LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2289, 13 January 1898, Page 25

LAKE COUNTY.

January 7. — The annual holidays, the racing carnival, the feastiDg and drinking are all over, and still we live. If the truth must be spoken we have been wishing one another many happy returns of the same, so it seems we r-ither like it, and it would take a good deal of it to kill us. The weather during the holidays was hot aDd dry, and still continues too much so. R*in, both for mining and for the crops, 13 much needed, or there will be a repetition of last year, which would make three years in succession of an indiffeient harvest, which is mora than the district can well bear at. the present moment. For the purposes of sanitation, too, it is desirable that rain should come soon.

Deitiis — The King of Sorrows knows no time but hie own, and he comes down upon his victim at a moment's notice. First in the list of deaths that have occurred is that of Mrs William Bennetts, who has been ailing from cancer for a number of years, suffering "excruciating pains until death relieved her. L'eceased was the mother of a numeious but grown-up family, and had been resident in the district for a number of years. She was 60 years of age at the time of her death. The Rev. A. D. Mitchell conducted the obsequies at the grave. A wide circle of friends sympathises with the bereaved family in their sad loss. —The next death to be recorded is that of Mr Songster, for several years Government school teacher at Skippets P«int. Mr Sangster was on a visit to Invercargili whon death overtook him. Having left Skipp-rs in the best of health and spirits, and being a young man without any constitutional ailment, the suddenness of the death is all the mcc surprising — Another death is that of Mr John JJeale, of Macetown, an old and res-pected miner, and one of the pioneers of the place. A few weeks before Christmas Mr Beale was take-i seriously ill and went to the Arrow Hospital. Diseases incidental to a hard and laborious life made their appearance, and cut Bhort a long career of usefulness and toil. Daceased with his brother Joseph constructed th-s first r*ee at Macetown, the fiuming for which was paid for at the rate of half a crown p:-r foot for every foot of t'inber used. Ihe race is still in existence, and is used for motive power at the Tippeiary battery. Di-oeased, vvho was 67 years of age »t the time of bis death, like his surviving brother Joseph was at one time a sailor, and both attended the Greenwich N&val School. The funeral was largely attendei, and the seivices were conducted by the Rev. A. D. Mitchell in a most im-pr»-Fsiv<s manner Pastoral —Shearing is progressing amain, though hands are scarce and several sheds are working sborthanded. The clip is a very good one, but the increase i« not up to the average, which is accounted for by the wet and cold opiing and early summer.

Promotion. — Mr O. Bowman, acting for seven yeats as constable at Arrowtown, has received intimation that Le has been advanced to tho position of a sergeant at Dunedin. During hi 3 stay at Arrowtown Constable Bowman was always noted for a strict attention to duty and for maintaining respect for law and order. Though the recognition hib efforts have met with is pleasing to the residents here, Mb n inoval from amongst them is i.evertheless much regretted, and the event is to be marked by a suitable public demonstration. Ib is understood that Sergeant M'Kxnzie, of Lumsden, will have charge of the Wakatipu district.