QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

(Fkom Our Own Correspondent.) QUEENSTOWN, May 28. The weithor —who can tell? Fine to-day, wet to-morrow, fine the next. Such has been the order for some days, and such it may be till the change of the moon. The rainfall, "00, has been heavy; as much snow has mantled the ranges —more, in fact, than has been seen for close on two years. Hut we really have nothing to complain about, and even if we had we could not end it by taking arms against it. So we can afford to be philosophic. Jlho denizens of the proud city of Dunedin, north and south, who have literally been, launched upon .a sea of trouble might well cry out about the slings and arrows of their outrageous fortune. They have our sympathy, .There are a few among us still who remember the flood which inundated Queenstown in ’7B, and they speak feelingly •mf the experience. N - There seems to be few people travelling at presen t on holiday or. sight-seeing bent. Apart from any other considerations, the Rsfilway Department offers no encouragement to those who would take advantage of facilities for spending, say, week-ends, " in a tourist and health resort like Wakatipu. The railways’ heads, from the Minister down, have been approached over and over again on the subject;, without avail. The only answer is that week-end excursions do rot pay—or, rather, that when such concessions were granted; some years ago, they did not pay. It is difficult to understand how such, a conclusion was arrived at. No special train had to be -put into commission, nor had any extra connection to be made. The tickets were issued for travel on the regular service, both coming and going. And it is quite beyond argument that at least 90 per cent, of the people who availed - themselves of the week-end - excursion tickets only travelled because of i the inducement which the concession in fares offered. This was all “found” money to the Department, and it seems a sound commercial proposition to run the trams and steamer full rather than nearly empty at this time of the year. EVen suppose such a service did not return a profit,-or that the profits were negligible, there would always be something on the other side of the ledger. Change and relaxation in such an invigorating atmosphere as ■ that for which Waka tipu is justly famed means a gain in health, and health means increased efficiency. What efficiency means in the economy of commerce or the strength of a nation need not be laboured. Another effort is to be made shortly to have, the week-end excursions to Queenstown reinstated, and it is hoped in the best interests of everybody that tho mission of the delegates will not be so luckless.

Winter pastimes are all getting into full swing in the district. Football again promises to occupy a promineilt place in the affections of our young men and of the general public, who can be relied on to enthuse more over a cup fixture than about a local body election or a church meeting. The Queenstown team is agaip a fairly strong one, while the Glenorchy representation seems, if anything, more formidable than it was last year. It has a valuable accession to its ranks in some of the new mill hands, and will help to make Rugby of paramount interest in the district. The Arrowtown combination has suffered several losses since last season, and it is unlikely that any reorganisation of the team will bring it up to its customary strength. Thd Country Pirates are again showing the plucky front they did last year, which did much to make the game interesting. Golf has taken us by * storm. Never in the old days before the war was such,keen interest evinced in this popular pastime as is being shown this season. Truly, it has arisen like a Phoenix, and its new life promises to be more vigorous than at any time in the club’s existence. It may be reaction or a sign of the times, but “live-wire” s office-bearers seem to be more than anything responsible for the enthusiastic revival of golf in Wakatipu. The links on Frankton Flat offer a fine playing ground, and though rather far out of the town, are heiug rendered more accessible by a satisfactory motor service at a minimum of cost. Visitors to Queenstown will find a very- strong attraction this season in a.' round of the links.

Hockey will take its usual place in the winter sports, as it engages the attention of young girls who otherwise would have no opportunity of healthful organised recreation. , All the local bodies’ elections are over. Nobody is sorry. These seemingly .necessary “flutters” ere rather distracting ip a sense, and do not allow us to pursue the even tenor of our business way. But, doubtless, they have -their compensations, and their purpose, as a shake-up in local government, is desirable at times. Queenstown has been looking very beautiful over the autumn. Falling lea! and fading tr'ee, signalisino- the approach of winter, have vestured Nature in a garb that is not approached in richness and variety of tone colour st anv other season of the year. Autumn has its triumphs in every place, .but it is not in every clime that its nameless graces make such appeal as they do in a wonderland like Wakatipu. _ Few .places afford such a. setting to the riot of autumn tints. Book in what direction you will and you will find as a background _a cloud-capped hill or snow-clad mountain with fretted pinnacles reaching up to the profound of heaven. When the sun lingers about their summits, bathing them in hues of nink and gold, the sight is one which would not fail to inspire the poet or the painter.