CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 6

CENTRAL OTAGO.

QUEENSTOWN NOTES. (From Ora Own Cohbesiondenx.) QUEENSTOWN, January 24. THE WEATHER. The rain which well in this district last night was the first since the second day of January, when a heavy shower fell in the early afternoon. Though kitchen and flower gardens have benefited, the country districts cannot respond to any great extent to the moisture, for cereal crops are long past redemption and some of the roots come in the same category of failure. Where there has been a goocl “ strike ’ of turnips the prospect is brighter. Late turnips, can yet go in, and experience has shown that they do well provided they tret sufficient moisture. The barometer is stiff high, and the weather is clear again, so the probability is that there will be another fine spell. VALEDICTORY. Mrs and Miss Lyle, who will leave Queenstown to-morrow for Dunedin, en route to the Homeland, were entertained by the congregation of St. Peter’s Church jast Wednesday afternoon and presented with a photographic panorama of Queenstown. The little gathering took place in the vicarage grounds. In handing over the parishioners' gift, Canon Parata referred to Mrs aim Miss Lvle’s faithful adherence to bt. Peter’s and to the enthusiastic manner in which they had supported all its activities. They would be much missed from Queenstown, but it was hoped that their new home in Cornwall, England, would afford them many pleasures and much happiness. Canon Parata’s remarks were supported by Mr W. D. Warren, one of the churchwardens. Dr Anderson replied on behalf of Mr* and Miss Lyle. LAKE COUNTY COUNCIL. The Lake County Council met here during the week, when the chairman (Cr William Reid) presided over a smaller attendance than usual, three members being unavoidably absent. A letter was received from the Post-master-general regretting that he could not see his way to recommend a thneeweeklv mail from Dunedin, via Central Otago' to alternate with the winter timetable from Dunedin, via Gore and Waimea. Such a proposal could only be earned out at considerable inconvenience to the mail contractor and expense to the department. —It was decided to make further representations on the subject. In rcspon&e to representations made oy the council in regard to the necessity for taking steps to destroy keas in sanctuaries. Mr A. D. M’Leod (Minister in charge of Scenery Preservation) advised that, acting under the powers conferred upon him by the Animals Protection and Native Game Act 1921-22. he had authorised the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dunedin (or his servants) acting under ms written authority, to take or kill keas found within the Mount Cook Reservo and Fiordland National Park.A letter was also received from the commissioner setting out that the birds reforred to might be destroyed wuhjn the period, November 24 to June 21 —A good deal of other correspondence on the subject was received. Amongst this was a letter from the New Zealand Native Birds’ Protection Society, in which doubts were expressed as to keas working the havoc among sheep that was attributed to them. This provoked a good deal of comment on the ignorance of the kea’s habits displayed by the society in question. In high country, especially near their haunts, keas haie become a serious pest as they light on the backs of the sheep and dig with their beaks into the defenceless animals, inflicting serious injury. Being unable to withstand the attack, they eventually die from the injuries. Some flocks, suffer a fairly high percentage of loss in this way.' The kidney fat seems to be the keas’ special fancy. At a meeting convened a few years ago to devise means of combating the pest, one of the runholders present produced a small tin of sheep’s kidney fat which he had recovered from a kea that he had shot on his property. This affords quite convincing proof, if such were needed, of the mischief wrought by the pest.—The Lake County Council had been giving a subsidy for years on all keas’ heads or beaks secured in the county, and had been doing everything within its power to reduce the pest, but it had long since realised that its efforts were to a large extent nullified by the fact that keas are protected in certain stated areas. These sanctuaries became breeding grounds of the pest, which then sallied forth into the adjoining country to work its depredations among the flocks of the* runholders. Hence the Lake County Council’s representations to the Minister. The council has nominated certain reliable men to carry out a campaign with rifle and gun in the sanctuaries. Some small hitch has occurred meantime with respect to camps and food supplies in these parts, but as soon as this has been set right the men will go out. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, forwarded a schedule of the amounts voted on the current year’s estimates for the county, showing the revote of amounts provided on last year’s appropriations, but unauthorised at April 1 last, and V new money ” provided. This comprised Nicholas to head of Von River road: (£1 for £1) revote £75. Cardrona to Pembroke: Revote £SOO. Glenorchy to Eouteburn, £SO (£1 for £1); new money, £ll6. Kinloch to Routeburn: Revote £IOO. Pembroke to Glendhu Peninsula: New money, £IOO. Pembroke to Mount Aspiring: Eevote £IOO, new money £2OO. Pembroke to Mount Iron: Revote, £SO. Queenstown to Pembroke: New money, £2OO. The District Engineer also advised that the resolution which the council had passed when applying for a grant for first metalling and gravelling did not quite cover what his department required. He asked therefore that the council pass the following resolution: —“That this council will set aside each year a sum sufficient to keep the section of road to be metalled maintained to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department, without calling on the Government for assistance.” The writer suggested that the resolution be made to cover all first metalling or gravelling grants, it would save delay in dealing with proposals affecting such.— The letter was received, an amendment that the required resolution be passed failing to find a seconder. —The mover of the amendment subsequently placed it on the table as a notice of motion for next meeting. , I Max Winders, launch owner, Pembroke, wrote inquiring the relative position of himself and F. Norris, another launch owner, in respect of their rights to pick up and set down passengers at the lower wharf.—Both parties to be informed that they had equal rights and privileges. It was resolved that a 10 per cent, penalty be added to all rates remaining unpaid after March 15. i The dog tax fees were fixed at 2s 6d j per dog for farmers’, drovers’, and shep- | herds’ dogs up to three in number (pro- ! viding they are used solely for the work- | ing of cattle), and 10s per head for all i other dtogs. i

It was resolved that all eating houses in the county be registered under the Health Regulations, at an annual fee of 10s. The Big Beach Gold Mining Company made an application for a grant of £IOO towards the completion of the existing road to the Sugar Loaf.—The Work* Committee recommended that application be made to the Mines Department for the sum stated. ... j Mr G. Dudley was appointed poundkeeper at Arrowtown. _ The council signified its approval of the formation of a county clerks association, and of the clerk (Mr A. Griffin) becoming a member of such association. In view of the motor roadmaking and maintenance plant being now in use, and because of the insufficiency of Governnmt grants to keep the county team going as well, it was decided that the horses be sold immediately. A copy of the magisterial decision in the Skippers road motor by-law action, whereby the by-law was quashed as being' unreasonable, was received. PERSONAL. Mr S. S. Aburn, of the Public Works Department, is carrying out bridge inspection in this district at present. The Main Highways Board will arrive in Queenstown on Friday afternoon, when the members will meet both the Lake County and Queenstown Borough Councils for the discussion of matters affecting ail. highways. Mr T. R. Bavin. Premier of New South Wales, and Mr Forgan Smith, Deputy Premier of Queensland, will spend a few days in Queenstown early in February. The Rev. Father Ardaph went yesterday to Mosgiel to attend the annual synod meeting. Mr H. Bridgman, kinematographer to the Government Publicity Department, is visiting Queenstown, where he is busily engaged taking a series of moving picture* of the several “ lions ” of the district. Mias Wood, inspectress of the Te Awamutu Mental Hospital, has been visiting Wakatipu. The Rev. Mr Waddell, of Bluff, and his family are among holidaymakers here at pre. t. Mr and Mrs D’Arcy Haggitt, who have spent some weeks in Queenstown, returned to Dunedin to-day. Mr J. A. Haggitt was also here for the week-end. Professor and Mrs G. Thompson, of Dunedin, are spending a vacation here. Mr Ray Romans, of the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand, has been spending his annual leave in this district with his parents. Mr W. MTnnes, engineer on the Earnslaw, has purchased Mr J. Lyle’s residential property on the Eastern terrace. GENERAL. The annual picnic of the Presbyterian and Anglican Sunday schools of Queenstown and the surrounding district will take place at Beach Bay on Thursday. Large numbers of people c ntinue to arrive here daily by car and steamer on holidays and sight-seeing bent. This is undoubtedly one of the busiest tourist seasons experienced here, which goes to prove the increasing popularity of Queenstown as a tourist and health resort.