QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19969, 10 December 1926, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) THE WEATHER. QUEENSTOWN, December 7. A great improvement has taken place in the weather during the past few days. The bitter southerly winds width wo had day after day have ceased.their troubling, and calmer and more gonial conditions prevail. We bad some rain last night and this morning, and it was very welcome, as the gales had been pretty drying to gardens and farm lands. Those runholders who are shearing think differently, however, as it interferes considerably with their_ operations. In most sheds in this district shearing has been a long-drawn-out business this season, as the weather has been so broken. LAWN TENNIS. Another of „hc sub-association matches was played at Arrowtown last Saturday between teams representing that centre r-’d Queenstown. The ladies of the latter emb had it all their own way, but the men went down badly to their opponents in both the singles and doubles. The totals ‘ were: Queenstown, seven sets, G 3 games; Arrowtown, nine sets, 82 games. CRICKET. An Arrowtown eleven had a runaway victory over a Queenstown team in a friendly match played on the former’s ground last Saturday afternon. The wicket conditions are so different from what the ocal men are accustomed to that it possibly accounted for the decisive defeat inflicted o them. LAKE COUNT! COUNCIL. A special mooting of the Lake Comity Council was held here on Thursday for the transaction of urgent business. The first item on the order paper was the proposed new Skipper road by-law. framed by the | county solicitor. Mr W. A. Harlow. This prohibits motor traffic on the said road between the hours of 9 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.—lt was resolved i that the council make and ordain by special order the said by-law, and that it come into force on February I next. It was also resolved that the by-law made on July 17, 1912, be repealed. The next business concerned arrangements for the isit of the Duke and Duchess of York. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote intimating that the Government would subsidise expenditure up to the extent of £ls. —The clerk was instructed to reply asking that the subsidy be increased to £2O; also asking that the expenditure be not limited to Pembroke. Cr Scaife, member for the Cardrona Riding, was asked to make the necessary arr ngements for the reception of their Royal Highnesses at Pembroke, and the apportioning of the expenditure was left in the hands of the chairman, Crs Lee and W, S. Reid. It was further agreed that the council’s official reception and presentation of address be made at Queenstown in conjunction with that of the Queenstown Borough Council. The Assistant Engineer, Public Works Department, Alexandra, wrote suggesting that the wharf at the far side of Lake Wanaka Bay be dismantled and the timber used in the construction of the new wharf. —The clerk was instructed to reply stating that at a meeting of the council about three months ago the council voted the sum of £IOO towards the construction of a new wharf conditional on the additional money required over ,mcl above the Government subsidy of £250 being provided by the Pembroke people. This they had not done, and the council felt justified in withdrawing the offer. The council considered the Pembroke residents should make the next move. Tho assistant engineer, Public Works Department, Alexandra; wrote advising that £250 had been placed on tho Estimates as a £ for £ subsidy for the making of the approaches to the Kawaran dam. The council was asked to pass a resolution agreeing to subsidise the work on a £ for £ basis up to this amount; also to make a progress payment of £IOO into tho public account, as it was intended that the work should be begun shortly.—This was agreed to, tho council to pay in £IOO as soon iTs the department was ready to make a start. The council was asked by the Arrowtown Borough Council to take over the Arrowtown pound.—Cr W. S. Reed was deputed to inspect the enclosure and give an estimate of the expenditure that would be necessary to put in it order. The Clerk was instructed to write to tho Railways Department protesting against the department’s decision to have all bags of coal_ coming into the district weighed bolii at Kingston and Frankton. The Acting Prime Minister wrote regretting his inability to attend tho countv jubilee celebration. He intimated that he would ascertain whether any of his colleagues could attend. BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Borough Council took place on Thursday evening, when there was a full attendance. A good deal of routine business was put through n addition to tho considoation of a few more important matters. Tho Otago .Motor Club madq inquiries as to what arrangements the council had made in regard to the establishment of a campng ground in Queenstown.—The Clerk was instructed to write stating that an area of land close to the Recreation Ground had been set aside for the purpose, and that water had been laid on. and electric light was being installed thereat. Tho Progressive League wrote withdrawing their offer of the children’s playground to the council. The equipment referred to was purchased by the league about 12 months ago, and when the playground was firmly established it was offered to the council as a free gift to tho town. The council, however, very ungraciously refused it tho first time. It was again offered the city fathers, but all sorts of bogeys were raised in the way of the council’s liability for accidents that might occur on tho swings and slides, etc. The argument, which eventually became a legal one, went on till it disgusted tho league, in consequence of which tho very generous offer of the league was withdrawn. The situation is probtbly without precedent in New Zealand. Tho council decided to give the oil companies responsible for installing bowser pumps in Queenstown one month in which to sign the required indemnities against accident, failing which the permits will bo refused. At the outset these permits wore granted during tho pleasure of tho council. It was decided for the honour of tho province to pay tho additional levy imposed by the Southland Provincial Court Committee, in respect of the 'winding up of tho affairs of the Southland Court at tho Exhibition. Tho council’s quota was set out as £4 9s 9d. A sub-committee of five was set up to go into tho question of the receipts of the Duke and Duchess of York. This committee met hero last night, when it was decided to invito the various local organisations to appoint delegates to a conference to be held next Tuesday evening. A number of names of prominent citizens w;as also added to the committee. Tho two issues, the rebuilding of tho breakwater and tho erection of a fire brigade station along with the of a fire engine, came before a special meeting of the council last night, when it was decided to defer consideration of raising a. loan for both purposes until a thorough examination bo made of the breakwater. A section of the council seemed (o consider that it would bo possible to renovate the present structure instead of incurring the expenditure of a now one. GENERAL. Miss Margaret M’Loan, second daughter of Mrs Elizabeth and tho. late Alexander MT-ean, of Arthur's Point, died rather suddenly at tier mother’s residence on tho oOth ultimo. In view of her having been medically attended for some years, and a doctor’s certificate being given, it was not considered necessary to hold an inquest. Deceased was 32 years of age, and was born at Waianaiva, Southland. Tho body was taken to Wallacetown for interment in the cemetery there. There is considerable disappointment hero ovci tho change in tho itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of York, which now limits their stay here to something under 24 hours. It is felt they will not be able to do justice to the scenic glories of Wakatipu in tho short tune at their disposal, which is regrettable. One of (he muir topics of conversation hero during tho week has boon the flotation of the Big Boach Gold Mining Company. Seldom, if ever before, baa such interest been taken locally in any mining venture submitted to (be public, The fact that 5125 shares of the 13,375 issue wore taken up by district people—and that within the space of four days after the subscription list opened—is truly remarkable. Tho query which this gives rise to is given answer in tho faith which the loc>d people have in tho mining properties that are being secured by the company. It has boon suggested in some quarters that, the water the company will have at command will not be sufficient to work tho claims to their full capacity. Such a suggestion is not founded on fact. It has been ascertained beyond ail shadow of doubt that the water rights being acquired will afford in the height of summer a full four heads

in each vaco. It is considered by those qualified to give an opinion that this will bo ample to meet the needs of the company in its proposed operations. Miss Lilly E. L. Pirie, eldest daughter of Mrs L. M. F. Pi rie, Queenstown, gained the diploma of L.T.C.L, at the pianoforte examinations held at Invercargill by Dr Borland, of Trinity Collcgo of Music, London. Messrs St, Omer Bros, have leased their old-established bakery business to Mr Hamilton, of Invercargill. Mr Hebenton, chief organiser of tho Reform League of New Zealand, is visiting Queenstown. At St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday morning touching reference was made by the Rev. Father Woods to the death of tho Right Rev. Monsignor Bnrko, who spent some years ip ( Queenstown as priest of the parish of St. Joseph’s. The organist played tho Dead Mf.rch in “Raul” out of respect for tho memory of ono who was loved and revered by his congregations hero and at Arrowtown.