LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 20

LAKE COUNTY.

FKnnuAiiv 20.— For the pa«t fortnight the weather has been the trouble, for one section of the community at least— that is, the farmers. There has been a repetition of showers that for their frequency and copiousness are almost without parallel in these parts at this time of year. Of course, the great extentof the sun's spots accounts for it, but they do not lessen .the annoyance the showers have caused the farmers with outstanding crops. There has now been plenty of heat for a day or so, and if it continues the crops will soon be sufficiently dry to be harvested and secured. The miners, on the other hand, have benefited by the downpour, which, coming at a time when the days are still of considerable length, will tell favourably upon the escort returns. Tub Mixi.sTKiu.Nti Childri:>'s Lijagui:.— On Tuesday last about 100 persons, chiefly ladies and children, assembled in the Queenstown Town Hall to hear the obiects of this league explained. The Countess of Meath, supported by the liev.s. A. C. Yorke and T. Paulin, explained the objects of the league, of which the Countess was the originator about seven years ago, and which now counts upwards of 40,000 members. Her ladyship also addressed the children in a dissertation on practical Christianity, which was received with much applause. A large number of those present enrolled their names as members of the league. Charitable.— We are also about to receive a visit from the Rev. W. J. Mayers and the boys f j-om Dr Barnardo's Homes, for the purpose of

collecting funds, but as they come at a time after I the late carnivals of Christmas and New "iear, and at the busiest time, they may not be so successful as otherwise they might have been.

Fiiii:.— On Monday night last a fire was observed in the goods sheds of the Lake Wakatipu Steam Navigation Company, at Frankton. The shed is built on the jetty. The fire was discovered in its outbreak, and had buckets and ropes to raise the water been available the conflagration might have been stopped in its incipient stage. As it was, the unchecked fi/re rapidly gained upon the building and the goods contained in it. and ended only when nearly everything within reach was consumed. The origin ot the fire is, with cause, traced to a bale of Wanaka flax, a quantity of which was stored* only a day or so before. Besides this there was' some flour and a quantity of general merchandise, which had arrived in bulk'after the reopening of the railway, consequent upon the damage done it by the recent flood. The building, it is understood, v> as insured in the National, and so were I the flax, flour, and some other articles. . i A WiLLiNtj Horsk.— At times, when notj crowded out by more important matter, thu time- I table by which mails are despatched from Queenstown is inserted in the Wakatipu Mail, and oil perusal it is found that three mails are made up on Sundays at the office ; that on font days in tho week mails are made up at !> p.m., and on one day at 8 p.m. Iv addition to this, the postmaster sorts and boxes the Dunedin mails, airiving at iO p.m. on four nights in the week, and is always cheerfulness and civility itself; and the same may be said of the other attache to the office. All 1 this sacrifice seems to be received by the Queenstownitesasa matter of course, and beyond a casual note getting into the Wakatipu Mail, when the editor happens to be in a good humour, no notice appears to be taken of it ; but the boon is quietly and silently received by a public that would probably grumble sorely and loudly were Mr Dewar, the postmaster, to adhere strictly to ollice hours. It is therefore no more than just that they be reminded of a boon they seem to prize so littie, and one which they would miss badly were it withdrawn.

Road Extension.— Mr J. Black, county engineer, has begun the survey of that portion of the Arrow-Macetown road extending from the former place to Pinchers bridge, a distance of about a mile, the whole of which has now to be ( negotiated by fording the Arrow river nearly 20 times. The new road, when completed, will avoid this, as it will be taken along the western bank of the Arrow valley, or I should rather say gorge. The Codlin Moth.— During the last season this mischievous insect has increased to such an" extent that nearly every orchard in this district has been abandoned to it, and it, or rather they— their number is legion— are allowed full sway, The men who try to battle with the nuisance are helpless, as they have to fight an invisible foe, swarming around them in countless numbers. Yet systematic and persistent syringings with Paris green have proved that the pest can be kept within bounds. Mr John Beler. at Arrowtown, has succeeded by the early and repeated use of Paris green in saving at least a fair portion of his apples ; while other orehardists persist in breeding the pest, perhaps in the hope that a demand for it may spring up.