Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 1911.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2902, 17 January 1911, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 1911.

Some 140 persons arrived by the Mountaineer on Saturday night last, the large majority of whom were week-enders. The cheap trip to the Head of Lake yesterday w;is patronised by 160 people. The weather was good and the outing was therefore much enjoyed.

Very heavy rain again fell on Thursday last and gave the country a good drenching. The prospects of a good harvest are exceedingly bright. The turnips in many parts have had a good start also. The Rev. C. G. Moon, of Oxford, England, preached in the Anglican Church on Sunday evening last. Paradise has been very full of visitors for the last few weeks ami both accommodation houses are likely to be well tilled up for some time to come. Almost all fresh people are passing through them every week. The season has been a record one for the Head of Lake as well as for Queenstown.

The Railway Department will run a moonlight excursion on the lake to-night per p.s. Mountaineer. Excursionists will have an opportunity of viewing Mt Earnslaw. The fares wijl be: adults 2s, children Is.

At a special meeting of the borough Council on Thursday last, Wednesday was fixed as the day on which the half-holiday is to be observed during the year. At the monthly meeting of the Lake County Council on Tuesday last one of the members for Arrow Riding, Mr W. McKibbin, who is well known for his strong > dvocacy of principle, had to " face the music" himself for an irregularity in respect of a certain work authorised by the Council at a previous meeting. The work consisted of the formation of a advert on Tobin's track for which the Council authorised an expenditure up to £5 provided the applicants expended a similar amount. Some difficulty was experienced by the applicant for the money—Mr J. Hamilton—in getting someone to undertake the w«. ik. At last Cr McKibbin, who was the only person skilled in tins class of wtrk, was persuaded to direct operations on behalf of the applicant. He had not begun long, however, when he was confronted with difficulties which made it at once apparent that the JC~> would not nearly see the job through. The work, once stinted, could not be stopped as traffic would have been blocked. The result was that the Council instead of having to pay £"i had to meet a claim of some £3l odd. According to Cr McKibbin, thcexcess of expenditure was unavoidable, but at the same time the Council's instructions were put aside in exceeding the allocation made by it. This was the charge Cr McKibbin had to face and he could only explain it awav as already stated. The Council, although it gave Cr McKibbin a warm few minutes of it, perceived the position that he had been placed in. The attitude of tin- member, who maintained a serious demeanour throughout and who undoubtedly was placed iu an awkward corner, gave rise to a good deal of innocent humor and hearty laughter the which ha.- rarely been seen in the Chamber. It is difficult, of course, to say what would have happened if an outsider had been instrumental in incurring the additional expenditure We rather incline to think that the Council would nut have been s<> lenient.

The iuinuiil meeting of Queenstown Keg.itta Clu!.> is called tor Friday evening next at 8.30 in the Lake Oouuty offices.

The Church of England picnic will be held at Bob's Cove on Thursday next. The Mountaineer will be put on for the trip, and should the weather be fine the excursion will be well patronised. Visitors are requested to bring their own baskets. Tea will be supplied on the ground. The third test cricket match between the Africans and the Australians was won by the former by 38 runs—S. Africa 482 and 360—482 and Australia 465 and 339 804. Trumper made the remarkable score of 214 not out for Australia in the first innings.

Advice was received here on Wednesday last from Cromwell of the sudden death of Mr George Todd, the diver who was work,ng in connection with the Else and Shine Company's No. 2 dredge, which sank last week. It appears that Mr Todd was making an inspection of the dredge, and after he had been down for a considerable time those on the surface realised that he gave no answer to the signals. He was then pulled up, but was found to be dead. Diver Todd had recently done good work at the Waifcare wreck, and intended returning to the West Coast. Deceased was a brother of Mrs J. W. Fraser of this town. An inquest was held and the verdict was that deceased died from heart disease. The funeral took place in Dunedin on Saturday last.

At the recent examinations for Junior National or Education Board Junior Scholarships in Southland Education district, or for junior free places in secondary schools, two pupils of the Queenstown Public School qualified. These were Master Douglas Dagg and Miss Rebecca Griffiths. These results reflect still more credit on the late master, Mr A. H. Hiddleston, whose pupils have come out so well at the various examinations both this and in past years. The Wakatipu Mounted Rifles to the number of 40, and their horses, under the command of Lieut. W. Reid, journeyed to VVyndham on Saturday last by special steamer and rail to take part in the annual training camp. They will be away for a week.

The installation of the the Invercargill tramway service was initiated on Saturday last when Lord Islington, Governor of New Zealand, turned the first " sod" in the Invercargill streets. The Education Department has caused to ba printed sets of temperance wall sheets (three sheets in a set) setting forth certain statements about the use of alcohol. These will be forwarded to all the schools in the Dominion. A sample of one of the sheets was considered at the meeting of the Education Board on Friday. It was considered satisfactory by the members present. Severe storms and floods were experienced in Sydney last week. At Orange gasholder lull of gas were blown over. The flood waters caused considerable damage in the low-lying suburbs and the gale was responsible for a large amount of havoc among buildings fences and trees around the city.

The followiDg reports were received by the Chai itable Aid Board at its meeting in Invercargill on Thursday last:—Wakatipu.—Patients remaining Ist December, 1910, 3; admitted during December, 5; total, 8. Patients discharged during December, 2; died during December, 1; total, 3. Patients remaining Ist January, 1911, 5. Number of out-patients treated, 1. Total attendances, 5. Arrow.—Patients remaining Ist December, 1910,8; admitted during December, 4 ; total, 12. Patients discharged during December, 7. Patients remaining Ist January, 1911, 5. Number of out-patients treated, s.—lhe Board decided to have the latter hospital and doctor's connected with the telephone exchanges as previously.—lt was reported that of the .£2OO guaranteed by the residents of Arrow towards the maintenance of tluir hospital, £192 14s had been received up to 31st December last. At the monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board on Friday last Isabella Fredric was appointed temporary sole teacher of the Kingston school, the school to be opened on the Ist February next if possible.—The committee notified that no further action be taken in respect to the proposal for an exchange of positions between the teachers of the Round Hill and Lower Shotover schools.—Tho Inspector-General of Schools intimated that the Department would provide salary for the second assistant at Arrowtown District Hiijh School until 31st March. Notice of termination of engagement should be given forthwith, with, however, some understanding that the position might be reconsidered if the attendance showed a material increase during the first term of 1911.—The letter was received and further consideration held over till end of current quarter. The school committee will be notified that unless evidence of increased attendance is procured the Board will be compelled to disrate the school on 31st March.

In order to improve the trout fishing in Lake Rotorua the Government has decided to inaugurate a raid on the shags, which are believed to be the cause of the destruction of the fish. A reward of 2s 6d per head will after this be paid for shags in the Thermal Springs District. Messrs Crosbie Bros., of Lumsden, the well-known coach proprietors, have purchased from Mr Tom Stone of Invercargill the whole lot of his motor cars at present running between Lumsden and the Lakes. This is probably the largest deal in motor cars that has ever been made in Southland. Messrs Crosbie Bros, are to be congratulated on their enterprise, and, no doubt, tourists will appreciate the splmdid service they have organised. A Wellington newspaper states that an export duty of 4d an ounce upon gold was imposed by the amending Mines Act of last session, the proceeds to be devoted to a miners' relief fund. Hitherto only North Island mines were charged a duty for this purpose, but the South Island now conies into the arrangement. It has been decided to collect the duty through the Customs upon declaration of the gold for export. Banks which held quantities of gold at the time of the passing of the amending Act found themselves saddled with a liability they did not anticipate, but there has been no serious difficulty in this direction. Six miners are wanted for Arthurs Pcint Mining Claim. Lost, leather handbag containing purse and money. Reward, on returning to this office. Examinations for Dredgemastor's MineManagers and Battery Superintendents certificates are advertised in this issue. Wright Stephenson and Co., insert a notice re wool sale dates, etc. Messrs A. and T. Inglis announce their annu.il summer sale in this issue. See page s. Extraordinary bargains will be offered. The Public Trust Office insert notices concerning the estates of the late M. Fitzpatriek and J. E. Kaler. Creditors and others having claims agaimt these estates are requested to take notice. Mr C. E. Gudgeon is the local agent. Messrs Islip and Watt, boot and shoe importers, notiy that they will visit Queenstown on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th February, with a large of tho latest and best in boots, shoes and slippers.