LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 24

LAKE COUNTY.

December 5 — The wapt of rain is beginning to be very badly felt, and if there i« not a downpour very shortly the consequences will bo serious. As it is, food for stock is extremely scarce, and so far turnips for the winter supply hava not made a start growing yet. Crops, too, are showing signs of the want of moisture, and with the late spriug are sure to be delayed beyond the ordinary harvest time. Obituary.— On Tuesday last Death claimed for his victim John Coverdale, the second ton of Mr W. Pateraon, of Airdale, Lake Haves, at the early ag9 of 37 years. The deceased had been ailing for some time before tho end came, and it was hoped that youth and a hopoful disposition would pull the sufferer through ; but it was ordained otherwi«e, and he passed away resigned to the fate that comes to all. The deepest sympathy is felt for the aged parents, who are amongst the earnest and most-respected pioneers of the district. The remains of the deceased were laid to rest in tbe Frankton cemetery on Thursday last, the Rev. R. H. Blair (Presbyterian) conducting the obsequies in a most impressive manner. Fire.— Considering the time of its existence and the number of its houses, Arrow town has had more than its share of fires— and fires,, too, of considerable magnitude for the size of the town. The mo3t disastrous of all, however, took place last Tuesday afternoon shortly after 5 o'clock, when it was discovered that the old Morning Star Hotel was on fire, and though the alaim was given at once tbe fire had spread to the adjoining buildings before the hose could be put into position and the water be got to play upon the flames. The buildings attacked were the Morning Star Hotel, Mr R. Pritchard's general store, and Mr It. Campbell's butcher shop ; and in little mora than an hour all three, with their contents, were reduced to ashes bar some stone wall* and chimneys, It was with the greatest difficulty that the.

fire was prevented from igniting the buildings on1 the opposite side of the street, and had they caught fire the whole main street of Arrowtown would have suffered extinction. As good luck would have it there was no wind, and the fire was confined to the three buildings mentioned. Of the losers Mr N. Pritchard is by far the severest, his loss over and above the insurance being estimated at £4000, he having just laid in a very complete stock for the approachinz Christmas holidays ; but independent of this Mr Fritchard kept a large and wellassorted stock of groceries, drapery, crockery, ironmongery, &c, his store being acknowledged, one of the best and most complete out of Dunedin. To show the extent of the business doing, it may be mentioned that six tons of sugar had just been landed the day before the fire. Mr Pritchard'a insurances are £1000 on the stock and i!S00 on the building, both in the National. The Morning Star Hotel, occupied by Mr J. M'Kenzie, and used as a barber's and tobacco and fancy goods shop, is owned by Mr W. L. Daviß, the notel being insured in the New Zealand office for £100, and Mr R. Campbell had his shop insured for £200 in the Manchester. The origin of the fire is shrouded in mystery, for Mr M'Kenzie, not residing in the hotel, had had no fire there since Saturday last, and was, moreover, absent from home all day, returning only after the fire had burnt itself out. He is a loser to the oxtent of some £50 iv stock and furniture, and is not insured. Other loserß were : Mr da la Penelle, owner of tha Lske County Press, whose type, &c, suffered by removal ; and Mr W. Butler, whose house is, opposite the site of the conflagration, and whose furniture was considerably smashed about. There were of course the confusion and loss of time, inseparable from tbe efforts made by an unorganised crowd. 'Howevofr, 1 it is a question whether with the present water supply any of tlie destroyed buildings could bave been saved. All that can be said is that there were plenty of strong and willing hands to do all that could be done under the circumstances, and to them a general meed of praise is due. Jacta Est.— The eventful day Bas come and gone, and the battle's lost and won, and he that's beat and r»n away may live to fight another day. ! The cad of it all you will give in your account of the elections, and I need not particularise. The election was a keenly contested one, and from the first it was clear that the issue lay between Messrs Fraser and George, so that the victory is an unmistakable pronouueementof the political feeling of the district, as, first, against the present Government, and, next, aa iv favour of the reelected member fov Wakalipu, whose se<wt is rendeied securer by the pronouncement. It shows that it will require a stroDg opponent to oust Mr Fritter, and, as the figures proved, Mr George was a strong opponent, though not strong enough. In many portions of the district complaints were rife about tho tardiness with which accounts from tho various polling booths percolated through. At Avrowtown, though eprcial arrangements had been made, nothing could be learned from even Queenstown and Cromwell until near midnight, aud then thoy were private chance accounts, and therefore not reliable. . However, all being over, there remains nothing but to bury the hatchet, shake hands, and be good friends. Accident. -Mr Sweetltmd, traveller for the D.1.0., Cime to grief yesterday on his return trip from MiicslowD, wben his horse bolted, and at a narrow ben<s in tbe track horse, trap, and pasRenger m-ule a do&ppnt of about 80ft or 70ft down aßteepbiuk into the Arrow River. Horse and trap escaped without injury, but, unfortunately for Mr Swoetlanri, he ".VB3 badly shaken, cut, and bruised, but escaped without broken bones. Mayoral Election.— At tbe mayoral election, Arrowtown, Mr L. H. Preston was returned at the top of the poll. The result is meeting with general approbation.