Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN. TUESDAY, JAN. 11,1938

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4347, 11 January 1938, Page 4

Lake Wakatip Mail QUEENSTOWN. TUESDAY, JAN. 11,1938

WEAE the new optically ground Sun Goggles...they save your eyes JJrom Sun-Dust, Wind and glare of night driving. Send postal note for 8/6 to Hugh & G. K. Neill, Ltd., Consulting Opticians, 93 George Street, Dunedin.

Particulars of a grand fete to be held in the Garrison Hall on, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday week in aid of'the funds' of the Wakatipu parish will be found in our advertising columns. There wilt he a variety of side shows in addition to produce and sweets stalls, fish pond, etc. On 'Friday evening there will, he a grand wind-up dance in the Garrison Hail.

The spell of dry weather has broken. During the week from Tuesday last 319pts of rain—close on 3 1-5 inches—have been recorded. The fall recorded on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday was .88, .86 and ,83 respectively, and on Saturday .57 pts were registered. The! rain, although overdue, has done an immense amount of good for the pastoralist and his store of winter food is now assured. On the other hand, it has not been pleasant for our numerous visitors, especially campers, but, generality speaking, they arc contented and uphold the old adage, “the greatest good for the greatest number. ’ The weather has cleared up again.

We have been asked to voice a general complaint made by excursionists who came off the steamer on Sunday last. 'Eight in the pathway leading off the wharf a pool of water made it very disagreeable at least for the gentler sex Avearing ugnt footwear. A barrowful of gravel or a few pieces of timber was all that was wanted to relieve the position.

(The popularity of Queenstown as a camping place is increasing every year. It is estimated that this year close on 3000 campers took up their abode on the public camping ground ! and in Mackenzie’s property. < The peak was reached on New Year s when there were close on 2000 on the camping ground. The latter was one mass of tents in addition to allotments taken up on the area below the cemetery. In addition, there must have been several hundreds of campers in. the district sum oundin fr Queenstown. The time has come when the borough council will, have to provide more adequate provision tor campers in its area. People have come from all parts of the Dominion to Queenstown .and the concensus or opinion is that there is no peer to this place for a camping holiday. Caretaken Eeidy has had a very # busy time and has won the good opinions of campers.

Some 460 people availed themselves of the excursion to Queenstown from Invercargill via Waimea on Sunday. The weather was not good for the excursionists. The heavy rain of the previous few days made the surroundings very damp. The day was, however, moderately fine and trippers w T ere able to do most of the sights.

The Prime Minister {Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) announced that he had received advice that King George had gladly consented to become royal patron of the New Zealand centennial exhibition, and that his Majesty had expressed the hope that the undertaking would prove a very great success.

The property of the late_ Mr Thos. Rutherford, comprising a villa residence and building sites, situated in Stanley and Melbourne streets, was put up to auction on Thursday last by Messrs John Reid and Sons, Ltd. There were four sections of 39 poles each in all 1 , on two of which the residence was built. In no case did the bidding come up to the reserve placed on the property, or on the separate lots. The best price offered for the whole property was in the vicinity of £475, which Avas considerably below'- the reserve.

Geo. Frye, Alexandra, on page 3 of this issue, offers several popular makes of used cars for sale. Those requiring a really good used car at a very loav price, should get into touch ‘ with Mr Frye. ‘Phone 55 or 58 PI, at once.

A sudden squall on the bay On Friday afternoon last may have led to dire consequences for the occupants of at least one small boat Avhich Avas caught in it. The rough sea caught the boat broadside on and filled it Avith Avater. It immediately sAA'amped and tho_ three occupants Avere precipitated into the lake. One of tAvo men and a girl could sAvim and a non-swimmer av as pulled into another boat nearby. Had it not been for the prompt action of Mr G. E. Cook of the Mt. Cook Tourist Co. in going to the rescue in the launch Thelma, it is almost certain that the accident w’oulcl have ended in a droAvning tragedy.

The number of applicants at Auckland alone for State houses exceeds 2200, AAdiich indicates the “housing hunger” in that city. It is estimated that at least four iicav houses a day are required to cope Avith the demand. The applications for State houses number over 20 Aveekly, and there is little prospect of more than one house daily being available during the next three months, and even then it is unlikely that the number of State houses av ill increase to more than a dozen Aveekly.

“The Government has not yet considered the matter,” said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) # m reply to a question in an interview' last'week whether any action was contemplated in New Zealand following the recent action by the British and French Governments in increasing the salaries of members of the House of Commons and the Chamber of Deputies respectively. “The time must come Avhen members of Parliament Avi.ll get increases,” Mr Savage added, “but Ave have first to consider those who arc still in a worse. > position even than members of Parliament.