LAKE COUNT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1970, 22 August 1889, Page 16

LAKE COUNT.

August 19.—This winter has certainly been one of ,the longest 'and hardest experienced here for many years past, but a gradual thaw set in at the beginning of last weak, and we are now getting splendid weather, though the nights are a little frosty. It may be mentioned here, parenthetically, aa it were, that there are scores of d.weJH2ga In this district in habited, &or. --'> bt ablijlfeo^Vmdn, mu&?siiilpr*etih<<hm u&?siiilpr*etih<<h MgWrwetiWl, Wd yet the occup'antfjtfbf nd't appear to" suffer in conae-quence. I. Agricultural. -Except threshing, all farm work has been at a complete Btandstill'Bince the frost befn. land M, will be another fortnight before any suching can be attempted,' except in favoured :alities, owing to the sodden state of the soil after tne f roßt-.H • „.,.. t k ■i Poachzsg.—Hangers complain that trout poacning la carried on; or attempted, as extensively as ever throughout the county despite their watchfulness. It is not thought, however, that the midnight marauders have succeeded in making such great hau's this season as usual. It is of course useless to point out to the persons who thus defy cold, fatigue, jvndino'Bmanriskin pursuing their unlawful occupation, that every fish they take at this time of year may mean the destruction of ,10,000, and perhaps a good many more, and, moreover, that the fish is very unwholesome as an article of food. Retrenching and Levying .—At a special meeting of the Queenstown |Borough Council last week it was decided to reduce the town clerk's salary to £122 a year, and that of J the dayman to J£lß3. This retrenchment was alleged to be necessary owing to the loss of the Government subsidy, coupled with the falling off in rents from corporation endowments. It was also resolved to strike a 9d rate for the ensuing year. School Bickerings,—A completely new staff of teachers being now in charge of the Arrow Public School, the change may possibly have the much-needed effeot of creating a H6tle more harmony, for a time at least, in connection with school matters, there than that which has obtained during the past two or three years. Very likely cliquelism, trade jealousif s, and similar elements of "discord not a bit more prevalent in Arrowtown than in other small places ; but all the same a, teacher would need to have a more than ordinary share of Machiaveliau tact to enable him to avoid the shoals and quicksands that surround his position. Committed.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Arrowtown, on the 14th inst., a farmer named Shanahan was charged with perjury on the information of H. Graham, storekeeper. Accused was committed for trial at the sitting of the District Court in Queenstown next week. Lighting.—Mr B. J. Foord, who has been nego-' tiating for some time with the Queenstown Borough Council about supplying the township'with electrio lamps, having been unsuccessful so far in getting]that body to come to terms, has been given permission to utilise the town water for the purpose of generating electricity. Entertainment*—An entertainment given in the Town Hall, Queenstown, on Tuesday evening last, 'to supplement the funds of St. Peter's Church, was decidedly one of the most successful affairs undertaken there for some years. The programme comprised choice pianoforte selections, appreciative glees and solos, and last, but certainly not least, a " fairy dance'" by 12 interesting little maidens. They were so appropriately yet prettily robed that there was nothing wanting but the wings—that is, if real fairies have such things—to make the representation complete. A gift auction took place next evening, and the whole of the articles were disposed of at prices satisfactory to the vendors. It is said that the proceeds from the two sources amount to something like £60 or £70. Hospital Rivalry.—The mayor of Queenstown has forwarded to the member for the district and to the Colonial Secretary protests respecting the unfavourable position in which his borough would be placed in the event of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill, now before Parliament, being passed in its present form. In enumerating the grounds of objection to the bill, the mayor deals with the comparative usefulness, &c., of the two local hospitals; some of the comparisons being somewhat disparaging to the neighbouring institution. Whether the Arrowites will take exception to the comparisons as being uncalled for, if not untenable, remains to be seen. Returned.—The Rev. Mr Roes, who was' compelled through ill health to take a holiday, returned last week after an absence of about three months in AHBtralia. His many friends will be glad to learn" that the rev. gentleman was greatly benefited by the trip. Appointment.—Miss Agnes Grey has been appointed pupil teacher in the Lower Shotover School. (Pbom Anothbb Cobrbspondent.) August 19.—The winter of which we are jmt taking leave has been the most severe experienced for nearly a score of yeart. The ground has been frozen, very hard, and out-door work has been suspended for a muoh longer period than usual. Still winter dies, &a it lived, " hard," and the occasional sharp frosts o' nights remind us that it has not yet finally parted company with us. • More Light.—The Queenstown corporation have

r~"' ■' —"■'■■ «aa{ granted, at a yearly rental «f £10, the use of theft water (the town supply) to Mr B. J. Foord, to be used bsfore it enters the mains on a power wheel for generating electricity for lighting the streets of the town as well as private residences. The applies. ' tion for the use of the water had been before the council for some time in connection with Mr Poord'i proposed scheme, but the council .wished to be further enlightened as to the details of said scheme and at one stage seriously spoke of taking the matter up themselves and providing the townspeople with a light that would turn their night into day. They do not appear to be very certain of what Mr Foord is going to do, but have concluded that little barm can result by conceding the use of the water conditionally. To my mind the question is whether the new light will be more economical than the old The population is so small, you see. That is tho point on which most people want light. Retrenchment. — Notwithstanding that the Queenstown Borough Council has decided to strike a9d rate—3d higher than last year-they have also resolved upon economißine in their administration. The dayman's screw has been " docked" to the extent of £25 per annum, and the town clerk's salary has been reduced to £122; this sum to include tho fees formerly paid him as returning officer, valuator licensing clerk, &c. And I venture to think that the latter officer is still paid handsomely for his services. A Storm Brewing. —Local jealousy between the townships of Queenstowa and Arrowtown has been dormant for some time. But what is this ? The mayor of Queenstown surreptitiously writes a lone letter to the Colonial Secretary, objecting to the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill on five different groundt. The reasons given are really only featherweight, and there is an arrogance about the letter that will do anything but commend itself to the Minister. In passing, I think that some one more assertive and mare . incautious than "he worthy mayor has had the . principal hand in framing the letter. However, here is an extract:—" Lake County is divided into . two districts—namely, Wakatipu and Arrow districts, and this, I think, is a mistake. The»oounty, as a whole, is not in a position to support two hos- • pitals, and this fact has been pointed out bo the Government several times. At the time of the rush about 1862, when there were thousands and thou- - sands of people in the district, one hospital was enough—the one at Frankfcon—and it was erected there as being most central. We have now two institutions, and the tax on the people to keep up these • two institutions will bo very heavy and ruinous. In • the bill, Arrow district comprises the most wealthy ■ ridings, and runs that district to somewhere nearthe Lower Shotover bridge, and includes all the • farms, &c, that, in my view, belong properly to the • l?rankcon district. Hitherto all persons living near • the Shotover bridge and on the farms near there ■ have come to toe Prankton Hospital. If the bill is passed in ita present form, you reverse the present state of affairs, and make the Arrow Hospital the principal one in the county, leaving the Frankton > institution a second place." This letter, you will. admit, is not likely to please the Arrow division, and I expect to see the champions of each institution going at it hammer and tongs. The institutions are > really both very muoh required. Magisterial.—lt is not yet settled who is in ■ future to dispense justice in the district. Mr J. S. Hickson, late H.M., is at presant having a month'a holiday. By the great majority it is hoped that Mr J. N. Wood (temporarily in charge) will receive permanent charge of the district. The Courts.—Arrowtown cases have been most Interesting this month. John Shanahan (a farmer in a small way) and Henry Graham (storekeeper) had > been suing each other civilly for some time on a question of accounts, their oaths being in direct conflict. Graham produced receipts signed "John Shanahan " (one of the signatures being witnessed by Graham's son). Graham swore Shanahan signed the receipts in his presence. Shanahan swore he did i not, and repudiated the signatures. The end of it waa > that Graham laid an information for perjury against '<■ Shanahan, which" was on Thursday last heard by Mr J, N. Wood, Shanahan being committed for titol afc> the next sitting,, of the District Court at Queens* town. The cross aotions between Selby and Stodidart also created considerable interest. Selby suetfl for Bom.c $.30 or wages, and Stoddart sued for alamt ,'a«. saatiy shillings. The verdict -was in favour of jStoddart for 6s Cd. The latte? produced carefullyjkept books, while the former depended on. a memory which admittedly could not be too fully truated.