Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1914

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3080, 26 May 1914, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1914

A very heavy fall of snow was experienced in this district, in the early hours of Thursday and oil and on through! the day and night following. Some of the older residents say that the appearance of snow so early in the season has been unknown for iiO years. When the weather cleared hard frost set in, so that the snow has had little chance to disappear except in the very sunny spots. The younger generation have been in a transport of delight at this vagary of the elements and after school hours toboganning on the slopes of Queenstown hill has been the popular pastime.

The 12nd Coy., Senior cadets, are holding a. basket social in the Harrison Hall on Friday evening. At intervals between the dances the cadets will exhibitions of squad drill, physical drill and rifle exercises. There will also be a couple of boxing bouts by light weights among our young soldiers. The object of the the gathering is to raise funds for the purchase of ammunition in order to give the cadets rifle practice during the winter months. It is intended to fix up a miniature range in the hall.

A sad drowning fatality occurred at. Kingston yesterday morning, the victim being Mr Jack W'helan, second son of .Mr T. W'helan, aged If) years. Deceased was helping his father to bag coal out of railway trucks on the wharf. He had been sent to a shed for a bundle of coal sacks ami subsequently carried them on to tne wharf, walking between an outer edge ot same and a line of trucks. The passage was a very narrow one ami it is surmised that the bags came into contact with a projection and, causing the lad to swerve, precipitated him into the water. His father was working on the opposite >ide ot the wharf and no indication was given him of ihe happening, it would therefore appear liiat the de-de.'ea.-ed either could not make himself he.nil or he never rose to the, surface ot the water after tailing in. it was not till about hall' an-hour afterwards that Mr W'helan missed his son. and his fears were aroused on seeing the boy's Jiat in the water. The finding of the body in the water subsequently disclosed the awful reality oi what had occurred. Much sympathy is expressed for the relatives of the lad. An inquest was held today before Coroner Hotop and a verdict brought in in accordance with the circumstances.

An effort is being made to establish a Glee Club in the torn, and for this purpose a meeting is to be held in St. Peter's Parish Hall at I.'JO this evening, when all those interested in the formation of such a club will be welcome.

VVt ek-enders who are fond of sport may put iua very enjoyable and even profitable day ia goat shooting on the ranges between Halfway bay and Kingston. This was the expei ience of three young men who took adva).:age of last week-end. They shot abi.u'. two dozen " nannies " and " billies " and t ok home with thein several beautiful skins We should think that the permission c ' the lessee of the country, which is a sheep run, could be r adily obtained. A pi arently poultry are seekers after gold as «■< il as human beings. A resident of Gaist'n was, the other day, the lucky tinder ii. the gizzard of a fowl of a small nugget of gold, weighing 1 dwt. This is not aii isolated instance of -eld being found in Ihe "purse" of feathered tribe. We have on several occasions seen similar occurrences l arrated in uur contemporaries. Huiisc wives should be on the look out.

Tic committee of the (Queenstown mam school wcie mosi unfortunate in regard to tie' weather which prevailed on Frida,\ for the .-oeial and dance in aid of the funds o! tic ,-chooi. (. ertainly tic stars shone overhead. bii; the -round was

ro\ ■'" t(i with snow and ice, so that it too.; mote than a little courage to tur i din in spite of such conditions As m : ghl be exported, therefore, the attendance was rattier poor. However, a very enjoyable evening was spe it, by the few votaries of Terpsichore and those others who were thee as onlooker.-. The hall looked it- best in its gay investiture of flags of all nations (Star.- and Stripes pre lomiiiaied. a fact which doubtless had no significance!). Messrs Davis (piano; and Glenn (violin) supplied the music. Mr A. Domigan made an efficient M.C. Some of the ladies present also played extra.-. During intervals between the dancer various gramaphone items were given on an instrument kindly lent by Mr R. Crawford of Supreme Court Hotel. Ve y dainty refreshments were provided by the parents and friends of the sehoftl children, whilst the comfort generally of those who patronised the social were looked after by a few willing workers.

A subscriber has a just complaint. No sooner does the paper runner leave his "Mail" at his residence on a Tuesday eve::in£ than it i- borrowed. Imagine anyone being -o mean as to borrow a paper the other man pavs for:

As evidence of tlii' suitability of tin 1 Central Olago district lor fruitgrowing, there arrived last week, says tlir 'Daily Times' a consignment of ilii. 1 Alexandra. Clyde and Cromwell 17,000 fruit trees and (1000 small fruits (-0 iselrt'i'ries and en rants)f or districts from the Two Bays Nurseries of Victoria, under the charge of tlie Xew Zealand manager, Mr McComas. The consignment consists this year chiefly of apples, and the growers, evidently with a view of the great possibilities of export, has se-le-ied such suitable varieties as Siunners. Delicious, Jonathan, Munro<''s Favourite. Scarlet Xoupariel. ('ox's Orange Pippin, and Democrat. As showing tne popularity of the Siuiiuer with Otago growers, this variety comprises BUUU of the total numlK'r. while the Delicious, Munroe<, and Jonathan have been given preference in the order named. Kinpire Day (24th May) was observed in ,1 fitting manner at Home. On Salisbury Plain 000.000 school children from London schools celebrated the day. Six thousand people attended 'the Empire Day celebrations in Hyde Park. London." The Cnurch Boys' Brigade represented the Le igue of Empire and carried overseas (lags. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie was present. The Victoria League placed a wreath bearing the names of the overseas branches on Queen Victoria's memorial.

My sister Jane had croup again, And so had Doris, too; But mother's never anxious now Since she knows what to do. She tucks the darlings up in bed To make the treatment sure, And keeps them right all through the night With Woods' Great Peppermint Cure,

Citizens whose business took them in the neighborhood of Eichardts' hotel early on Thursday morning last. were treated to a ding-done, snowball fight between a representative ot each of two of the Great Powers Both are staid and dignified citizens and not given to over much frivolity. Both had partaken of an excellent breakfast and both stepped out on to tne- sidewalk together. The sr.ow foy six inches deep on the ground and was steadily falling in beautiful fleecy Hakes. Both gentlemen are elder than they used to be, but both are just as old as they feel. The temptation was strong and old frolics die luvd. Recollections of the rollicking happy days of boyhood seemed to flash into the minds of both parties at the same instant and resulted in an immediate outbreak of hostilities. It is not clear whether the representative of the Kaiser or the subject ot George the Fifth fired the first shot, or whether there was any formal declaration oif war. The onlookers suddenly became aware that a fierce combat was itt progress, and was being fought according to the laws of the civilised nations. Snowwhite missiles filled the air and broke with telling effect upon the heads of the combatants. Atone moment Germany gained an advantage and beat England back metaphorically upon her haunches; then a well-placed shot by England would turn the tide of battle and Germany would be rolled back in disorder. Meanwhile the popular licensee of Eichardt's, with an impartiality highly commendable, fired occasional shots with splendid effect upon both combatants. Whether victory would have rested with the Eagle of Germany or the Union Jack of England is difficult to say. Both parties were seen to be hoisting signals of distress; ominous pairings and puffings were heard, and the combatants withdrew from the fray as by mutual consent, with no casualties Ix'.vond a heightened colour, a quick lieating pulse and a feeling that it was good to feel young at times. We understand that Professor Prince, the Canadian Commissioner ot Fisheries, who has been engaged on a tour of investigation o fine seafisheries of New Zealand, will pay a visit to Queenstowu on Saturday day next, 3Uth inst., remaining here till the Tuesday following. The Professor reports himself as vers pleased with the results of his eoas.a) crut>e, having traversed the whole coasts of the North and South islands. He was much impressed with the large variety of edible fish to be found all lound the X.Z. coast, li is sincerely hoped that Professor Prince will he a I<> to throw some light on the unsatisfactory condition in which lm« ii.sU in our lake have been for some years past. From time to time various theories have been 'advanced some 01 these by so-called authorities- a* to its causation, but the probie.n still remains unsolved. It the Commisr siouer can "crack the nut," his visitwill indeed have proved profitable.

At a meeting oi the Council of the Southland League held at Invereargill on Tuesday evening lasi n was decided to inform the Queenstown Lorougn Council that the league was only iu process of formation. When the Invereargill branch was formed and a railway committee appointed the Council's communication re asking the Railway Department for an alteration in tne time-table of the Invereargill mail days during the winter months would be dealt with.

At the North Utago Jockey Chilis race meeting lasi week .Mr iv. M. l'aterson's Pride o' Clutha ran into third place in the Kailway Handicap lite lirst day, and his marc. Lady Lowburn, was also third in the Shorts Handicap on the second day. Cur local spoil deserved better luck than this. We understand thai I'ride o Cluiha would have about won his race if he could have squeezed out of his held in tune.

The total amount put through the totalisaior throughout the Dominion last year was £3,(iU0,465 as against JC2,hS7,.'i7l for the year 11)11-12. The Treasury tax last yea»r 'was JCb6,oyr>.

The present month must be jus! about, the worst, month in the history of the North Island for wv.ither. if not in the history of the Dominion as a whole, says the "Daily Times' Wellington correspondent. There must he something wrong down at the Antarctic, because day after day and week alter week we hav|e been experiencing Howling southerly gales, with hitter rain and sleet. On the mountains there have been falls of snow. In the Hawke's Bay district the rivers have been ilooded. and much damage has been done to hridgi's and roads, and at Wairoa to the harbour works. This week one southerly storm that was had enough in all "conscience cleared un for about a day, only to give place to another of greater severity and bitterness. Shipping in Wellington harbour has had a bad time. One night no fewer than 13 steamers thai were to have left port could not, in nautical language, look at it. A North Sydney motorist denies the the truth of the assertion that a woman is as old as sue looks. He was driving along the road beyond Chatswood the other day, and overtook an old woman carrying a heavy bundle. Being a kind-hearted fellow he stopped his car. "Madame," he said, "you have a very heavy parcel. Will you allow me to give you a lift ? I may lie going your way. in fact, I shall be happy to drive you wherever you wish to go." The old 1 idy eyed him for a second, and then slieo.v her wrinkled list at him. "How dare you!' she shrieked through her toothless gums. "None of your w line si ivory business here!"

A prominent tradesman expostulated with a gang of road repairers regarding a small mountain of wood blocks dumped in front of his premises. The protest being ignored, he surreptitiously stuck a card, bearing the inscription, "Please take one," on the offending heap. The philanthropic, suggestion was quickly acted on by passers-by, and more than half the blocks had disappeared before a vigilant policeman removed the card. At the present time when parents are seeking the cause of infantile paralysis, it would be well for them to hear the opinions of some of the leading doctors and the great daily papers of London on the folding cars now so much in use. They describe them as "death traps" or "murde■■ous machines." The tender infant iplaced so low to the giound and receives dust and din -the droppings, of horses and dogs giound into powder, containing thousands of micio'.ebeing blown into the child's mouth while it sliivers from the cold luting winds that are enough to kill it. One of the leading papers asks: Would the parents care to ride in a vehicle so low to the giound? The answer most emphatically is No. Then why put the baby that cannot speak for itself into one? Our advice is get a good comfortable gocart pram and you will be free from many worries over your child, it will thrive better,, be healthier and* live to be a* blessing to you,

The appearance of the walls of the Christchurch tourist bureau—hung with numerous pictures of beauty spots in th« Dominion—has, quite recently, been greatly enhanced and made much more attractive by three 14' a and one Royal red deer head. They are all excellent specimens and were secure ! at Lake Hawea season by Mr J. Forbes of Chribtohurch. It is said, moreover, that they represent the best bag of heads secured by a single sportsman in one season.

Tne Oiago winter A. n.l P. Show takes plmo at Dune.lin on Tuesday and tnree following days of i:e\t week

On a vi-it ;o tlie Moroa (Wairarapa) apple orchard last week, Mr T. W. Kirl-:. tijver: ino'ii ITo'.ogis.. stated thai he had orders from .Ani" i" i for l."> 0,000 eases of appX's for which 7s per case, 1 would be paid on the Wellington wharf. His" o.llv icgtet was that lie could not till the orders. As illustra i.;g the demand for New Zealand apples, and the potentialities ol tiie ; idus.ry. it may be mentioned that ihere ( arc ,it present three American buyers ojieratin.tr in the Dominion. The Railway Department advertise cheap trips in connection with the King's Birthday iholiday and the Dunedin races and winter show.

A Public Trust notice appears elsewhere, calling in claims, etc. in the estate of the late Geo. Harrow.