LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 29

LAKE WANAKA.

Albortown, Angus' 23. — The thaw mentioned as piobable in my last duly took place, but it tmly lasted a few days, after which it began to iheeze ogam almost as hard as ever. A few <iayj later a second thaw set in, for good this Eevtton, except that Ihere are mild frosts at night; but as the days are now sunny and lengthening out, the irost thaws out of the gicund in an hour. The weeping willows, which faegin to bud first, began to show symptoms of returning vitality a week ago. The peewits, or ssmdlarks, arrived also over a week ago, according with their usual time. In the mornings ■especially, when we breathe the beautiful balmy sir, we clearly realise that spring is now upoa us

Court Day. — Monday last was court day at •Pembroke, and created a little mild excitement, principally owing to the fact that the Islands Domain Board had a case in hand. Mr Theo. l^t.s&ell, whe was charged with shooting a white c ;jne, contrary to tho Animals Protection Act, pleaded guilty, urging in extenuation that he -was unaware that this bird was protected m any way A fine of 5s and costs (7s) was inflicted. This bird comes into the district at very rare intervals, and only one at a tim°, j>nd it is now over 25 years since the last one vas seen. Three or four visited the district wrevious to that, and were shot at once. The Inrd in question was at the mouth of the Hawea tpiver for a few days before going to Pembroke, .-nd it <-nuld have been easily shot while there. A hvmy story soon got abroad to the effect that ■>v!i'l'- t"O Albeitown residents were watching him »ud actairuiß his graceful form, beautiful

whits plumage, and elegant carriage, one cf them remarked that he was protected, and then the next morning, before daylight, this resident was seen by the otter one diligently stalking him for a pot shot. Needless to say this lattor part is a fairy tale. I believe there were a levdozens p.t Wa'ihola in the oaily days.— The next case was the Islands Dorna.hi Board v. Alexander Wilson, defendant being charged with placing a few sheep on Ram Islands. Mr Wesley Turton, who appeared for Wileon, suid hi? client admitted the trespass, but stated that this was simply a test case, made to enable all details of the Domain Boaid to be ventilated in respect to rents, issues, lessees, etc. Mr M'Dougall, on behalf of the .Domain Board, produced a legal opinion fiom Messrs Stout, Mondy, and Sim, showing the legality of their position ; also authority fioin the Commissioner of Crown Lands to act in the case. He asked the S.M. to make the fine large enough to cover the legal and other expenses that the board had incurred; but Mr M'Carthy said he could not do that, as the fine went to the Consolidated Fund. Fined 20s and costs (73). This case was the all-absorbing topic of conversation for a lev/ days afterwaids, and I understand that the matter will be further looked into shortly. It would appear that the personnel of all domain boards gives much dissatisfaction. In this case no one knows how this board came into existence, and it is claimed that it is not representative. Iv Hansard No. 8, on the first page, I notice that Mr Flatman asked the Government if they 'will abolish the present system of nominating domain and ether boards, making it compulsory that these bodies should be elective instea-d of nominative. Ho further stated that there were complaints all over the county that these boards did not give a fair representation of tbe people. The Minister for Lands, in reply, said it would be very expensive to carry out Mr Flatman's wishes. New districts and new systems would require to ye defined and devked. Generally the local body was made to constitute the domain board. Where there was no local body to take the matter in hand, the people were invited by advertisement to nominate a board. Old members fiequently refused to resign, and at piesent the Government had no power to oust them. Possibly the Domain Act might be amended so that members should be renominated at a public meeting every two >r three years. It seems to Hi" that sheep might well be allowed to graz? on these islands, the re\enue derived from then. 1 being devoted to planting the leserves at Pembroke, and co circulate the money for the benefit of the district. The board, however, seems to think it desirable to reserve the islands for the benefit of tourists and visitors, and is of opinion that the sheep would destroy the nati\e herbage and shrubs. The members of the board are Messrs 11. M'Dougall, Jchn Ironsides, Ccyford, R Studholmc, and Charles Ttirnbull, the latt3r now resident in Dunedin. — In the Warden's Court, Mr T. A. Russell's application for a dredging claim at Caidrona, adjoining ii r r John Walsh's homestead, was granted.