QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19759, 9 April 1926, Page 13

QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

(Fbom Odb Own Correspondent.) QUEENSTOWN, April T. THE WEATHER. Except for a shower which fell towards evening or. Easter Saturday, the weather has been delightful over the holidays, and our numerous visitors nave been able to enjoy each day outdoors in bright sunshine. Unfortunately. though conditions were tine overhead, the breeze which sprang up on Easter Saturday precluded the possibility of rowing on the lake, and the annual regatta had to be abandoned. For the past couple of days the bay has been calm as a millpond! Oh, the irony of fate! ATHLETIC CLUB. Tire executive of the newly-formed Sports Club was fortunate in the good weather prevailing on Eas'.er Monday, when the tirst annual gathering under the club’s auspices took place on the local Recreation Gorund. The public turned out in large numbers and the results generally were most gratifying. The two main events were the Sheffield Handicap (100 yards), won by Artlrui Farrant, and the Tug-of-war, five men a side, in which the honours went to J. W. Miller's team. The executive had provided for plenty of races and competitions for children, and as a portion of the ground was reserved for the kiddies, they had a splendid time. PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. The local Progressive League arranged for a “Bag Lay" on Easter Saturday in aid of its funds, and it was attended by con siderable success. A breezy quartet of salesmen undertook the disposing of the “mystery” parcels, and in a very short space of time some hundreds of them had lound ready purchasers. Another means of reducing the league s deficit was adopted on Easter Monday, when an afternoon tea booth and sundries' stall were established on the Recreation Ground in connection with the athletic sports gathering. Since the league was formed some months ago the executive has had a fairly uphill fight to get the organisation firmly on its feet. The need of a Progressive Welfare League has been felt here for some years, and when the present body came into existence there was much to be done to make the claims of Queenstown to prominence among the tourist resorts of the Dominion better understood and more widely advertised. All this called for the expenditure of money—not small sums either. So the league’s resources have felt the strain. However, the faith of the executive in the future of Wakatipu is, as the result of this year’s activities, stronger than ever, and much encouraging evidence in regard to our prospects has been accumulated, so much so that we feel we need never look back. During the week the league received a splendid lilt in a cheque for £2q from the Highlander Milk Company, Invercargill, accompanied by good wishes for the welfare of the league and the progress of Queenstown. It is hoped this example will be emulated by others, and that the executive will find its hands still further strengthened to undertake enterprises in the town that will make it still more attractive than it already is. GOLF CLUB. The annual meeting of the Wakatipu Golt Club took place during the week. The report presented disclosed a most satisfactory position. It was stated that in some respects the 1925 golfing season was the most important in Cue history ol the club. The acquisition of freehold and leasehold property at Frankton has given the club the permanent legal right to use the flat as a golf course, and at the same time has placed the club in a secure financial position. The membership was recorded as 50. Satisfactory as this was, it was thought that were the weekly half-holiday changed from Wednesday to Saturday still more young people would see their way to- join the club. Congratulations were offejred Mrs Robt. Gilkison, jun., and Dr G. R. Kingston, the 1925 champions. The balance sheet showed a credit of £3l 18s 5d on the year's operations. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President, Dr W. A. Anderson; vice-presidents—Captain L. Robertson, Messrs L. J. Lynch, T. Dunn, J. P. M Bride, D. Jardine, and T. J. Melville; Executive Committee—Mrs Curtis, Messrs Robt. Gilkison, L. Curtis, L. J. Lynch, and J ' j M'Neill; Grounds Committee—Messrs F. Stoop, T. Dunn, and L. Curtis; Match ana Handicap Committee —Mrs Curtis and Mr Robt. Gilkison, jun.; Rules of Golf Committee, Messrs L. J. Lynch, and R. Gilkison, jun. The office of secretary and treasurer will bo filled by Mr W. Harper. The re tiring secretary, Mr Gilkinson cannot see his way to accept re-election. He was returned a hearty vote of his past services. The following new members were proposed:—Misses N. Kennedy and Betty Rutherford. Messrs Sydney Smith, S'. David, J. Thompson, jun., C. Tiplady, Mr Aokhurst, Mr and Mrs Jas. M’Lcan, and Mr and Mrs L Mann. The membership fee was reduced from £2 2s and £1 Is to _£l Is and 10s 6d, respectively, for men ' and for ladles. An additional entrance fee of £1 Is for men and 10s 6d for ladies was also fixed upon. The meeting adopted the outgoing committee’s recommendation that throe new holes be added to the course each year until the full IS-course be laid down. The opening day of the season has been arranged for next Saturday, when the club ■will be entertained at afternoon tea by Mrs \V. A. Anderson, wife of the president. Dr and Mrs Anderson have also Invited club members to a dance in the "Ambassador" In the evening. GENERAL. Up to the present the tourist season has been the best ever experienced here. A much larger number of people has passed through the town, though, on the whole, the individual stay of the holiday-maker’and sightseer has been of shorter duration. Inquiry made shows that the bookings right on into next month are good, for which no doubt the Exhibition Is to be thanked. The social and dance which took place on Easter Monday night under the auspices of St. Joseph’s Church was a great success. This annual fixture always takes pride of place in the year's cycle of social events. The attendance eclipses all others, and it follows that financially the result is also something in the nature of 'a record. At the Saturday night dance in aid of the Regatta Club and Fire Brigade there were not quite as many present as usual, due doubtless to the uncertainty of the day’s programme through the regatta having to be postponed. It is probable that Mr J. Cockburn will stand for Queenstown Riding at the Lake County .Council elections "sxt month. One of the two sitting members for the riding— Mr J. E. O’Connell —has publicly announced that ho will not seek re-election. Mr Cockburn has had long experience in local body representation, having occupied a seat at the council table for some years. In addition, he has been the Lake County representative on the, Southland Hospital Board. Now that the rush of Easter visitors Is over, and harvesting operations are well advanced, many of our people who have not yet been to the Exhibition are preparing for a visit to Dunedin and Logan Park. So little time now remains before the big show closes that those who intend making a pilgrimage there will have to delay no longer. One of the Government engineers was in Queenstown a few days for the purpose of making a report on the necessary rebuilding of a portion of the breakwater. Mr S. J. Collett, of the Wellington tourist office, was among the visitors who arrived in Queenstown last evening. Mr Collett, who is accompanied by his wife, went on to-day to Lake Wanaka, whence he will continue travel to Mount Cook Hermitage.