LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2255, 20 May 1897, Page 24

LAKE COUNTY.

May 15.— Nothing but whab is praiseworthy can be said of our weather. It tried to be nasty and unpleasant yester.lay, but it didn't amount to much. We are gradually settling down to hibernate for the next two months or so, to waken up again with the iiowers of spring.

Fire — Mr G. M'Lay. a miner residing on the left-hand branch of Skippers Creek, bad his hufc destroyed by fire ths other week. Besides losing the hut and contents, made up by a bachelor's share of blankets and other household go <ds, £26 in bank notes were consumed, and altogether Mr M'Lay estimates his loss at between ,£7O and £SO. There wis no insurance, and the loss is a heavy one to the party hit, while to the Bank of New Zealand it is quite a little patch. •

QuEENSaowN Kire Brigabe. — On Tuesday last the Queenstown Fire Brigade donned their new uniforms, and went in for a bit of practice, which showed the calibre of the men to good advantage. However, the brigade has brighter laurels to point to, having ou many occasions performed services of the greatest importance to the citizens, and upon every occa&ion their assistance was required they turned out with the most praiseworthy alacrity and observed the most exemplary discipline. They are not merely ornamental, but are the most useful organisation in the place, forming a good example for Arrowtown to follow. Katal BoatijvG Accide.nt.— On Monday last another fatal accident occurred upon LakeWakatipu Two brother,?, llobert and Frederick Mitbclierlicb, while returning with a cargo of firewood from Bjb's Cove, noticed that the boat had sprung a leak. To save the craft being swamped they threw some of the wood oveiboard, aod while thus busy with a heavy piece, the boat capsized, throwing both men into the lake. Uobeit stiuck out for the shore, about three-quarters of a mile distant, but cramp coming on he returned to the boat. Their cries attracted the attention of .David Rogers, who, with S. Bone aud G. Griffiths, went to the rescue. At the boat they found only ttobert, who said that his brother had gone down and disappeared. A search for the body was made, but tha accident haviug occuned in very deep water, it proved fruitless. The deceased was 45 yeaw of age nml a cabinet-maker by trade The greatest sympathy is felt for the aged parents, who have resided at Queeustown for many years. Both brothers suffered severely, and made a prolonged struggle under very trying circumstances. Piedeiick, being the weaker of the two, had nearly succumbed some time befoie the rescue came, being apparently unuoii'ciou-', while his brother Robert made a noble i-tiuggle to save him and keep his spirits up. l'ut all proved in vaiu, as Frederick was too far gone to keep even a hold of either his brother or the boat.

Convalescent. — The many friends of Mr Mallard, underground manager at the Tipperaiy miue, * p.cstowD, will be pleased to hear that he I has so far recovered from the recent severe acci- | dent to his right knee that he is able to pioceed to Dunedin for a month's bpell an*i change. Mr I Mallard speak, in the highebt tenna of praise of i the treatment he received during his stay at the I' Arrow Hospital.

Improvemems. — Arrowtown is redolent with the smell of new piint and other signs of improvement, and it would only require a glowing press notice to make the townspeople believe that they are doing well and that a boom is looming somewheie in the near future. Unfortunately I mu=t confess that I am to good at glowing notices. . If I were I should be at their service with, rusasure.

but when the boom comes along I will let them know.