Our Correspondents.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 23

Our Correspondents.

LAKE COUFTY. (FBOM OUB OWtf OOBBESPONDENT.) A cause celebrS is likely to occupy Judge Harvey during the next sitting of the District Court to be holden at Arrowtown. Mr H. J: Cope, extensively known throughout Ofcago, has preferred an action for libel against the proprietor of the Arrow Observer, for £200 damages. The paragraph containing the alleged libel appeared in the Observer of the 22ad inst. amongs^ the Dunedin telegrams, Mr Cope's name being slightingly mentioned in the same paragraph with that of Capt. W". J. Barry. The near cut fco Dunedin, via the Waimea plain, is tobe opened to-morrow, plaoing Lake County within one day's journey of the metropolis. Besides the facilities offered to travellers, it i"b to be hoped that the mails to and from Lake County will, when the present contract expires, be forwarded by the new line of railway. Before the completion of the Waimea railway, parcels from Dunedin used to arrive per rail via Invercargill the day before advices per mail reached here, a state of things which, though ib might surprise a few, can hardly bo said to please any. The Arrow volunteers celebrated their anniversary last Friday by a pleasant and highly enjoyable ball, which was well attended. The affair went off well, being marred to some little extent perhaps by the crowded state of the ball room. To prevent the recurrence of this inconvenience for the future the Arrow Athenaeum committee contemplate the extension of the hall and other improvements in the premises, both with a view to add to the appearance of the building and the comfort of the patrons of the institution. Mr B. R Baird, late of Cromwell, intends to erect a handsome stone mansion on the southern border of Lake Hayes, and purposes to settle down permanently amidst our unrivalled scenery. Mr M'Caffrey, the well-known sculptor of Queenstown, who exhibited, and obtained a reward, at the Sydney Exhibition, is going to supplement his collection of exhibits at Melbourne by several samples of freestone from hfc quarry at Fews' Creek, Lake Wakatipu. This freestone, which compares favourably with that of any known kind for hardness and durability, takes a high polish, and when exposed to great heat glazes, resembling very fine ena« I mcl. The stone requires only to be better known to become much sought after, as it would answer equally well for ornamental and useful work. In quantity the stone is practically unlimited, and its price is subject only to the cost of working and transit. A complete change of personel in the Queenstown Post-office has been effected. Mr Macalister is going to Invercargill, while Mr P. Cotter, who acted as assistant to Mr Maoalister, is removed to Alexandra, being placed in charge of that office. What with several entertainments, and well furnished public libiaries in all the oentres of population, we manage to pass the long winter evenings very pleasantly. Queenstown and Arrowtown have each their quadrille assemblies and Good Templars' open harmony meetings at fixed intervals. The libraries in the chief townships of the district are assuming quite portentous proportions, and are well supported by the residents,

> The election for the vacant seat for Arrow riding-, whioh ia to take place to-morrow, promises to become a lively affair, There aro five

candidates in the field, and all are quite sure of success. The canvass has been a very olose one'; I believe that there is scarcely a ratepayer who Las a vote but has been interviewed personally by all the candidates. Mr Daniel, as Chairman of the Sydney Exhibition Local Committee, has received a^ letter from the Exhibition Commission at Wellington informing him that the official lists of awards of the Commissioners of the Sydney International Exhibition are in the hands of the New Zealand Government, which is about to print copies for issue. There is considerable opposition amongst the Bons of Vuloan, and parties who are dealing largely in the farrier smithiDg line rejoice thereat.