Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1917 The Lake Service.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3234, 3 April 1917, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN, TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1917 The Lake Service.

The recent distressing drowning accident on the lake,coupled in memory with the fatality at the Frank ton wharf a few months ago, suggests certain comments on some ol the way 9of the Railway Department, which, in truth, are past iinding out. This is the second man who haa lust his life whilst, on duty in the steamer service during the last twelve months, and in both cases, the Department could have adopted measures that would have prevented such accidents. At the inquest on the body of the deck hand who fell off the wharf at Frankton, the Coroner, estimating human life at its true value and acting on the evidence given by various witnesses, added tlds rider to his verdict: "That a whaling should be placed on the Frankton wharf, etc' but so far nothing has been done iu the matter. The recent accident would have been averted if a water tank had been put on the steamer for the purpose of supplying water for culinary purposes, thus replacing the old primitive method of bucketing from the lake. Furthermore, an issue of more than passing import is that of the manning of the steamers. Some months ago the Department imposed on the regular crews—men who had served practically their whole lives on the steamers—absurdly long hours at incommensurate rates of pay, and when, like the long-suffering worm, they turned and respectfully demanded some redress they were either dismissed or given the option of dismissal. In most instances their places were filled by men drawn from all sorts of walks of life—farming, van driving, etc., etc.—with what consequences? Shipping work, unlike most other vocations, requires almost a lifelong training, £njd, obviously, inexperience is fraught with very serious dangers. The Department cannot blinjd itself to the fact that it was inexperience, in a measure, that was responsible for the untimely end's of both these men. One would have thought that the possession of even a modicum of wisdom and foresight would have, led the Department to meet the fair demands of the seasoned crews, whose training and experience should have been recognised at their true value ana importance. A private company would have done so. in. the special circumstances. But not .so, the Railway Department. There's iiiionc, so blind as those who won't see.

Over twenty men underwent examination at the .hands of the Medical Board to-day and the majority were "turned down." Very heavy rain fell in this district on Saturday last causing the creeks and rivers to How aLmost bank-high. The lake also rose very rapidly. The local waterworks system, was considerably deranged owing to the flood 1 in the creek above the dam. The latter was filled up with gravel and silt with the result that the water was cut oil the town from about 8 p.m. on Saturday evening until mid-day on Sunday. The. two corporation workmen naturally had a busy time of it. from early /on Sunday morning till nearly noon and one could hardly expect, under the circumstances, that the water could have been turned on earlier. The exigencies of the case, howeve, warranted the Council putting (in a gang of men in order to restore a system on which so much depends. The Queenstowu Brais Hand will give a programme of music in the Park rotunda, on Kaster Sunday afternoon at 2.30. L)r 11. It. Gibson, house surgeon at the Dunediu Hospital, who recently resigned that position in order to proceed in- I lie I'Youl. has been spending a couple of weeks in Queoiislown. "laying at Kichardt's Hotel. A local publiiean was brought before 11. A. \ ..iin-g Ks(|., S.M. on Saturday last, charged with failing to put the customary lisrht out in the front of his premises, in accordance with the Licensing Act. The offence was admitted and u fine of 10s was imposed, with costs of court 7s.

Good Friday, 6th April next, will be observed as a close holiday in the local post-offlce. Mails usually despatched on Friday will be closed at 10 p.m. on the sth, excepting mails for Walter Peak, Elfin Bay and Kinloch, which will be closed at 7.30 a.m. on 4th April.—On Easter Monday, 9th April, the office will be open in all branches, excepting Money-order and Savings-bank, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The usual "despatch of malls up till 7.30 a.m. will be made on that day.— The telephone exchange will be closed on Good Friday and will open from 9 a.m. till 10 a.m. on Easter Monday. As the event draws daily nearer the interest seems to be increasing in the Tulip Fair which takes place in S. Peter's Vicarage grounds on Easter T.uesday. By that day some hundreds of tulips will have sprung into existence on the Vicarage lawn, like musnrooms in a night, and a gay sijrht will meet patrons of the Fair. There will also be the usual tea kiosk, Avhere refreshing afternoon tea and supper can he obtained, and a sweets stall at which will be vended toothsome home-made candies and nougats, etc. Those dn .search of wellmade plain and fancy goods will also have a jjood selection of articles to choose from. Competitions and other at tractions will also have a place in the Tulip Fair. The Hon. J. Allen, Acting Prime Minister, notifies for public information that the Government have decided to observe Anzae Day this year on Monday. 23rd April, 1917, St. George's Day, instead of on Wednesdav, 25th April. 1917, owing to the Municipal Elections being fixed by Statute for the latter date. It is considered that the occasion is particularly one upon which opportunity should be taken to arrange patriotic meetings during the day, and especially in. the evening, to commemorate the anniversary, the question of how this mav best be done being left to the discretion of the Mayors of the various boroughs and the Chairmen of other local bodies.

The lecture which is to be given in the Town Hall on Wednesday in Easter week by Mr D. Tannock, superintendent of the City Reserves, Duneddn, is one which, should prove of tremendous interest to the people of tliis district. When a dealer puts his wares on the market (if he is a keen business man looking for good sales or returns) he naturally spares neither time nor labour in making such wares as attractive as possible in order to draw purchasers. In Mke manner, df the people of Queenstown, who, largely, depend on the tourist traffic for their direct', or indirect, living, wish to induce a constant and increasing stream of visitors to the town and district it follows that some effort should be put into the matter of rendering Queenstown and its environs as attractive as possible. We have been abundantly blessed by Nature in the scenic beauties which abound in our surroundings, but there is considerable scope for improvements in the town itself along lines which Mr Tannock will suggest. Such an able exponent of nis subject as Mr Tannock has proved himself to be cannot fail to interest an audience, and when to this is added the introduction of a? number of splendid lantern slides it will be realised that the lecture will be one of absorbing interest, Mr Tannock has very generously offered to give his lecture in the interests of the local branch of the Red Cross, so it is bjoped that the attendance will be large in order that, the benefits accruing to the Red Cross will also be something appreciable. The Minister of Railways has issued a statement dealing with the curtailment of train services -throughout the Dominion, the main proposals of which have- been approved by _ the Cabinet. Amongst other alterations, time-table trains" between town and country districts are to be reduced in number: special trains for races, sports, and agricultural shows are to discontinued. " If week-end and excursion tickets are to be cut out it will be a bad thing for this place, which is largely dependent on the tourist traffic for its existence. Representations should be made in this respect through the Borough Council or Expansion League to the proper quarter ill order that the interests of business will intot be altogether jeopardised. The monthly meeting of the Queenstown School (Committee was held in the secretary's office on Friday evening last. 'The headmaster's report showed the roll number to be 106, average attendance 90, percentage of attendance 85<Vo (nearly). Sickness was responsible for the low percentage of attendance. The secretary of the Education Board wrote informing the committee that the Board s architect had been instructed to report on the committee's application for repairs to the head master's residence, alterations to school building, and the supply of water to the boys' outhouses. Messrs A. C. Macdonald and Mayne were appointed a visiting committee for the month of April. Accounts amounting to £1 6s 8d were. passed for payment. News was received from the Head of Lake vesterday that a man named Paul Biro, 32 years of age, and a Hungarian bv birth, had committed suicide at Paradise early that morning. Constable Rowe proceeded to Glenorehv per launch immediately word was received, and made the necessary enquiries into the tragedy. It appears that deceased went to the Head of Lake six weeks ago under engagement to work in the scheehte mine at Paradise. He was an experienced miner, having worked at Olira and other places, and, notwithstanding hi* nationality, was generally respected. According to the evidence which was given a t the enquiry at Paradise last evening before Mr w. H Koch J.P., deceased had been somewhat despondent for a week pr.or to committing the rash deed. He lelt his hut at £.30 a.m.. and not returnin" at 7.30 a.m., a search was made and deceased was found about « chains away, lying on his right side. On investigation it was ascertained that the deceased had taken his lite by means of gelignite for the body was badly mutilated. The following verdict was brought in at the inquest: -That deceased, Paul Biro, blew himelf to pieces whilst in an unsound state of mind." It is not known if deceased had any relatives m the Dominion. He wrote to a fr;<>nd m. Tuatapere "it Sunday last. If enough is as good as a reast, \s pale prigs and philosophers sa>. We all hope to get that much at least, \nd without any needless delay, but whatever we get must be good, Of a quality potent and pure; More consoling than wealth, and conducive, to health. Like Woods' Great Peppermint l urc. The scarcity of labour which one sees -o much in evidence with (ho [sinners Tir'on, ha> not been fell here (writes (he Iv.konea correspondent ol 'Alexandra Herald'). On two ««ljoining farms four drays al once wetv kept ir.uig Hie inquired 10 men being obtainable. The threshing plant, lo<>, carried its full complement. For Children's Hacking Cough Bl night, Woods Great Peppermint Cure. 1 6. 8/6.

Pleasure-seekers are again reminded of the social and danoe to be held in the Garrison Gall on Easter Monday evening in aid of St. Jdseph's Church. Queens town's Busy Business Centre will be open all aay Saturday, April 7th next.—Miller and Co.—Advt. The Southland Education Board advertises tne annual election of school Committees. For this purpose householders meetings will be held on Monday. 30th April. The Bluff Harbour Board and Municipal elections are advertised in this id sue. THE GERMS OF CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS are stated by the Director of the Bacteriological Laboratory of the University of Melbourne to be quickly destroyed by eucalyptus. Sander's Eucalypti Extract was proved at the Supreme Court of Victoria to possess far greater antiseptic power than the common eucalyptus. Therefore if you are not particular about your nealth, you use any sort of eucalyptus. If you are, you use only Sander's Extract, sniffed up the nose, and three drops on sugar. It protects not only from meningitis but from all infectious diseases; influenza, colds, fevers, smallpox, diphtheria, etc. Sander's Extract is the strongest antiseptic that can bo used with safety, and its curative qualities are genuine and lasting; it not only disinfects, but stimulates and gives new vigor to diseased parts. Ulcers, poisoned wounds, chilblains, sprains, burns, inflamed skin are quickly cured by Sander's Extract