LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 29

LAKE COUNTY.

April 6. — The event of last week was the opening ceremony of Skippers Bridge, wh.ch was made a gala time by th 3 residents of the Shotover. For weeks past the event has been made the subject of conversation, great doing 3 being anticipated, the realisation of which were in no way disappointing. Although r? full and detailed account of the affair, the orators, and their orations has already been furnished you, these notes, in order to present something like a continuous historical account of the passing events in these parts, must take some notice of so important an affair as was the opening of the Skippers' bridge. The bridge is on the suspension principle, and is a strongly and well-built structure. All the woodwork, except the planking of the roadway,is of ironbank timber, and •will therefore require no costly repairs for two generations to come. The bridge is 315 ft long and Sft wide in the clear. It is 278 ft above ■water level, and ranks in this respect as one of the highest bridges in the colony. The approaches are easy, and though they might Have lje?n improved, access to the bridge from either side presents no difficulty. Skippers' bridge is the third important bridge that spans the Shotover, not counting the old and now discarded one at Skippers. It stands as a monument of the importance of the mining industry of the Shotover, for there is no farming nor any other industry to require a bridge. Looked at as an aid to mining, however, it might have fceen better located. Maori Point would have been the spot where the bridge would have done the most good, for it would have benefited Stony, Pleasant, and Londonderry terraces, which will probably be working, and yield payable returns, when every other gold deposit in the Shotover Valley has been exhausted. However, the thing is done now, and the bridge •will be a boon to a large portion of the residents in the neighbourhood. The weakness of the innovation is th»t the road leading from it ends nowhere. The stranger who lands at the Skippers end does not know "where 'c are,' 1 except that he has come to the end, and that end, ominously enough, is the cemetery! This must be remedied, and that soon. A movement has been set on foot to carry the load as far as Skippers Point proper — that is, Aspinall's Terrace. The whole distance is made ground, and there is available a large stream of water to sluice a roadway through it, at a low cost in a short time. This, no doubt, will be done, and the sooner the better. The ceremony of the opening was a gay one. The bridge was decolated with banners, flags, and evergreens, having a floral arch at either end, the whole presenting a very pleasing effect. The ladies, dressed in bright and pleasing garments, lent the charm of colour and variety to the sombre habiliments of the sterner sex. The "tout ensemble" presenting a very animated and pleasing effect, can be seen from the picture being forwarded to you for reproduction in the Witness, which was obtained with no small tiouble and judgment. Amongst the guests were the Hon. the Minister for Mines (Mr M'Gowan) and the Secretary for Mines (Mr Elliott), and representatives from centres of population far and near. Due to time, Mr M'Gowan called upon Mrs Johnston, as the earliest surviving lady pioneer of Skippers, to christen the bridge in the orthodox fashion with a bottle of champagne, and cut the red, white, and blue ribbon that barred the passage of the bridge. This done, Mr M'Gowan, leading Mrs ■Johnston, walked across the bridge, the general public following. There was loud and hearty cheering and applauding of the speeches. Shortly after the ceremony the banquet at Mrs Johnston's Otago Hotel took place. About 50 guests sat down to a sumptuous spread that exceeded th© expectation of most of the partakers, being more varied and complete than they expected to find at a place so far inland 'as Skippers. The dessert, which was chiefly furnished from Mrs Johnston's orchard, comprised fruit that could not be excelled anywhere for flavour or for size. In the evening came the ball, which was arranged for the benefit of the new library and public hall. Looking found the room it wm difficult te realise this

was the locality where less than 40 years a?o the eternal solitude of tussock and lull was broken by no other sound than that of the weka, and" where the hardy pioneer penetrated at the nsk of life and limbs. Dainty damsels arrayed in silks and satins tripped it on the light fantastic toe, as to the mruirier born. And so the festivities ended that marked an epoch in the history of the district. Beside^ its value as a means of facilitating communication, the bridge will be the means of attracting tourists to the golden banks of the Shotovcr. Tourists and travellers of all kinds have now the opportunity of extending their visit to ajiy of the large sluicing claims on the northern bank of the river, instead of terminating their outing at Long Gully. It is currently said th°t tourists who engage coiivevances to take them to the Shotover are dumped down at Long Gully, and made believe by their duvers that thoy are at the Shotover. This pious fraud cannot bo v orked any lorger, and tourists wi l ! want to see what they were promised for their monpy.

Obituary. — A death that made a deep impression on the community of Arrowtown and neighbourhood occurred a little more than a week ago at Npseby, where Mr Jchn Oldnold died at the early age of 26 years. Deceased, wl'O was a native of Arrowtown, was of a singularly good and genial temperament and disposition. For many years he was the mainstay of las widowed' mother and a young family of brothers and siiters. When the news of the seriousness of the disease from which Mr Oldfield ailed reached Arrowtowtv his mother at once set oxit for the bedside of her son. and though he rallied after her arrival, the end was at hand. The announcement of the death cast sorrow over every heart in the place, and offers cf defraying the cost of the transport of the body to Arrowtown for inteiment, subject to Mrs ~O!d£ie 1 d's approval, came from every quarter. In a very short time the contributions amounted to nearly £50. Mr J. Jopp, of the Royal Oak Hotel, offered to meet the body at Clyde and bring it on to Arrow free of charge. Ihe funeral was attended by a large concourse of friends, and the Rev. Mr Brooke (Anglican) conducted the obsequies in a most feeling manner. A few days ago Mrs Metthew Martin, one of the early settlers, passed away at her residence at SpeargTass Flat, after having been in fpilinsr health for some time. Deceased died at an advanced ago, and much sympathy is felt for the bereaved husband.

Resignations — Mr James Martin, mine manager cf the Arrow Flat Hydraulic Company, has resigned his position, intending to leave for Clyde. Mr Martin in his connections with the company has proved himself an energetic and cepable miner, and as a citizen has shown a liberal and consistent activity in every movement set on foot for the benefit of the place. The wellwishes of a large circle of friends will follow Mr and Mrs Martin to their new sphere of action. — Miss I. Keith, schoolmistress, Queenstown Public School, on her resignation, on the eve of her marriage,^ was presented by her pupils with a gold-mounted greenstone brooch and a gold scarf pin with pendant, the children being accorded a half holiday in honour of the occasion.

Tourists. — There is a large influx of tourists intending to spend Easter holiday time at Wakatipu. Hotels and boarding houses are filled with gay parties on enjoyment bent.