TAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 28

TAKE COUNTY.

November S3— liain and cold and otheiwise ! disagreeable wviuher continue* to prevail. Gardeners, farnisis, and orchsrdiats arc on the verge , of despair, seeing that Christmas is approaching and all growth is as backward as if it were early spring. Moving On.— ln spite of all complaints of bad times and all that, we are moving «h ad with the times. The Lake Wanaka Steam Shipping Company announce regular trips for every tlay in the week to all the points of interest on the lake, and though the time table is not quite a law of the i Medea and Peisiana, and may be departed from, tourists and travellers will be afforded every facility of viewing all the points of Interest about the lake during a stay of a few days. The regular visits of the steamer should also prove a boon to the settlers upon the shores of the like, and the owners (Messrs M'Dougall and Sons) are to be complimented upon the liberal spirit in which they have assisted in the settlement and development of this, the most inland and isolated community of Otago. As such enterprise entails a great deal of expense, settlers would find it to their interest to Bupport the owners liberally, as facilities for intercommunication are the very life of new settlements. Steamers are now plying also upon Lakes Te Anau and Manapouii — opening new fields and wonders to tourists and artists hitherto not easy of access. The convenience should form a new attraction to all who have an eye for scenic effects. Divergent Views - Much sentiment is indulged in with regard to the burial of William Fayle at the left-hand branch of the Shotover. Deceased was consigned to his last resting place wrapped up in his blankets. There is, of course, much stress laid upon our outraged humanity and civilisation, such movements as burial reforms and cremation being totally ignored, and yet they are among the latest phases of our civilisation. Ido not wish to imply that the parties who indulge in the above sentiments .are wrong, nor have I any desire to interfere with their views beyond reminding them that there are others who see nothing \ery horrityine in the method adopted in the burial of the body. There is a more than ordinary amount of depressing s-adness about the whole occurrence which np ceremonial couM dispel, and if the subject of it could be lecalled to life he would most, likuly be the ftrsi to put his foot uprm all the fine sentiment now being lavished upon him. I remember a case in point of a miner dying through some accident at; the Matalapa. The body, which was not a light one — the deceased being nearly 6ft in. height- was placed in a slab coffin made of green tii iber ; a dozen men staiting off with their load on a journey to Arrowtown cemetery, distant some 30 miles over rough country, without road or track. Neaily dead beat before they had accomplished half the distance, they refreshed themselves with frequent spell» and suprjreased profanity until they reached the more settled part of their route, where fresh relays wore requisitioned, fn tins manner the cortege reached Arrowtown about 7 o'clock in the evening, having started at 4 o'clock in the moming. It fo happened that on the same night Mons. Fleury, first violinist of the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, and Miss Dolly Green gave a variety entertainment, followed by a dance. A portion of the cortege joined in the fun and enjoyed themselves greatly, while another portion tried to drown their sorrows in the fire water of those days, with such success that they found themselves in the care of the cuardian of the peace next morning. Who will undertake to bay in which of the two cases— the Matatapaor the left band branch one — our common humanity and boasted civilisation was outraged the most ? A Clean Sweep —At the late agricultural show at Black*, Mr J. L. Jopp, a successful waggoner in the ante-railway day*, and now of the Royal Oak Hotel, Arrowtowo, carried off the first prize over four competitors for driving tantem teams, also for best tandem turn out aud for pony under 12hds high.