LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1899, 13 April 1888, Page 17

LAKE COUNTY.

Apbil 9.— The weather at last shows signs of settling down, and farmers having late crops are making every effort to secure those worth saving, so tbat the loss after all will not be very great, except in a few instances where barley is concerned. Some oat*, too, will suffer much, and there is some doubt whether or nob the crop will be sufficient for local requirements — certainly there •will be no surplus. On me other hand there ia an. abundance of green fodder and turnips which will go a long way to eke out the deficiency in oats,

Fanox" Faib. — A.rrowtown has at last perpetrated a fancy fair, extending over two days. The affair was enlivened by a corps de ballot composed of about 20 juveniles, who performed with much credit and precision several old BngUsh country dances, and there were also songs and other dances, and of course the inevitable refreshment room. In all the departments general efficiency led to a very handsome result, no less than £M being taken in spite of the miserable weather which prevailed. The affair was got up for the benefit of the Bpisoopalian Church, Arrowtown, and the amount realised will more than meet present necessities.

Death of a Piojeer.— John M'Gregor, the first white man who found and worked for gold in the Wakatipu district, has, according fco late advices, gone to his long home, he having died in Scotland recently. Gold, it would appear, was known to exist at the Arrow river from a very early date. One Maori Jack supplied both M'Gregor and Pox with the information, upon which both proceeded to the spot indicated by him, M'Gregor arriving some time before Fox. It is strange that the two places first attacked should have remained without a name. M'Gregor eet in at a terrace opposite Cooper's Terrace, and Fox at a point just below Sawpit Gully. Tiie former was much more successfu^than the latter, and it is stated that he accumulated"l'76lb of gold in about two monthß; Philharmonic Society.— The society recently formed at Arrowtown has now got into harness, and a first night's practice has proved that it promises to be a credit to the place. There was a good attendance of members, displaying a very fair amount of talent, and there can be no doubt that the efforts and objects of the society will be appreciated and supported by the public. Lost Tbout.— For some years past live trout and dead ones have been picked up in the Shotover and Arrow rivers, and especially after a flood. In the latter river the men working in the Arrow Tunnel Company and Mr O. Hay working in the bed of the river have often picked up fish after a fresh. As no fry has been liberated in these rivers, the supposition is that they must have got into it from those branch streams in which young trout have been placed. No trout could live for any length of time in either the Arrow or the Shotover river, on account of the dirtiness of their waters, and it is quite certain that no fish would spawn there for the same reason. On these grounds they have never been stocked. Last week Mr M'Fadzean' picked up two fish in the Arrow river weighing about 21b each, which must have been s wept out of the Boaring Billy Creek and loa' their w;iy back. The strangest part of the whole thii g U that nil fish thus picked up are about the same weight ; no large ones have ever been found in the big rivers, though they are known to exist up to 2lt and 3ft long in the Boaring Billy Creek,