LAKE COUNTY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1645, 2 June 1883, Page 12

LAKE COUNTY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Accident.— A nasty accident happened tcMJaptain J. M'^ioil, of the steamer Autriiu, trading ou Lake Wakatip. Whilst assisting to unload uoino trucks on tho loophno at Kingston, Cap am M'Neil by some mischance got caught between two pacing ttueka, and before they could be stopped ho was rollo i round r und, and severely crushed, sustaining a broken iib and a fracture of the collar-bone In spito of his injuries and the consequent pain, ho walked on board the Mountaineer, which made at once all speed for Qeeenstown, where the sufferer «a* attended by Dr Douglas, and subsequently removed to the Franktoa hospiW. He is nuw in a fair way of recovery.

Thb Qubbn's Birthday was generally observed as a holiday in this district the Volunteers" turning outto parade, and (king salutee la the afternoon firing f>r sorno valuable awards took place. At Queenstown a i.azaar in "id of the new Convent Suhuol wa o ened in the Town Hall, and attracted a large a-iHernblatre which continued to patronise tho fair foi the t>vo snbs quent days, the revela winding up with a concert by the Convent, pupils, which, proved a g.eat bwcess Tne to al aiuouut re.li-ed hia not \et nun pi od, but is bound to ie eh a handsome figure AC Arrowtuwn a concert, diamatic eutertaiinneno ani bll was *ot up in ho. our of tho day and in a d o't the Athenaeum funds, and in all its details tiic affair pioved a highly enjoyable one. Thopr< ceedsaiesta ed to bo closely approaching £20. A very c nauierahle nuui her of rtsidents preferred to upen i their h Oiday in Dunedin, the exodus fro v Artowbivn beini; ea ecialiy Urge. Tno attiaction, of course, was the Birtlidvy nicea.

Mb Fhrguh, 41 11. B. —In some unexplained manner report-, have originated heio that Mr I'oruus intended to meet hi-i constituent laat Sxturday.lt Quoun«,town, and those in o>hor portions of liis district on subsequent days, failing which Monday next 18 now mentioned an the appointed time for that purpose. On what ground those rnuaouvs root; it is difficult to con-jwtvu-e, ac it was generally uuderßtojd that Mr

Fergus, having only r-ceity made the loiir of htS electorate, hu was not expected again to meet his con* itituents IHE Khas. In tho moro flov»ted portions of the iiutljitig par's of this d!s*r<ct the keas have for jens i>ast made frightful havo.; a uoiigsc the sheep, and like the rtbiii's tne pc t is increasing, to th'sgre»c ala.m uf -quatteis While on a vis t to the Minaret Station, bai-o kanaka, about t-vo \ears, I was told that in a lot ot sheep uf one day's mustering there were not le s than i 2 a tacked animate, sumu uf which barely managed to carry ttieir fljeces hoiuo before they died, and •my very i6w recovered. Since then the birds h ive great y increased. As is well known, the ki as attack the hi e>t and fatiest shee.) only, digging dee,.> holes with their formidable beaks into the loin-i of thu sheep until the kidney fat is reached, which they greedily devour, after this the poor animal is a.loweJ to die a miserable d«.ath. Considering that tho keas hive only recently acquired, this pernicious babi., it forms rather an interu-ting feature in the development of instincts in thane b l'ds. The Wbatuer.— We have had rather changeable weuherof late. Snow, fros^ lau^hint; sunshine, laiii, and tou; all have had their turn in pretty 4uiok t^n^mutatiuus. The fog has bee'nVather a novel t ature am.ini<-t these meteorological Upon several decisions a h\s huna o cr th« distact like a veMtable London mysterj , obscuring the oay, atid (larking tho night, f.r several daja in succedeiou. Despite this tm avourabie weather, the health oi the district is excellent.