LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 25

LAKE COUNTY.

June 33.— 50 far the pradicted bad weather has not reached v«. In fact, we have delightfully fine daya with frosty nights and nipping morning*. Snow i» still looming in the sweet by-and-bye, and there is only the merest sprinkle on the tops of the highest mountains. "' Pish Oh I— The sale of the netting licenses at Lake 3 Wakatipu and Hayes, which took place at JCichardt'i Hotel, Queens town, latt week, was a pronounced micccss. If Messrs O'Meara and Co., who .acted as auctioneer?, had not such a large clientele as on former occasions the bidding was more spirited, and a substantial increase on last year's yield was the result, the figures being £77 Ss for last season and £95 for the present year. The terms on which the licenses are offered are £1 cash on purchase, and the remainder on four and five months' bills. The netting season h.*a a duration of four months. -There are no reliable data available as to whether or not there is an increase in the number of fish u> our lakes and streams. Appearances seem to indicate that the natural increase, if any, is not a great one, and it muit also be borne In mind that annually larg« numbers of fry are liberated from the breeding ponds at Queenstown. Licensing.— The Wakatipu Licensing Committee held an adjourned meeting at Queenstown last Wednesday, granting 36 publicans' licenses, 10 accommodation. houses, two packet licenses for' gteamers upon Lake Wakatipu, one wholesale '- and one bottle license, making a total of 60 ; licenses for a population of certainly under 1000 Able-bodied men. Id the absence of evidence indicating the capacity for ardent spirits of our ' fromanldnd . there are about 20 men to support - each .license. Anybody fond of statistics can • carry out the calculation to its bitter end. Some ■ of the accommodation houses had their licenses

• taised from £5 to .£ls. and some publicans were luraled ever- the coals rather severely. Nkw School.— Last week a new school at - Grown Terrace, near Arrowtown, was opened with an attendance of 17 children. It is none too soon, either in. time or in season. The road ts the Arrow School is along and tedious one, and during most of the winter season it is not possible for Children to perform the journey on foot.