LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1778, 19 December 1885, Page 13

LAKE COUNTY.

D.ecember 12. — At the last meeting of the Southland Board under- the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, the application from the Arrow Hospital Committee to be incorporated under the act was the only one recommended by the board, the application being the sole one in consonance with the act in every particular. For this satisfactory state of affairs credit is due to Mr James F. Healey, the secretary of the Arrow Hospital, and Mr G. Heller, the member of the board for Arrowtown. The number of subscribers enrolled was 124, contributing £109 12s. • The Arrow Hospital was the only one which was recommended for incorporation, £117 being awarded to the Frankton Hospital.

Missionary.. — Rev. D. Michelson, accompanied by Nanambulia, a chief of Tonga, one of the New Hebrides Islands, has paid this district a visit, holding meetings at Queenstown and Arrowtown, which were well attended. The Rev. Mr Michelson has been located for 10 years in the islands, where he has laboured with much success in his particular line, and he had consequently jqany interesting items to relate to his audiences in this district.

Municipal. — The Arrow Town Council seems to have been infected with the general cussednes,s prevailing, to judge by an outbreak at their last meeting, when councillors and mayor indulged in reading each other's character without t;h,e aid of feeling for their bumps — I meau phrenologically of course. Talk of Billingsgate, why it was not a patch on the classical language used upon the occasion. Unfortunately the " pleasantness " occurred when the council was about to resolve itself into committee, and it is then " privileged." The ratepayers are now anxiously expecting the timp when the council will resolve itself into a " prize ring,'"' in which the councillors will have an opportunity of expressing their mutual admiration for one another with their fists. If this eventuates, I hope

" Your Own " will receive a ticket, so that he may lay before your readers a full account of the proficiency of the members in the noble irt of self-defence.

More Protection. — Mr W. Miller, the sheep and rabbit inspector for this district, cautioned people, by advertisements under " Tho Rabbit Act 1882," not to destroy ferrets or other natural enemies of rabbits in Lake County. From this it would appear as if it were intended to sacrifice the poultry of this district, and many an old hen-wife — male as well as female — will have to keep a strict watch over their tempers, and the inspector, letting the ferrets take their chance of a stone or a bootjack as the case may be.

Lawn Tennis is quite the rage in this district. Practice is constant, and matches looming in the future "as thick as autumu leaves in Vallombrosa."

Geological. — Professor Ulrich is at present on a visit to the Head of Lake Wakatipu. The professor is in good hands, and the varied mineral resources of the locality will no doubt be brought under, his notice in a proper manner, and a public report be the outcome of the visit.

Poaching. — Four charges against juveniles, and one against an adult, were laid under this head, and dealt with in the R.M. Court, Queenstown, last week. Light fines in vail cases were inflicted.

Departmental. — During a mining appeal case, heard in the District Court, Queenstown, lately, the loose way in which the registration of mining privileges, in the absence of a regis-tration-book, have been kept was severely commented upon by both his Honor Judge Ward and the solicitors engaged in the case. The neglect is one of long (standing, and neither the present warden nor the clerk of the Court are in any way to blame for the unsatisfactory stale of affairs. An expert should forthwith be engaged to arrange all mining documents in chronological order, and enter them in a proper registration-book, such as is kept in most Warden's Courts all over the Colony.