LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1674, 22 December 1883, Page 16

LAKE COUNTY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRBBPONDKNT.) Decombor 10. Sudden Death.— A sudden death occurred hero last Monday at the Kawarau, when an old restdont In the neiirhbourhood died whilo being got ready to be taken to the Arrow Hospital. The deceased, George Scott, had some days previously had a, fight with his mate, James Thompson) arising out of a spree. Thompson, who gavo the information to the police, made certain statements which were nol in accordance with facts, and, in consequence, was taken up on a charge of manslaughter. At the inquest held before Mr C. C. Boyes, district coroner, it waa proved, however, that Scott died from natural causes; in fact, his organs were found to be in buch a atata that it waa a miracle how the man coulrt have liveii^.3 long as he did. Scott had led for many years an intemperate life, and his liver, stomach, and,

kidneys were past euro. Thompson, of course, waa di :fii, Waierworks -The tenders for th*B inS^anSr^eTt to r,he city ol tlw>te» were opened tot S, and that of- Meesre Anderson and Morrison ol Dnuedin, aecapterl. The price for the works Te ?£3"ol> including material, labour, and extras, ft L exwc>cd that a stwfc will bo ma^Je immediately after the New Year, and the works will bu completed Sometime ago the district wa* startled by roporcs published in- your evening contemporary, which perhaps, found their origin in the piactic.il loker 'eloasent annually importo ■ duiimr the tourist Season, stating that diamonds had bten found at Mount Earnslaw ; that suow had fallen at Quoonstp vn; that Lake Wakatipu ha'i run <\vy, and ninth more to v like import and of equal vtracity. It may, vifcrliaps, not be known th*t or,* stals of fair wzj and hands imp colour have been tound in one or two o! the streams emptying into the Lake from the cast aud ncav its head. These crystals have, so far as ia known, never been tested or submitted to experts for an opinion aa to their worth. Although it ia not likely that they have any gioat worth a* perns, they may in theso daya of shams havo a value sufficiently high to pay for their collection. Paibies who havo any of thee crystals on hand intfiht do woise thaa submit them to some professional authority. # BKraoACHES — Thero are two in>titutions at tho Arrow which depend for existence upon the exejtiona of a few, and which are therefore io constant da_»i;e» of collapse These are the Athenasuio und the Cricket Club, aud it m?y almost bo iii'er.ed that both mental and physical dcgeneiacy is manifesting iiself amongst ttie residents. Ifc is true that physical eneryy lias found an outlet in volunteering-, and averts itseit at an occasional dance or ball ; but tho mental or intellectual status of the place isa de;>lorabl> low ono. At concerts halt the audience assist by beating time wth their feet, an* express their approval by whistling Headings and rtcitations ha\ c more than once been cut short by continued interruption* by wav of applause. This, taken together with the want; of interest shown in the Athenteum and Cricket Ciub, doca not speak favourably lor the Arrowitea, and for their own interest it ia hoped that they will take this little paragraph to heart and mentally revolve it.