QUEENSTOWN NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21829, 16 December 1932, Page 13

QUEENSTOWN NOTES

CENTRAL OTAGO

(From .Oub Own Correspondent.) . v'‘ ; QUEENSTOWN, December 13. THE WEATHER. ' The weather has taken up again splendidly after one of the wettest spells experienced here during the past 12 months. Rain set in on Wednesday night, and it was not till Sunday that an improvement took place. The barometer waS unusually low. Snow also fell on the ranges, which carried for a day or so almost ns heavy a mantle as they would in the winter. The rain hampered shearing operations for a time; otherwise, the country has benefited considerably by the downpour. METEOROLOGICAL. The readings taken at the local meteorological station for the seven days ended December 11 are:—

SUMMARY OF READINGS FOR NOVEMBER. (Figures for previous year shown in parentheses.) Barometer. —Highest reading, 30.284, 14th (30.358, sth); lowest, 20.506, 26th (29.306, 21st); mean, 29.851 (29.889). Shade Temperature.—Highest maximum, 70.0 oh 11th (72.1 on 15th); lowest maximum, 54.0 on 26th (46.3 on 24th); mean maximum, 63.0, ... (62.2); highest minimum, 56.8, 23rd (55.9 on 17th); lowest minimum, 35.8 on 27th (33.0 on 24th and 25th) ; mean minimum, 43.5 (44.4). Mean temperature for month, 43*2 (53.3). Mean relative humidity, 05.0 (63.9). Grass Temperature. —Highest minimum,; 46.4‘0h 23rd (46.7 on 17th); lowest minimum, 28.2 on 27th (22.4 on 4th);, mean minimum, 36.2 (33.4). Sunshine—224 hours (186.8 hours); most in one day, 12.6. on 13th and 15th (12.5 on 15th); without sun, 1 day (2 Rainfall. —4.24 in, 12 days (1.67 in, 10 days); greatest fall, 1.36 in, 23rd (53ih on 23rd); RIFLE SHOOTING. The Glenorchy section of the Wakatipu Rifle Club recently fired their first competition for the president’s trophy. The conditions were seven shots and two optional sighters at 300 and 600 yards. Scores:

. OBITUARY. One of the few remaining links with the early days of the Wakatipu district was severed on Saturday afternoon when Mrs Agnes Atley, widow of James Atley, passed away. suddenly •at her home at Arthur’s Point. The deceased lady was in -full possession of all her faculties up to the last, and in spite of her four score years and five she was actively engaged in her daily household routine up to the last. Mrs Atley was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and when she was barely in her teens she accompanied her parents on the big adventure to Australia, When about 16 years' of age she. crossed the Tasman in the wake of other members of-the family who had already taken up residence in various parts of the colony.. Her first .employ'jnent was with one of-! the earliest settlers of the province, the Rev. Thomas (afterwards Dr) Burns. When the rush to the goldfields of Central Otago took place she was carried along on the tide to the Hogburn and other fields of gold-mining activity, eventually landing in this district, where, when only.-,18 years of age, she rharried. That was. upwards of 70 years ago, since which time she had lived continhously here. The deceased was a woman of independent character, and was possessed of considerable grit. Hospitable, as all the pioneers were, she dispensed good cheer to many a stranger and rendered succour to those who were in distress round about her. Mrs Atley brought up- a large family of eight sons and six daughters, whom she - held together in a wonderful way. One of her sons, Peter (15th Reinforcements) was killed in the Great War;, and a daughter died in Australia some years ago. Surviving members of the family are Messrs John Atley "(New Plymouth), James (Western Australia), William (Invercargill), Andrew, Robert, and George (Arthur’s Point), Alfred (Queenstown), Mrs ,W. Bradshaw (Invercargill),- Mrs A. Arbuckle (Wellington), Mrs J. Thompson (Queenstown), Mrs T. _ Mitchell (Gore), and Mrs Herbert Canning (Australia), The deceased’s husband predeceased her. The funeral took place this afternoon, when the remains were followed from Arthur’s Point to the Queenstown Cemetery by a large number of district people. The Rev. J. S. Murray conducted the burial service. The death took place here yesterday rather suddenly of Mr Alfred St. Omer, younger son of the late Mr and Mrs Francois St. Omer, and only brother of Mr Frank,St. Omer. The deceased had been suffering for some months past from a complaint which gave no hope of recovery. He was a native of Queenstown, having been born here'63 years ago. Mr St Omer was of a very retiring disposition, and he never took any part, in public life. From the time he left school till his retirement some five years ago he was occupied in the bakery and restaurant business conducted by his late father, and subsequently he was in partnership with his brother in the undertaking. He was a great reader and student of world affairs, and was particularly conversant with matters in the-realm of politics both at home and abroad. He was a man of wide sympathies and warm benevolence, and big charities were bestowed with an entire absence of ostentation. The funeral will take place here tomorrow afternoon, when the remains will be interred in the local cemetery. DISTRICT POWER BOARD.

The proposals that an electric power scheme should be inaugurated in this district were again considered at a meeting of the committee of local body representatives held here this week. As a result the matter was carried a step further.

the following agreement being come to: — 1. That the proposed Power Board would take over the assets and liabilities of the existing scheme in Queenstown, with no allowance for depreciation other than the sinking funds connected with the Queenstown installation. 2. That street lighting bo provided free of cost to the Queenstown Borough Council. 3. That the payment of £IOO per annum for 10 years be made to the Queenstown Borough Council as compensation for reticulation carried out and met from revenue through the electrical supply. The committee also agreed that the Arrowtown Borough receive electrical energy for street lighting free of cost. The petition for the formation of a Power Board will probably be circulated in the district in the course of a few day3 ‘ PERSONAL.

Dr James Salmond left here for Dunedin on Friday on receipt of the news of the sudden death of Professor Hewitson. Mr S. P. Feebly, a student at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, returned to his home at Arrowtown during the week. Mr Harry Gunson, of Invercargill, is on a visit to his brother, Mr Andrew Gunson, Queenstown. Mr Jack M'Carthy is the guest of his mother, Mrs P. M'Carthy. He arrived here last night. Mrs Tunks, of Wellington, is visiting her daughter, Mrs N. Hall, Western Terrace. _ Mr S. S. Ahum returned to Dunedin during the week after spending some months in Queenstown. Mr Abbey Jones passed through Queenstown on Thursday on hi B return to Invercargill from tte Hermitage, Mount Cook. Mr Hugh Vickerman, Wellington, arrived here last night on business connected with the Amalgamated Kawarau Gold Mining Company’s proposals. Mrs G. V. Wilkinson left here on Friday on a hurried visit to Timaru and Christchurch. . ... Mr R. L. Wigley, managing director of the Mount Cook Tourist Company, Timaru, spent a couple of days in Queenstown during the week. Miss Josie Bryant, a member of the nursing staff of the Ranfurly Hospital, is spending her annual leave with her parents at Kinloch, head of Lake Wakatipu. Mr Scott Gilkison, Dr Russell Fraser, and another young alpinist arrived here on Wednesday evening and proceeded next day up the lake. They, intend to do some tramping and climbing in the hinterland of Wakatipu during the holidays. . Mrs T. Russell, Dunedin, is visiting her parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas Davidson, at Queenstown. Mr D. H. Cockburn returned last night from Invercargill. He was accompanied by his sister, Mrs W. P. M'Donald, of ■Ben Lomond Station. Mr and Mrs John Scott returned to Roslyn yesterday. Mr and Mrs W; A. Saunders, of St. Clair, spent the week-end in Queenstown. To-day they went on to Hawea. They will return to Dunedin on Thursday.

rt p; 1:1 I. ol Wet bulb Ther. k* ■fl i »: J I u i & 1 ' poc. \f:-i ; 6 99.910 ill 41.0 60.1 46.4 38.2 .07 S.S a S9.718 60.4 44.4. 60.8 38.4 ■29.4 — 7.1 7 29.050 60.8 44.2 62.2 3,3.8 2S.2 .29 8.3 t 29.312 . 51.4 - 49.0 53.2 42.0 43.8 /.95 • 9 29.124 45.0 43,0 50.8 42.2 42.0 .14 — 10 29.134 48.6 40.0 50.6 42.2 39.2 .11 11 29.521 60.3 47.8 52.2 43.0 42.8 — . —

300yds. COOyds. Tl. S, Knowlea .. 31 24 55 L.' Harris .. 28 / 24 52 'J. Thornton .. 29 22 , 51 T. Forbes .. 24 25 49 E. Elliot ■ .. 19 20 39 I). M'Kenzie .. 22 17 39