LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1880, 2 December 1887, Page 17

LAKE COUNTY.

Novkmhkk '2S.— The new Luke County Council is now licked into shape, and, with a goodly proportion of new members and a change in chairman, it is to be hoped that a new order of things will prevail. The council met for the first time last Wednesday for the purpose ot electing a chairman and for the transaction ot general business. There wore two candidates tor the chairmanship— viz., Messrs J. O'Mtara and W. Jenkins, the former of whom was elected. Buing a young man full of energy, and possessing a sound business knowledge, no better choice could have besn made. The business disposed of v.ai of little general interest. The tender of E. O. St phens for a footbridge over the river at 'i'obin's tr.ick was accepted. This is a much-needed work, the want of which has been already the cmse of the loss o; life, and lias put a number ot ratepayers to considerable mc >nve< ience. Jollifications.— The coming holiday season is already to be scented in the breeze. Caledonian games, race 3. picnics, balls, and other dissipations are obtruding upon the attention of the Wakatipuviauß. many ot whom fire seriously engaged in dividing their time to partake of tho bill of fare in such a maunrr as to miss nothing; and uven the depression seems to tie disappearing lor the time being. The meet ot the i .C.J.U will Ins delayed tliih year till the 12th and 13th ot January next. Ihis is somewhat Liter than usual. A very enticing programme has been prepared, iind should draw well, both :is regards perlorming horses and tho bpccl:vciil;>r public. UccM'Mastical.— Thfi Night Rev. Dr Moran Ins beiiii on a visit to this dibtriot in connection with his clerical duties. The local Koman Catholic schools were inspected by Hie bishop, <u\d p.isiod very satisfactory examinations. IJr Morau also preached eloquent sernvuis at Queenstown and Arrowtown to lurue :md appreciative congregations. CKLKsmr. Uu-fc-KKK.fi.s.— Two Chinamen working at the btii'iohes ot the Miotuv.?r fell into mortal enmity, which they proceeded to settle with knives. The result was that oim ot them hud to be sent to the hospital and the other to the gaol; but it has not transpired what became of the differenc s. Possibly they still exist. Fudijk— Of all colonial fads, the up-country volunteer corps ;ire certain >ynmonj<st the most useless and silly notions. I Lid S'>nie little attention been p:iid to the iuje and gi-nwal fitness of the material enlisting, borne excuse might have been pleaded for the volunteer movement But as it, is, when men who would do better in the Salvation Ar • y. qiv.l'tving themselves for promotion to another and bettor world, constitute themselves the bulwarks i.f tins cnl mv, it need not surprise anj'one that the really desirable men keep aloof from the companyof such '•vete-ans." It is really not too much to say that, the corps as at present consti^ Tute'l are a burlesque upon patriotism, ami do a great deal of harm t,o the healthy growth of that noblest of virtues. Can absurdity further go than appoint full-blown commissioned officers who are professedly incompetent to put 'their corps through tho forms of ordinary drill? To keep the corps in anything like ord»r. pa*d drill instructors and inspectors are appointed, absorbing annually largo sums of public money. Xn doubt there are a number of men in each corps who are earnestly convinced that they render the country a service, and no fault could be found with them ; but in the straitened condition of the colony the taxpayer lias to consider the question: "Is the game woith the candle?" Nor is the waste of funds a small one. Besides the capitation allowances there are salaries for drill instructors and inspectors, money grants for drillsheds, &c. In most up-country towns the returns as to the number of members on the roll can never be relied upon, as in a constantly shifting population this number is ever subject to great aud continual variations. It is not too much to say that there are many corps whose warriors exist upon paper only, the same men being registered in perhaps half-a-dozen companies. This state of affairs gives rise to other irregularities, and I could mention at least one corps which for the 10 or 12 years of its existence has never presented a balance, nor have the members ever received their capitation allowances. The sooner thp6o fudges are wiped out the better for the causes of common honesty and patriotism. Of course them could be no objection whatever to the corps continuing their existence provided they do so at their own expense, and do not look for support to the public purse. At present her poverty is New Zealand's greatest protection against attacks from foreign enemies.