LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 31

LAKE COUNTY.

July 21. — Sluicers and others depending upon a summer's water supply begin to lament the absence of snow. As a rule the snow falling in the latter half of July doos not profit mining much, because the fro&ts that succeed are seldom intense enough to consolidate the snow, which melts away as the sun's power increases. What makes the outlook worse is that for the last two winters the snowfall was very limited, so thai swamps, springs, and other natural reservoirs of water will fall short of the usual sxipply if not replenished. A feature of tha present winter is the ice-coating that covered the roads and even the very grass, making locomotion of all kinds exceedingly dangerous and leading to several nasty accidents. The danger lasted for days, and as nearly all our roads are more or less at an incline, i\> is surprising, though vt is a matter for thankfulness, that the accidents were not more numerous. In its general aspects the winter, so far as it has gone, has been veiy regularly frosty, promising a seasonable spring and summer. Musical. — The Queanstown Brass Band, being now in possession of the test pieces to be played at the next contest al Milton, have set to work upon them in good earnest. As their efforts are backed by general proficiency, they are making geod progress. However, both conductor and members seem determined not to look to anything for success but hard and genuine study. The same may be said for the Arrow Band, whose mind also is made up not to come out of the affair with plucked plumes.

Skippers Biidge. — We have all heard of Bridges of Sighs, and to the number may be added Skippers bridge— that iSj when it -is finished. The local papers are redolent of the subject with nearly a column advertisement to the effect that " the Governor has by warrant under his hand authorised the Lake County Ccitncil io construct a bridge over the Shotover Eiver at Skippers Point." This important announcement is made for the benefit of " the whole, or a considerable portion, of the inhabitants of any adjacent district or districts, as well as to the inhabitants of its own district." All this is very edifying and reassuring if not new, for a contract for building the bridge was let nearly two years ago, setting forth that the bridge was to bo finished in December last, but it isn't finished yet, nor is it known exactly when it will be finished. In this state of uncertainty the announcement that there will be a bridge at Skippers Point, at some time or other, will be giatefully received. The unfinished bridge has been a bugbear to Lake Council for some months past. Whether or not the position will be improved when it is finished remains to be seen. I guess and fear.

Scholastic. — The Wakatipu has in the past turned out several teachers of both sexes of more than average merit; nor is the supply likely to stop. At the recent pupil teachers? examinations Miss Lena M'Donnell passed with 57 per^ cent, in the Clijss II examinations, bfc ing third on the Ji*»t. Master E. Jlealey'scoiea

85 per cent in the Class 111 examinations, taking first place amongst those passed. The young people are to be congratulated upon their success, and encouraged to persist in the line in which they have been so successful.

Accident. — Mr Charles O'Fee, settler, at Crown Teriace, met with a rather nasty accident on Saturday last, while on his road to the Terrace. The roads of the district being coated with a solid crust of ice at the time, Mr O'Fee's horse slipped and fell. As the road rises at a steep argle all the way, the horse could not at once regain its feet, and in its attempt to da so struck its rider, who could not free himself, violently on the che3t, breaking two of his ribs. The sufferer, who is in the hands of Dr M'Br^fty, is progressing well towards recovery.