LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 25

LAKE COUNTY.

Atfan, 25.'— Fine weather has coined on. the Harvest very much, and cutting and stacking is bow nearing its end, only a few isolated crops remaining standing, and these will in the course of a week or two aho fall before the reaping XDscbino .An Bxpkrience:— The other week Mrs David Aitken, of Diamond Lake,, head of Eaka Wakatipuj.and Miss C. Ashwoith, in company with aguide; started on a near cut from tha head of Lake winkfctipu to Bullendale. Tha road beißfi rough and heavy, and the weather anything bufrfavurofeble,. the party found themselves on top of Mount Aruum, 7800ifc above aea-level, when night bfgan to envelop the. mountains of Wakatipn in its sombre mantle - a pair of blankets would, have been preferable, but unfortunately, blankets were conspicuous by their Bh>enc», and tho. party had* to make tlie most of. such sbelter as the home of the- storm offered, wliich*did : not amount to much. l£may be surmised that viewing the suurise under such coadi-tio-if had' nor particular attractions; especially as itwtsnot accompanied with breakfaftt Hawever, the party, arjivevi at their, destination safe and Eouud on the evening, of the second day — another, proof of" the elasticity and salubrity of our climate, and of the staunch and sound condition of our womenfolk.

tS It Fair?— Comment is pretty freely, made on the action of >ome parties sending tbeir contributiona to the Brunner accident fund to Dunedin. This is scarcely fair- to the ladies who have volunteered fc« canvoss the- district for donations, and it is certainly not loyal to the diaii ict. However, it- la a free country, and' as lone as people give thegTeafend and 1 aim in view will' be served.

Death. — It is with deep regret that' I record' the d«*th' of 'Mr Samuel 1 Johnston; of- the Oago Hotel Skipper's Point. The deceaced had been ailing rorsome time, so that the blow did not fall upon the bereaved widow and family unexpectedly. The most widespiead byinpvthy is expreyed for those who mo*t severely fe*l the blow, Bud espacialli for the wi 'ow, who by her innate kindness hac endeared* fe«rself to *11 who have come under Its influence. The children are all grown up. This death carries us back to the ancient days' of Skippers^ when the loaf was- 10j— when you coutd get it— and' 1000" fought over the bread as it came out of the oven, deceased being the baker. Flour had to. be packed on men's backs from Queenstown, and the firewood was brought out of the bucb. by the same means. There weie then no tracks or bridges; a half-crown was the price for a ride on hor-eback across the river, and so little was thought of the.valueof gold that pounds' weight of it would be entrusted" to any one going to Qutenstown to sell it and bring back the cash It paid' people better to t&fcfe the risk than knock off work an go to Queeuatown thtmrelves, which 1 at the time meant a day's journey each trip. I have never known of an instance in which the confidence was betrayed, though T have heard of Cases of this nature in af tor years.