the race to be brought from Brackens Gully to a rocky spur opposite Arrowtown, when a direct pressure of 750 feet can be obtained to elevate the washdirt from the old river bed.

In ordinary alluvial mining the industry has " pursued ibe even tenor of its wiy;" some have done well and others have obtained under the average earnings ; for, as a matter of course, easily worked ground of a I avable i>a- ure is now hard to find, and the " fisiicker." will soon become extinct. Capital ami the resumption of auriferous lands will he the future hope of the mining community.

With regard to oor farmers it is feared that in many iustam-ea very few farms will be blessed with anything like average crops, owing to the long drought since 0 tober last. It is therefore expected that those necessiries o! life, wheat and potatoes, will •■e op 11 the highest price during the incoming year ; ditto with horse feed. However, there are grand crops in Southland within a few hours rail of Kingston, and thus it is quite "on the board " that flour; etc., may be sent up at a cheap rate. It must be remembered that very little of last year's wheat, or ffmr is left in Wakatipu, and therefore we shall have to wait at least another year before auythiug like a local supply can be grown.