LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1682, 16 February 1884, Page 12

LAKE COUNTY.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRBSI'ONDENT.) February 9. Waimea Ra'jiWAy —While things remain, in statu quo with th 8 Hue, in spite, of all the power, ul(?) writings fr^m thi* district, much light 13 thrown upon the mysteries of the stoppage A short time ago it wa3 stated in a letter to the Wakatipu Hail that tho Waimea Company had discontinued th'ir trains on accaunt of the excessive charges made bs the Government for allowing the Company's trains to run on their line from the Elbow to Kingstou. Now we leain fiom an explanation from tho head of the Railway that this ij not true, as uo cbaige at all was mode ; and we also glean from a lor.tor to the famo paper, signed " One Who Ought to Know," that the Wairaea Company was iv the receipt of £18 permonth asa subsidy from the Government. Whatever may bd said about this line and the f-toppage, there iau now be no doubt that the Government, who panted the charter to tho Company, have p aced the Colony in a very awkward position, from, which, it should be rescued as soon as 'possible.

Liius Couxtv Couxciii.— At the last Eitting of this body, the important question of vesting the lakes of tbia v.oiuny in the Couccil ccc wore cropped up, and wai fully discussed, with <iio re.-ult that a sub-com-mit <c wa i appointed to bring the subject under the ii'Sico of thoijlovernment. >e*eral such rouimittees have been appointed upon previous occasJoos for the same purpo c without leading to any result. Amongst the speakeis recommending that something- be done in this matk-r was Mr H. M'Dougall, the recentlyelected member for Cardrona riding, who pointed out that tha trout iv the lakes a>:d ri' ors of tbe county had become so numerous that they represent an appreciable value and aB he was in favour of every kind of wtalth in tho State buitg utilised, he thought that, steps bhould bo taken to convert iho fi=h into a legitimate source of revenue, imtead of baviner it wastpd and despoiled in tho most ruin ms mannpr by wholosale poaching carried on all the year round. The subcommittee appointed to consider this subject ogreed to tho following resolution, which is to be submitted to the consideration of tho Government: — "That consequent upon the destruction of trout by poachers in tall seasons of the year, in }.a!co Wakatipu and othgr lakes within the County, it <s dtpirablethat authority lie given to this Council to frame regulations for their preservation ; to fix tho seasons within which fishing be permitted ; to limit the size of mesh in nets employed; a d oth<rwiso to take such steps in thp inte-estof the public at large and forth* preservation of the trouc as may seem desirable, and to be empowered to lease to parties wishing to do so, tho right to ihh within such area as may be allotted by the Council, the revenue arising from such leasing to become the revrnue of tho County " At the same mooting steps were also takon for the collection of rates duo, which since the lost alteration in the Bating Act are much reduced in valuo amongst the mining population, living for the greater patt in back ttul.ies, dilfluult of access, and thinly scattered over a lurgearea. So much is this the case that the rate would not pay collecting, nnd to overcomo tho difficulty local collectors in the different centres were appointed. Land Sale.— A farm, known as Mooney'a farm, at Speargrass Flat, compris'ng 223 acres, was sold last week by public auction, and fetched £,1 5s per acre, with the crop, Mr W. Pareison belmr tho buyvi, and it may bo considered that he got the land at a barPoaciiino.— The local police at Queensfcown made & capture of two poachers in the very ach of their depredations, as they wora hauliigin a net' from Lake Wakatipu. The poachers hte two residents ot good position in the town, and the affaiv has caused quitA , a little sensation in the district, and;will occupy tho attontiou of Major Woddell upou his next magisterial visit. Presentation.— A very hindsome recognition of Buhytantrlul borvtces rendered, extending ovor a Ions; number of yearp, was made the othor week to Mm Crawford, of Miller's Flat, who has always been foremost in promoting apd bringing to a &uuce.-8f ul issue those social guth.er.iD^a wljloh jp gmall C9mrau<'isi.e9

do so much to foster good f cling, and while they afford amus-im'snt and .some g od sense er another. Mra Crawfoid possesses a very sweet and pleasing voice, and b\ h»r tongs, as well as tiylur niore subOtantial Contri utions to tea-meetings was always sure to secure sucees- and universal admiration Ino presfntati>a, which came from tho Punday-«ch<jol children of Mil'ei'd Flat, took the form of a silver tea and coffeo nervice, of a new and vi iquc dcs t:n. Iv 'the SunOay-aih .ol this lady, by her kind ess of disposition and singular amiability hai done much good work,' and it wl.l bo dim ultto fi 1 her place Mr and Mrs Crawford, who are about 111 1 leave the district for Wendon, where Air Craw ford has acquired a aim, will carry with them thu well-wi.-huß ot ih^-ir neighbours and the district, while their departure from amoi gtst US will be universally regretted. Gout INORKASE —During the past few months th«re has been a. very not ble increase of gold production from the Shotuver Ia ssveral localises new ground has been opened, and many of the older claims liavo yielded increased returns. The abundant tup lv of water, extending over a long time, no doubt has a goo'i deal to do with th's pleasing state of affcira. Besides the very gratifying present fact, ihere is also the prospective cheerful outlook afforded that all our gold has riot yet hern ducr out of our hilli nnd gu\ ies Accidhkt. A nericuj ace'dent occurred in the nifjht between Wednesday and Thur.-day last, on the road leading up the Shotovir Goge, near Big Beach, ArfcfcoVs Point. A shepherd of one of the Wanaka stations named Canfer^n g<t thrown off his hore, b'eskinir his lo.' in the fall, on a lonely imrt of this roid, and his criia and cooees failed to a. tract at ention un ii the morninir. 'Jhe niihtwasac Id < ne, but it appears that Came- on did not c- ffer fro.ii ar.y effect* of the ex osure Immediately upon being dißcovered the residents ia the neighbourhood did al i« their rower to relieve the suffe er, who was taken to the Prankfcon Hos-pital. It is ui.deretoid that Cam°r(n has a wire and thiee children living at the Watiaka.