LAKE COUNTY

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 33

LAKE COUNTY

November 30.— During the past fortnight the. weather has been warm and the growth of vegetables amazing, only being equalled by that of the weeds. Everything is now coming on -very quick, and there is need for it, as it is ©nly little better than three weeks to Christmas, and peas are still blossoming, so that it is questionable whether we shall have green peas' at that date. * A Block. — It now appears that the block at the Kingston railway depot, referred to by me in a recent letter, was entirely owing to the Railway department. The goods shed at the Kingston station has, a capacity of only 40 tens, and when the 'railway rushed tip 60 tons it was found the 40-ton shed could not hold it all, and there was a block, to the consternation of the railway people. It is also a fact that the steamers of the Lake Wakatipu S.S. Company were fully able to overtake all the traffic, though one of their steamers was laid •up for overhauls, creating in their turn a "block" at their wharves at Frankton, which ■were recently much enlarged by the company, setting the railway people a good example of the smooth working of things. Within the last few weeks we have had ample proof that the shipping company serves the public far better than does the Railway department. This little incident shows what the public may expect should the Government ever assume control of the Lake traffic. Obituary. — Yesterday week Mrs L. Thomson departed, this life at Crown Terrace, after a short illness at the age of 75 years. Deceased was the mother of Messrs Henry and William M'Kibbin, well-known and much respected settlers at the Crown Terrace. She •was of a quiet and kindly disposition, and thoiigb. retiring in her ways was much esteemed.

Election. — There was a keen contest over the election of a member for Skippers Riding to sit in the Lake County Council, in place of Mr James Scott, who recently lost his life by the sad accident at Skippers. Mr A. !Lambie was elected, and took his seat at the last ineeting. At the meeting held last Wednesday Cr W. Reid, Macetown, was unanimously elected chairman. Mr St. Omer was appointed to represent Lake County on the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Cr W. M'Kibbin was appointed delegate to represent the council on the Arrow Hospital Trust.

Sudden Death. — Olaf Watson, locally known as Martin Wilson, a native of Norway, was found dead on a stone heap, near the Rolling HilUh » little distance ofi the Macetown dray

road. Deceased had been engaged in mining for about 30 years above the Arrow Falls, and of late had been in failing health. The cause of death appears to have been heart disease.

Queenstown Jetty. — It appears that recent agitations anent the dilapidated state of the jetty at Queenstown are about to bear fruit. The Public Works department, Invereargill, have recently sent up an official, evidently with the object of preparing plans and specifications. It is to be hoped that the work will be proceeded with without delay. Volunteering. — The Queenstown Rifle Corps are attending well at drill, taking a keen interest in the inanoauvring, and are making good progress. The Wakatipu Mounted Rifles met for their first mounted drill on Wednesday last. Some 50 men and officers, with their horses, put in an appearance, mustering near the Arrow Drill Shed. Punctually at the appointed hour, 6 p.m., the bugle sounded, and every man was in the saddle. Men and horses went through several evolutions with much credit.

Misfoitunes Never Come Singly. — Mr A. Fraser, of the Head of Lake WakatixDu, whose wife recently met with a rather nasty accident, had a barn and woolshed destroyed by fire the other day, the cause of wluch is unknown. The building was insured in the Alliance Company for £75. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Fraser in their mishaps.

Obituary. — Mr and Mrs A. Fraser, of Queenstown, sustained a sad loss in the demise of their second eldest son, a lad of 15 years of age. Deceased had been ailing for some time, but seemed to be rallying, when death overtook him. . The many friends of the bereaved family extend, to them heartfelt sympathy.

A Thing Worth Knowing. — During a con- J versation with Mr J. Turner, settler, at Spear- j grass Flat, who, it will be remembered, was i knocked down by a mad bull a ; few weeks ago, he mentioned that while lying I on the ground, with the infuriated animal glowering over him, preparing to make" a charge at him, a sudden thotight flashed throtigh his mind. He took up a handful of dry soil, and dashed it at the brute's eyes. The bull backed off, blinded and bewildered, allowing Mr Turner time to escape Ihrough a friendly hole in a near fence, through which he could watch the discomfiture of his enemy, which, for want of a pocket handkerchief, tried to wipe his eyes with the tuft on his tail, but with indifferent success. Mr Turner is convinced that had it not been for the timely thought of ' the soil, the bull would have made an end of him. As it was, Mr Turner had to spend a * number of weeks in the Frankton Hospital, • and still feels the effects of his encounter with the animal, having been badly knocked about by it. : Mysterious Deaths.— Since the coming in of spring, say since August last, there have been a number of deaths amongst horses from some internal disease that has up to the present not ] been specified, though I hear the attention 1 of the authorities is occupied in investigating | the cause. The following are some of the , losers: — Mr J. L. Topp, a horse, valued £50; Mr Samuel Hunter, two waggon horses worth £100 ; Mr John Cherry, a mare, worth £30 ; Mr George Heller, a mare, valued at £30; Mr W. Baker, a horse, worth £40; Mr J. Chalmers, jun., a mare, worth £25; and there are other cases, which escape my memory at the moment of writing. The conchision jumped at is that +he bot fly is the cause.