LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 31

LAKE WANAKA.

May S. — The weather still continues good for this time of the year. We have had plenty of rain. One night a lot of snow fell on the mountains, but it melted in a few days. There was a slight frost one night. Stock are doing very well — in fact, thriving greatly. The riveis and streams are the usual size.

M.l.S.— Last winter the Rev. J. W. W. Smith inaugurated a mutual improvement society at Pembroke, which pioved a most pronounced success. Last Thursday week evening was the inaugural evening of the society for this winter, and it proved very enjoyable. Mr Smith was re-elected piesident, and Mr Theodore Russell and Miss Sruith vice-presidents ; Mr John King, secretary ; and Mr A. G. Thomson, treasurer. Messrs Win. Miller, Geo. R. Pearce, Mesdames Marsh, M'Dougall, and Thomson were elected members of committee. The cash in hand from last year (19s) was handed over to the Indian famine fund, to which Mr M. M'Leod added another Is to make it a pound. It is a very commendable innovation to hand over the surplus funds for a good and worthy . object, instead of squandering it, as is generally the case. The entrance money is to be 2s this year instead of Is the surplus over expenses, which are light, to go to the famine fund. Some new members were proposed, and Mr Smith submitted a varied programme consisting of 16 evenings, to be held fortnightly, which will carry the affair well into November. A capital programme was then carried through, songs being sung by Messrs A. G. Thomson, Ernest Bremner, Win. Collins, and Miss Smith, and duets and quartets also. Mrs A. G. Thorn sou played the accompaniments. Recitations were given by Mr Pearce and Mr Smith, and readings by Mr King. Substantial refreshments, provided by the ladies, closed the evening Mr Ernest Bremner is a visitor fiom Dunedin, and Miss Smith is a sister of Rev. Mr Smith, and both are decided acquisitions to musical circles.

An Eel and Pig Story. — This seems a curious combination at first sight, but the incident has

the merit of being true, and anything in the fish line is always supposed to be interesting. Mr Thos. Mangan, saddler, Pembroke, has a section of the lake for trout-fishing, and goes lound his nets every morning as soon as it is daylight, and very often sees 10 or 12 eels placidly swimming into deep water after a hearty early breakfast off his trout, which is veiy exasperating, of course. On a recent he saw an eel of enormous dimensions, which he gaffed at once, and hauled into the boat. On landing he hauled it into the township, for inspection, and though it was not weighed, it was estimated to be fully 301b in weight. Shortly afterwards it was handed over to Mr Alec. M'Combie's 3001b pig, which at once went to business. The eel, however, took a forefoot between its teeth, and then there was excitement and squealing, and the eel had to be cut up to get the head off the pig's foot. The foot soon swelled up to the size of a dog's head, and then the leg also swelled up to the shoulder. This kept M'Combie busy poulticing the foot with boiled marsh mallow leaves, and as the pig was helpless and suffering, the rats came round, and were continually annoying her. They in turn had to be killed, so I that M'Combie was kept busy, but he successfully pulled the patient through. Indian Famine Relief Fund. — It is to be hoped that all the farmers' will contribute one or more bags of wheat each to this laudable object. In our district lam sure that when the carriers go back empty they would carry .famine wheat at a nominal sum either to the first railway station or to the first large centre where numbers of carriers meet, so that they could divide the load between them. The Government giant free railage, which makes it easier. It would be a wise plan to send a shipload of wheat to, India, for although rice, millet, grain, and lentils are to be bought there for from 4s to 7s per cwt, the wheat would be a very welcome windfall in addition to the money collected. I intend to send a bag, and if my neighbours cannot find it convenient to lerve a bag at the nearest centre for tjie carrier, and desire to contribute, I will collect from

them. Then surely there aie plenty of gener- ! ous volunteers who would gladly turn out to i help to load and unload the waggon.

Church Matters.— The Rev. A. D. Mitchell, formerly Anglican clergyman m Queenstown, is now stationed at Pembroke, where he preaches every Sunday morning, and in the afternoon and evening in the adjoining centres. The vicarage at present is Mr Joel Cayford's smaller house in Pembroke, the larger one having been sold to the Rabbit department.