LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 22

LAKE COUNTY.

August s.— The winter now closing has been a more than usually wet one, so far as the Waka.tipu basin is concerned, but it would appear that the same remark does not apply to the Wanaka country. This bears out general observations, for the rule is that rain in these mountains is always more on less patchy, a providential-arrangement, for were it not so heavy floods in the Molyneux would be of much more frequent occurrence than they now are, A very, severe frost in the first part of this week is now followed by rain, with every indication of a continuance of soft, dirty weather as an introduction to spring. People who have the beßfc means of forming an opinion state that there ib more snow on the hills now than there has been for the past 10 or 12 years, the great bulk of which is well crinsolidated by frost, »o that a' good and lasting water supply for mining purposes during the coming season may be looked forward to. Judicial.— The sitting of the District Court, presided over by his Honor Judge Ward, took place last Thusrday at Queenstown. Except some bankruptcy cases there was no business, so that the judge was able to leave Queenßtown the morning following the day of the sitting. Death.— Mr James Butler, who has resided for many years near Gibbston, Eawarau, had the misfortune to lose his wife by death on Saturday last. Mrs Butler had been in bad health for some time, this resulting in a lowering of her vital forces, and she ultimately succumbed at the comparatively early age of 40 years. The funeral took place last Tuesday at the Arrow Cemetery, Rev. Father Lynch conducting the obsequies. Arbor Day.— The appointed day (4th met.) for tree planting is altogether an unsuitable # one for this district, as the frost is not then out of the ground. In fact, it is surprising that a time so late has been chosen for the purpose, inculcating a lesson in dilatoriness into the children. The proper time for tree planting in Otago is June, and putting it off till the spring is postponing it till the last moment. The end of the present month or beginning of September will most likely be fixed upon for the festival in these parts. Although to Mr A. Bathgate, of Dunedin, is now allotted the honour of being the original mover in this innovation, Lake County has had the clear start of a year in the movement, an arbor day being celebrated in 18S9 in Queenstown at the instigation of Mr L. Hotop, when the children and residents turned out en masse with the local brass band at their head, marched in procession, and celebrated the first Arbor Day in New Zealand, and the day has been kept up every year sincethen. This is another instance of the ascendency of the towns over the country, and a direct insult to the latter. As loyal subjects, however, a number of pupils of the Queenstown School, accompanied by several members of the school committee, proceeded on the day appointed (4th inst.)i to a terrace on the slopes of Ben Lomond, where everything had besn prepared by Mr Keay, the dayman of the borough. They planted a great number of poplar and willow cuttings, which when put in position were well tarred, and m*y consequently live in spite of the rabbits, in which case the plantation will be a'pleasing sight in due time. There were the mild convivialities of lollies and cakes, and a very pleasant outing was the Political.— The electoral roll for the district is now issued. It contains 2445 names, very few of which are not repiesented by a voter, as the listß have been subjected to a most searching scrutiny by the returning officer, Mr H. N. Firth, who has weeded out all dummies in the most conscientious manner. This number will no doubt be augmented by the supplementary roll. The number on the previous-roll was 2589 . The Hon. W. J. M. Larnarch announces by notice in the Wakatipu Mail that he intends to seek ■the suffrage of the electors at the forthcoming election for a member of the House of Representatives. It goes without saying that Mr Larnach will be the miners' man, which still means a big item in this district. Hard Times.— ln spite of the late dry season the rabbits do not seem to have increased much, and accounts from the high country all agree that there is a decided decrease in their numbers, as evidenced by the paucity of tracks upon newlyfallen snow, a sure and reliable guide. However,

the few there are are in dire distress through.tho ■ scarcity of food, which compels them to descend to lower levels, and - invade-, even' "the gardens of Queenstown and Arrowtown, where their, appearance, although not' Inew, has never before been in such numbers. 'The tell-tale snow has revealed also' the -pre* sence of ferrets, to which,' together with the , liberal distribution of poisoned grain, may ' be attributed the total disappearance of. the weka, which until a few years ago was still fairly plentiful. My informant, who is an ' intelligent observer, remarked that while the . tracks of rabbits, ferrets^ and rats upon newly-fallen snow could be seen in many directions, nat a trace of the weka was noticeable anywhere, so that'itmay be concluded that the bird nas been crowded out ' of existence indirectly by the rabbit and directly by the ferret. , - > Who'll Buy?— Some new ''cheap Jack" has 1 descended upon the district, to the terror of our local merchants, coming down upon us with a Bwoop that leaves no room for doubt but that he intends to do business. The plan adopte'd'is to refuse no offer, but to take any bid that may be -made. In this manner it is stated that £700 was taken in a few days at Queenstown, and a sum not far short of that amount, at Arrowtown. That such a proceeding opens, the eyes alike of the local storekeepers and their customers will not surprise anyone, but whether either" will try to draw a moral from the lesson remains ah open question. We have ' been used boi long to high -prices 'all round 'that we look with suspicion upon any vendor who offers his - wares, at a lesser rate. However, the itinerant;bawker and the - metropolitan advertising . business man* aided by the parcel post and cheap railway . freights, have opened the eye's of. the long-suffer- , ing public. It is generally accepted that ' the "tick" system is the cause of the high prices charged here, and no doubt there is a certain J -amount of truth in the dictum; but every now and again the public gets a glimpse behind the scenes and sees other skeletons in the" cupboard. When 'business men invoke the aid of the law,* it is not an unf requent occurrence that' their .own books confound them, showing that . they . are totally ignorant of the rudiments of business, and incapable of conducting their affairs on the safe lines of sound business. What the losses from this source' are can, of course, only be guessed, but remembering that it 'is not so long', since .'that in one case several claims' against the same debtors, amounting in the aggregate to £160, were paied down to £16, it is safeto say tjjat the loss from the incapacity of business men must begreat, and it follows that the -paying consumer has to make/ good, in addition to the losses entailed by .the tick system, also those resulting from the ignorance and recklessne s of some of the business men; The whole subject is one of vital importance to this district, where in one part the pride' of the loaf of bread and the nobbier of whisky is still Is each, and other articles in proportion. ' ~