Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1910.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2787, 4 October 1910, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1910.

The local schools have been undergoing inspection during the last week by the Southland Education Board inspector.

Mr E. D. Lewis has purchased Half-way Bay sheep station, formerly owned by Mr Alex. H. McLean. It is Mr Lewis' intention to put in sheep-shearing machines for next clip. We wish the new proprietor every success in his venture.

The Salvation Army are holding bioscope entertainments in the Town Hall on Monday and Tuesday evenings next. A superb collection of moving pictures will be given embracing subjects of a humorous, instructive and educational character. The proceeds will be in aid of the self-denial fund.

The general desire of the Skippers people combined with that of the Lake County Council has been given effect to in relation to the removal of that much-talked of obstacle on the Skippers road, the Blue Slip. At the last meeting of the County Council a telegram was received from Inspector Mcintosh of the Mines Department giving his consent to placing the water on the slip. The general accepted theory is that the water will be the means of removing the debris which has been a menace to the road ever since the latter was formed, It is hoped therefore that this will work out in practice for the sake not only of the residents of Skippers but also of Mr Mcintosh, who has been persuaded to give way to their wishes.

Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., Ltd., announce an auction sale at Balfour on Saturday next of Messrs J. S. Nicol and Son's splendid freehold property comprising 620 acres of first-class agricultural land. The land is sub-divided into several paddocks which are well fenced and watered. The land grows excellent crops of wheat, oats, grass, turnips and rape. See particulars in advt. on page 5.

The Tourist Department has arranged to erect a substantial hut or house at the head of the Greenstone Valley or near to Lake Howden. This locality forms the key to several of the principal tourist routos. Mr H. Birley has been entrusted with the contract and it is his intention to erect a small sawmill plant to supply the necessary timber on the spot. We understand the Public Works Department intend shortly to proceed with the suspension bridge across the Greenstone river. These and other improvements will tend to greatly popularise the Wakatipu-Te Anau over-land trip.

The game of bowls made a very early start on the local green this season. Two visitors to the town, evidently bent on amusement and attracted by the good looking appearance of the bowling green, were persuaded to go into the pavilion and fit themselves out for a " roll." The necessary bowls were got out and placed on the green and after sending up a few the assistant gardener came along and reminded them that the season had not opened yet and courteously asked them to refrain from playing any more. They of course withdrew with regret that their game was so short-lived but nevertheless appreciating the humor of the position.

The death is recorded in the ' Daily Times' of Mr W. Flint, son of Mrs Flint and the late James Flint, of Lake Wakatipu. Deceased was en a visit to his mother in Dunedin for the benefit of his health, having suffered from what ho considered ptomaine poisoning. Deceased attended a football match on the Caledonian ground last Saturday and whilst there he took ill and was driven from the ground by a friend to the hospital, where he expired almost immediately on arrival. A post mortem examination was held when it was discovered that death resulted from natural causes, not from ptomaine poisoning. An inquest was held yesterday. The deceased was married and leaves a wife and two of a family for whom there is much sympathy in their sad bereavement.

The Hon. J. A. Millar informed the House of Representatives on Saturday morniDg that a tender for the new steamer for the Lake Wakatipu service has been accepted. The vessel would steam 15 knots, and would carry 1000 passengers. She would be built in New Zealand, and would be as good as, and probably better than, anything that could be imported. The lowest tender had been accepted, but he could not state the price as the contract had not yet been signed.

A strange mortality amongst small birds has been observed in Masterton. Dead sparrows have been counted by the score. Waller Tea! Everybody likes it. Because it is the best tea in the world. Buy it.

The Railway Department announce cheap fares in connection with the Dnnedin Spring races. Messrs Wright Stephenson and Co., advertise the qualities of their Challenge special grain manure with potash. This is a splendid manure for the Lakes district and is strongly recommended for wheat, oats and barley crops. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., have received the following cablegram from their London house, under date 28th instant:—Wheat—No sales reported. Market weak with lower tendency owing to favourable crop reports in Argentine. Market not likely to improve at present. The Lake County Council notifies that it will purchase birds' eggs and heads at 2d and 3d respectively. Wanted, a maid for St. Peter's Vicarage.

L. J. Lynch, storekeeper, advertises that he has all kinds of fishing tackle for the present season.