Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1910.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2785, 20 September 1910, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1910.

In our correspondence column "Citizen" itsks one or two pertinent questions relative to the acetylene gas .ighting project. He asks (1) if the Council has accepted an offer to light the town by acetylene gas without proper plans and specifications or other guarantee and (2) if the Council has bought a section in the town at the extraordinary price of £45, without making enquiries. B »th questions can be replied to in the affirmative. In regard to the offer of the Acetylene Gas Co, to light the town it should* bo stated that before accepting same the Council did obtain a good many particulars from the manager of the company. The offer was, of course, accepted subject to such a procedure being legal. We are led to understand tint the Council's solicitor has now given a fivorable opinion on this point, so that so far the Council are not acting illegally. At the same time the Council's action in accepting an offer from any firm, however reputable it may he, without first seeing in black and white what it is getting for its money, is anything but business like. This we felt sure was the opinion of the only dissentient to the motion, Cr Simson, who would not be satisfied until he saw the specifications. In a contract like this which involves such a large sum of money the Council might well have deferred the final decision on the matter for a month pending the drawing up of plans and specifications in accordance with the needs of the town. The Company's price, which, no doubt would have been a reasonable one, might then be considered final. But now the Council will find that it probably has not made provision for certain extra lights and other requirements width will,of necessity, have *.o be provided for.

The price will then have to be reconsidered from the contractors'point of view, or extras charged, which if possible should be avoided. We do not rrfl ct on the quality of the work done by the Gis Company. They have lighted successfully five towns in the Dominion and doubtless will, for their own reputation's sake, do likewise with Queenstown. But the Council is responsible to the ratepayersmd the latter are entitled to be heard in the matter.

In regard to the section which was purchased by the Council, we arc not iu a position to state whether full enquiries were made before closing with the seller. One or two other sections were mentioned at the Council meeting, hut there was no definite offer made in regard to these. One Councillor suggested the advisability of using apart of the blind street leading into Eirl Street, but it whs considered th»t this would be beset with legal difficulties. Another mentioned the nutter of purchasing the Foresters Hall property from the Canity Council, and utilising the hall for offices and the spare ground for generator house. This was an excellent suggestion if it could have been carried into effect. But the question of the purchase of a section might well have been delayed a month also in order to enable further enquiries to be made in regard Jto price and site. Apart from the price given, the Council evidently overlooked the question of safety of adjoining property through the existence of a gas plant. We can only hope that that body can ally the fears of those ratepayers who have any in this respect before the buildings are erected.

A social and dance will be held at the Lower Shotover schoolhouse on, Friday evening next in aid of the school fund. Past socials furnish a guarantee of the enjoyment derived from these functions. No doubt a good percentage of local people will extend their patronage. Mr H. Hart, of Lawrence, a great enthusiast in horticulture, read a paper to a small audience of local gardeners in the Foresters Hall, last evening, on his experiences with snowdrops, crocuses, narcissi and otner charming spring flowers. The paper was full of interest and showed that Mr Hart is an ardent devotee of this fascinating hobby. The residence of Mr Geo. Philps at Glenorchy was totally destroyed by fire on Sunday last. Only a few articles wcr» saved. It is not known whether there is any insurance.

Whilst on his way down from the Head of Lake on Saturday last, Mr J. Edgar, junr. shot four shags near Rat Point. As showing the gluttony of these birds as well as their destructive habits, one of the four had the tail of a fish just protruding from its beak. The fish was subsequently drawn from the gullet of the bird almost intact, being over 12 inches long and almost 21bs in weight. The plans of the proposed new steamer for Lake Wakatipu have been on exhibition at Hallensteiu's buildings for the last few; days. To us 3 the language of Mr W. Fraser, M.P., at his last address here, they present a pretty picture. If the Government place a steamer of its size and equipment on the lake then the people of this district will feel almost like reproaching themselves for having said so many harsh things about the non-fulfilment of a promise made some eight years ago. The new steamer is to be 160,t long, 2ift b am and 9ft deep and will have a speed of' 15 knots per hour, being twin screw. It is unnecessary to go further into the description of the steamer as thy has already appear d in these columns. The tenders closed last Thursday, but so far it S aot known whether a tender has been e . Is it too much to expect? Several se m to 1 old o it little hope of getting bUeii a fine vessel. One not quite so good would certainly do, but it is wanted badly enough, surely. The Blue Slip.—A number of Skippers residents, no doubt agitated by fresh developments and the failure of the Government to take any measures to permanently remove the Blue Slip, have telegraphed to Mr VV. Fraser, M.P., Wellington, asking him to use his endeavors in tho No doubt Mr Fraser has been at the powers that bo hut so far the only satisfaction that can be got iu that Mr Mcintosh, Inspector of Mines, will visit the district in a week's time. It is undoubtedly a crying shame that such dilitoriness should be shown by the Mines Department over the removal of an obstacle which is a distinct set-back to the progress of the district. The Council of Djfence notifies that claims for medals for service in the New Zealand War will be enquired into bv Stipendiary Magistrates. At a meeting held in Invercargill on Thursday last the Southland Bowling Centre for the third time considered the question of the date for tho holding of the annual bowling tournament. After discussing the matter at length it was finally decided by 16 votes to 11, to hold the tournament at Christmas time.

We have been asked to state that there is no foundation for the report whioh has been circulated in this district that the son of Mr Gates of Upper Shotover died in Dunedin recently. The young man met with an accident about a month ago, but with careful attention he recovered, and it is pleasing to state that he has been back at his work for the last fortnight.

Mr W. A. Saunders has sold the ' Winton Record' to Messrs Briasco and Bellamy, who enter into possession on the Ist prox.

The Rev. H. C. Bell, one of the Anglican Missionprs, who are conducting a Mission throughout the Dominion at the present time, will hold a series of meetings in Queenstown, commencing on November, 12th next. These will be conducted over a period of ten days. The telegrams in the daily press bear evidence of the fact that this missson has been most successful in the Auckland diocese and in other parts which have been touched at. Services are at present being held in the local Anglican Church every Wednesday evening at 7.30, in preparation for the mission. Sydney-grown new potatoes are now selling in Ashburton readily at 4d per lb. Cucumbers, the short variety, and also Sydney grown, are selliug freely at 6d each.

The price of building sections in Timaru is steadily advancing. A section at Maori Hill, containing about three perches over a quarter of an acre, has just changed llano's at ■6525.

Trinity College Examination.—The following are the results of the written musical knowledge examinations held in June last at Dominican Convent, Queenstown: — Advanced Grade—M. Walls, 60. Upper division—J. McLeely, 91, (honours); K. Kelly, 83, (honours.) Preparatory grade. — A. Connell, 93; B. Robertson, 79; J. O'Meara, 78. The examination of the Rotorua waters for the presence of radium, which Dr Endletsberger and Dr Bertram have been making, has convinced them that several of the thermal springs give evidence of being highly radio-active. They have not yet completed their investigations, and are now engaged in making very exhaustive tests, the results of which will be published. The exact bearing of this property of the springs on the cure of certain diseases is exciting much interest among medical men at Home, and great possibilities are hoped for from such waters.

The annual meeting of the Queenstown Lawn Tennis Club is called for Friday next, 23rd inst., in the Couuty Council Chambers.

The comparatively mild winters experienced in the Wakatipu for the last few years, together with the dry summers, have been the means of turning the attention of some of the cockatoos to the expediency of autumn sowing. At Gibbston at the present time there are several splendid crops of oats, demonstrating at once the wisdom of the departure from spring sowing. On the Crown Terrace Mr W. McKibbiu has also some autumn sown crops which are doing well. Provided the weather is fine during spring, which risk has, of course, to be taken, there is no reason why the farmers should not do better than under the old conditions. No doubt farmers in the Wakatipu district are watching the experiment with considerable interest and there is every reason to believe that many others will profit by the experience thus gained.

The Otago Land Board at its last meeting was requested to consider the question of dealing with the land in block xi, Lower Wanaka district, v, vi, vn, Lower Hawea district, and vn, Tarras district, at present held under license by John Kane. The application was held over for inspection by the classification commissioners, ranger McDougall to report in the meantime.

A lady member of the Tapanui Hospital Committee informs a writer in the ' Tapanui Courier,' that the canvassers and executive get a lot of cheap advice sometimes. For instance, they were told that they should insist on the Racing Club refunding the hospital trust money in their charge, which was lent to the club at one time when the institution was in financial trouble. Another subscriber thinks that Mr Hugh Ward's "The Girl from Rector's " company should be induced to visit Tapanui; or failing that, the Revs. Gibb and North should be brought from Wellington to blackguard the play. Any scheme is good enough to " raise the wind " for a local hospital. Yet another recommendation : Establish a skating rink in the Town Hall, and provide fun for the onlookers—and patients for the hospital from amongst the learners. More money is wanted by the committee so as to secure not only additional buildings in case of another outbreak of fever, but an up-to-date ambulance, that will cost ,£IOO. His Worship the Mayor (Mr J. Edgar) has received a telegram in the following tenns from the Prime Minister in reference to the proposed celebrations on the anniversary of Dominion Day : "It is proposed to celebrate the anniversary of Dominion Day on Monday, 20th inst., by having a parade of the Territorials in the various town and cities in the evening, the troops to march from a given point through the principal streets. I should be glad if you could see your way to co-operate with the officer commanding the district in regard to the contemplated turn-out of the troops. All Government Buildings are to display their bunting during the day, and if citizens would do likewise, where possible, it would enhance the interest of the occasion. I have requested the officer commanding the Territorials to see you on the matter."

A visitor to Wellington was privileged the other day to sojourn for a while within the august precincts of Parliament House. Later on he was invited to adjourn to Bellamy's and .having sampled some of the special brands, remarked that it was no wonder the House was called a talkingshop. ' Why,' he went on, ' I feel now as if I were wound up, and could talk for an hour on end.' 'So you think this sort of beverage gets up steam P' asked his friend. ' Now do you know that some of our most rapid speakers are Temperance inan. • Take the Premier, for instance, the sentences roll off his tongue likj il_ plums, and he is practically a teetotaller.' ' You don't say so! But what is his weakness 'f' asked the visitor. 'Oh, soda aid milk,' he was told. Soda and milk! Thou by Jove, if he ever tackled this stuff it would be a bad day for the Press Gallery.' Memory of the Dreyfus affair has been revived by the arrest at Liverpool of a French convict who succeeded in making his escape from the infamous Devil's Island. His name is Jean Cappelini alias Belguise, and his crime murder, for which ho was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment. He escaped from the island on June 1903, managed to roach New York, whence he was deported to England en route for (Trance. To an inspector from Scotland Yard Cappelini said: " The matter is over a dispute with one of my friends about a girl. Tho man I killed shot at me three times. I then shot at him in self-defence and killed him."

Only ono passenger was killed in the United Kingdom last year by an accident to a train, and this was the iirot death for a period ot' twenty months. Tho number of non-fatal accidents (390) was also low. In other words, only one passenger was killed during all last year of 1,204,.->OO,OOO journeys.

The blacksmith was hoarse, and feverish too; He lay on the bed and " bellow "-ed tis- " shoe." The dreadful cold that he had got Had made him feel—well, just " red-hot." I'd rather do three years, said he, In prison walls for '• forge "-ry,

But he took Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Which put him on his " metal " sure.