LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2116, 13 September 1894, Page 22

LAKE COUNTY.

September B.— The weather of late has been of such a nature as to absorb all the interest and attention of the residents. Even that burning question of the Arrow Hospital surgeon paled before it, which is saying a good deal, as snow has been the leading feature in our meteorology of late. Last Saturday snow began to come down in pretty profusion, and continued to fall with short intermissions till Monday afternoon. The depth of snow that fell is variously estimated at from Win to 2ft, and considering that snow melts as soon as it falls, and the lower figure 5i. actual measurement, the higher estimate must be nearer the mark. However this may be, it is safe to Bay that the late snowfall is the neavießt that has been known in these parts since the idvent of the white man. It was also a pretty general one, though the Head of Lake Wakatipu and the Shotover and Arrow Valleys seemed to have come in for the most of it, especially the last-named locality. Traffic was temporarily interrupted, and most of the outlying localities cut off altogether. Still all this is not yet the worst of it, for large portions of the snow are still with us, threatening a near danger in the shape of floods. With bo much congealed water stowed away in our mountains, it is scarcely to be expected that we shall escape a flood the extent of which -will depend upon circumstances. In the meantime the country has a very dismal and wintry appearance at a time of year when we look forward to a very different covering than it j bears at present. . Death.— lt is alwaia jnona harrflwinc_tfl_thej

feelings to report the death of the young when just entering independently upon life's career tkan of those who have reached its close or nearly so. Such a lamentable event occurred last Saturday afternoon, when Mr Thomas M'Ewen departed this life at his parents' residence at Queenstown at the early age of 24 years, the cause of death being brain fever. Though of a quiet and rather retiring disposition, the de ceased was beloved and highly eateemed by a large circle of friends, as was shown by the demonstrations at the funeral. Tbe confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus turned out in their regalia, carrying the impressive -banner of their order, while the Queenstown Brass Band, of which the deceased had been a member, attended tbe funeral and played the Dead March in Saul. These were supplemented by a larga cortege of the friends of the deceased. The Rev. Father Burke conducted tbe obsequies at the grave. The Vital Question. — The question of the Arrow Hospital doctor has advanced a stage. I notice by a recent issue of the Mataura Ensign that a scribe applies a very opaque coat of whitewash to tbe trustees to hide the manner of their selection of a doctor. It is certainly refreshing to see that there are people who can apparently conscientiously defend the trustees in their action, and I hope the trustees will be dutifully thankful for the pains taken in their behalf. ITnfortunatelji this defence is altogether beyond the point at issue, which is really the very demoralising effect the sudden changes made in the persomiel of the Arrow Hospital surgeon have had. The trustees, it appears, have conceived the notion that they must be primarily suited with a doctor, and if he does not come up to .their notions of excellence— heaven save the mark I— he must travel. The subscribers to the hospital and the general public are of course not to be considered bo long as they find the needful to carry on the little game the trustees are playing. All this is quite in keeping with the doings of this enlightened board. From its very inception the Arrow Hospital Board has been a delusion and a snare, the hospital having been only the means to an end— namely, to keep a doctor in the place— which.end the trustees have sought to attain by hunting every doctor out of it almost as soon as he is appointed. If in doing this the trustees did or could show any reason for these changes, the subscribers might rest satisfied, but nothing of the kind is done. In fact, the whole process of appointing and dismissing their medicos is conducted iv the most secret not to say underhand mauner. And yet the trustees have the exquisite assurance of laying claim to the confidence of the people of the district, which is nothing short of an insult to tha latters' intelligence and sense of fair dealing. During the past two or three months the trustees have carried on the sacking of a doctor, the selecting and appointing of a new one in so secret and covert a manner as to give rise to the wildest reports, all reacting upon tbe institution in the most injurious manner ; and all this has now b=en followed up by the withdrawal of the appointment of Dr Dutton, and the conferring of the position on Dr J. B. Thomson. I hope Dr Thomson will have his popition Kiadeia little easier for him than was the case with his persecuted predecessors.