LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 29

LAKE WANAKA.

Albehtown, December 20 —We had a moat welcome showeryof rain last Saturday, lasting for over an hour. It was three weeks since we had had the last rain, when it came in a downpour. In the meantime the weather had been very hot, so that some of the crops were beginning to languish ; but they have now taken a fresh start. Large areas are in wheat, which promises to yield abundantly. The eUsi is still slightly on the down grade, so that there may bs move rain, which will be very Welcome. There is still every indication that the crop? will not be ripe till the middle of February instead of January, as usual.

Health Note.— There have been sundry cases of influenza in tha district lately, and in two instances serious results have followed, Mr Wm, Barclay, of Hawea, being laid up with congestion of one of the lungs, and at the Forks Mr James ITaugh's youngest daughter with pleurisy. Dr Ward, of Blacks, was lip on a tour, and while on the road back a telegram intercepted and brought him on the scene. Mr Haugh's son John rode to Cromwell for medicine, obtaining changes of horses en route, and riding straight back, a distance of 80 miles. Miss Haugh took a relapse, and Dr Morris, of Cromwell, was sent for. Lake Traffic —The p.s. Wanaka (late Theodore) has started running regularly on the Wanaka Lake for the season. Khe lias always been laid up for the winter, beginuing again in j October, but as the late engineer, Mr T. G>aig. resigned, she did not resume running regularly till I last week, wheu Mr Hording, from the Shot-over, i was engaged «s engineer. Mr William Allah's new steamer is ready for launching any time,- but I understand the builders ate waiting foe the arrival of the propeller shaft, to put it' in its place before launching. A Good Sign.— At Hawea Mr J.. D. M Lennan has started slorekeepmg in the premises lately occupied by Mr A. 11. Smith as a store, which j cl*arly shows that he has faith in tha district. Some Curios. — Mr William N. Ford, of Pembroke, lately showed me a literary curiosity in tho shape of a London Times of November 1805, containing the death of Lord Nelson, and which has mote interest than U3ual attached to it front the faot that it was originally in the possession of Lady Hamilton. The Time* at that early date presented a very insignificant appearance compared with its piesent proportions, circulation, and appearance. Mr Ford also showed me a Maori adz-? made of greenstone, flecked with grey mica, and also a large chisel made from blackstone which he found in a cave near tho heat of the Albert Burn, which showa that the Maoris ware ext.'ncive explorers. Somk Land Anomalies —I have been asked to comment on a littl" peculiarity in the decisions of the Otago Waste L^nds Board. At Tarras Mr Peter MTntosh ha 3 had an extensive farm for Home years back, aud some mouths ago applied to the board for a yacmt waterless piece of ground naar his farm, principally for tha purpose of running his sheep. The board surveyed the ground, and granted Mr M'lntosh's application on condition that he paid three yeara' rent in advance. Since then other sectioua have been thrown open for selection, some of them with water on them and'good enough for cultivation, at just half the rent, and payable on the usual half-yearly terms at that Mr M'lnto"h of course does not grudge his neighbours their good fortune, but naturally thinks that he ought to be placed ou the same footing, and it is but just that his rent should be reduced accordingly. The Waste Lands "Board, somehow often does notgive popular decisiom. I remember wh-en the leases of the. large runs fell in some years back a couple of members visited' the district, and as the result of a public meeting hel<l rn-.Mrs Russell's Hall, at Pembroke, a deputation of f*rrners wated on the two itfembers for the purpoae of laying befoie them the local requirements. l>uringthe course of the long conversation that followed, one of the members remarked that they had to b very careful in giving their- derisions, or someone would write to the Daily Times. However, "their hides were very thick, so that they could stand a good curry-combing." A few months atro I related this to another member of the board while up here, but he scarcely teemed to see the joke.j oke.