SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4324, 27 July 1937, Page 3

SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

I (From the flies of the L.W. Mail.) A correspondent under the no.a-de-plume “Careful,” has kiady sent us an account of the lire last night, •with a running comment. seti ug forth his opinion of what the Fire Brigade is like and what he thinks it ought to be. Our correspondent animadverts on the conduct of the Fire Brigade, and naturally thinks it ought to be re-organised, if the public are tc have any faith in its efficiency in the hour of need.

It is reported that the Supreme Court sitting in banco have quashed the judgment given in the B. M. Court here, in April, against Mr Henry, for ringing the fire bell, on the grounds that the conviction was not in accordance with the Municipal by-laws. It has been evident, for some time past, that our bye-laws are very faulty, and require a thorough overhaul and submission to some competent legal authority before being finally adopted.

The members of the Queenstown Brass Band are improving in several directions. They are increasing in numbers; they are strictly attending practice, and marching drill; they are affording to every good cause a support, by rendering gratuitous services; and last, but not least, they have just put in a most creditable appearance’ by adopting a very neat, useful and yet ornamental unifor'm, which Avas donned la A nigh f for the first time Avhen parading on streets.

The Escort on Friday took down from Queenstown 19790z5-, and from Arrowtown 1-iGoozs, of gold. This shows an increased yield under climatic influences that did not justify such anticipations. The increase, after all is mainly due to the 'Chinese.

Mr Warden iStratford had a long sitting in the E.M. Court, Arrowtown, on Monday, in adjudicating upon a charge of robbery brought by one Morressy against another miner named Telford, for taking washdirt from a sluice box. We are informed accused was discharged without a stain upon his character.

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“For ways that are dark and vagarious” cominend us to that inscrutable body, the Wakatip Board of Wardens. The last new incident reported is that the owners of cattle in the Queenstown division are ordered by the chairman to pay the amounts of their respective assessments at the Courthouse, Arrow town. At least, the matter is mentioned to us upon reliable authority; and there is good ground for the truth of it, in the fact that a farmer depasturing stock in the Queenstown division has just paid about £7O at Arrowtown, as assessment fees for them. If the course adopted has not received the sanction of the Board, the chairman, will, perhaps, vouchsafe an explanation at them next meeting. We hope it has not been taken with the object of swelling the Treasury coffers at Arrowtown.

It is a pleasure to hear that the quail turned out on Messrs Boyes Bun some two yeai's ago, are thriving remarkably well, and spreading over the district. A covey of them was startled one day last week just outside Queenstown. The birds are still protected by Act of Parliament, and we trust residents will make it their duty to see that they are not seriously molested for another season or two.

Half-Way Bay (Lake) which possesses only half-a-dozen settlers, is noted for endless litigation, and for the envy, hatred and malace often existing there. The most recent calamity that has fallen on this pretty settlement is the destruction during Monday night, of five or six stacks of oats and barley, on Mr B. Howarth’s farm. Five of the settlers were absent. The news was brought up last evening by the Antrim steamer, and the damage done is estimated at £250. This is a very heavy loss to Mr Howartlfl.

There is good news from Whitechapel Plat, near the Arrow. Tjhe large race for bringing in a powerful stream of water has been completed, and the water is being used. The claims are said to be exceeding the expectations formed of them. The gold is running into the Crown flange. It is also thought that, from Whitechapel Plat to a considerable distance down the Kawarau, all the terraces on that side of the river will eventually be found to be payable tunnelling ground. The Arrow people are quite jubilant and well they might be. We congratulate them on the result of an enterprising effort to provide means to efficiently work the ground.

An individual sends us a rambling letter, headed "Is Justice Obtainable?” signed "Yours obediently. 1 ’ It bears neither the num-de-plume, nor the real name of the writer, and if it did., would not be inserted. We can make a pretty good guess as to the sender, and trust if his complaints against a defective law are correct, lie will seek the constitutional remedy by agitating for reform, and not abuse Government officers unnecessarily. But perhaps our correspondent is not so much to blame as ly, to his idiotic vagaries by inditing

ly, to his idiotic vagaries hy inditng such epistles. Everybody, but especially “Mine Hosts,” are complaining of the excessive dullness of trade, and the r eat vari ty of the circulating medium in Queenstown.

jphe Queenstown AtheneumiOo- have at last taken some definite action in

.arming to profitable account the Town Hall—which has been rented by Mr Eichardt of the Queen’s Arms Eolel, for twelve months, with the option, we believe, under certain stipulation.?-, to hold it for another year. We are glad to learn that the directors reserved the two* upper rooms—one for Council Chambers and the other with a view to its use for the Public Library.

The Escort on Friday took down from Queenstown, in round numbers, 2’033 ounces of gold, and from the Arrow 1897 ounces, making a total of 3,930 ounces, or about. 600 oounces more than the previous escort.

Messrs J. W. Robertson and Co. are bringing in a water race from the One-mile Creek, and are also we understand, about to erect a planing mill in connection with their timber yards.

We notice that the contract for making - the portion of the road between Arthurs Point and Arrow has been obtained by Messrs Matheson Bros., for the sum of £697 10a. There was some very close tendering between persons living on the line of route.