LAKE COUNTY. Our Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 1432, 3 May 1879, Page 11

LAKE COUNTY.

Our Correspondents.

(fbom our own correspondent.) The event of the past fortnight was the visit from the Vice-regal party of Sir Hercules and Lady Robinson and auite. Our distinguished visitors arrived at Queenstown on Monday afternoon last, and the inevitable address over retired to Eiohardt's Hotel to rest from the fatigues of their journey. The following day was set, apart for a tour up to the head of the Lake. The weather was all that could be desired, calm, beautifully clear and sunny, allowing the grand old mountain furniture of our country to be seen to the best advantage. It is needless to say that every one of the ex cursionists was suprised and delighted with the spectacle of lake and mountain. So much was this the case, that Sir Hercules and Lady Robinson signified their intention to return for a lengthened stay during next summer. Wednesday, the 'day following the trip up the lake, was generally understood to be devoted to a, visit to Arrowtown, in fact, the public authorities there had been notified, that. His .Excellency the Governor with Lady Robinson and suite would pay, the town a\ visit. From this fact it will easily be undertood that no small dissatisfaction wasjelt and expressed when a telegram was received in the afternoon of Tuesday, stating that the Governor would ascend_ Ben Lomond, an eminence near Queenstown, instead of visiting Arrowtown. When it leaked out that this deviation from the programme was the outcome of some underhand' work of a few snobs at Queenstown, the contempt expressed for such action was loud and unmistakeable. Nor were matters much improved when a second telegram was received late that night, that the Governor would endeavour to reach Arrowtown the following day. The whole # transaction illustrates how much people in' high positions are at the mercy of designing grovellings. However, in spite of any misrepresentation that might have been made, Mr Fisher, Postmaster General, who accompanied His Excellency, telegraphed to Arrowtown on Wednesday, that the Governor would arrive there at a quarter to four in the afternoon. Such preparation as the Bhort notice would allow of were at once made, and what with evergreens and a lavish display of bunting, and above all a bright sun'and clear sky.^ 'Arrowtown presented a very pleasing, if not imposing, appearance, which could not help but produce pleasant effects upon, the ViceRegal party. After the reading of a short practical address, which was read by the Town Clerk, and to which His Excellency briefly replied, the public institutions of the town were inspected,' and very favourably commented on by Sir Hercules. The vice-regdl party declined a luncheon provided by the, Town Council, as also a banquet proffered by the Burgesses of Queenstown. After a stay of about two hours the "vice-regal party drove back to Queenstown by Miller's Flat and Arthur's Point, having come ,to 4 rrow ' OWDL by wav °^ -^ a^ e Hayes, They .thus passed through the beat agricultural land of the district, amidst ever changing scenery. Altogether, the stay in and the tour through the .district was a most enjoyable one, and was ruffled only by the audacity .of a few snobs, who upon= the arrival- of Sir Hercules and suite at Queenstown, . split up into two factions, the military and the, civic, both contending for the Habeas Corpus of Sir Hercules and Lady Robineon,' and interfering with the advertised programme' of the tour, neither of which could have been pleasing to our distinguished Visitors The visit has given rise to sevferal " mots," some of which are likely to survive for some time to come. Thus the Mayor of Queenstown, when introduced to Lady Robinson, said : " HoWjdo you do ma'am, I am happy to make your acquaintance, ma'am." And a homely dame of a practical turn of mind, exclaimed, as Lady Robinson and cortege were passing her, " They seem'to be harmless sort of people." , The Golden Arrow Lodge, 1.0. G.T., celebrated its- fifth, anniversary on the 17th of April last by a tea meeting, which was followed by addresses by Messrs Jago, G.W.C.T. ; Adams, P.G.W.Q.T. ; Cameron, G.W.S.j and, Dr. Roseby, G.W.C. The addresses were interspersed with songs and recitations by local celebrities, and by instrumental selections on the pi&no,-by Mrs Bunell. The whole made a first-class evening's entertainment, which lasted until considerably past eleven o'clock, having began at ek o'clock. The Golden Arrow Lodge is to be commended for the pluck displayed, in bringing up the four above named gentlemen ; however, the result proves that the undertaking was not gone into without judgment. The large hall of the Arrow Athenaeum was well filled. All' the speakers were' in excellent talking fettle, and the audience paid attention, and applauded correctly in a far more marked manner than is usually the case at " speechifying." 1.0. G.T. Grand Lodge sessions were also held both at Qneenstown and Arrowtown, eleven new members at the former place and fifteen at the latter were initiated into the mysteries of the Grand Lodge degree. A reply has been received at Arrowtown from the Minister of Justice, in answer to a petition, praying for the retention in his present offices of Resident Magistrate and Warden, of H. A. Stratford, Esq.', stating that the Government do not intend to alter the present ariangement of Goldfields management. This decision' will be reeeired with very general satisfaction throughout this district.