LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 31

LAKE COUNTY.

November 22. — Although the weather is- no longer frosty, it is still far from seasonable. Last Thursday \va3 the only real summer day we have had this season, the thermometer making a sudden leap from near freezing point to 80deg heat in ths shade, taking all vegetation by surprise, and in about? 24 hours the hills and gome of the paddocks were flushed with streaks and patches of emerald green. On the hills ferns and thistles account, perhaps, to a great extent for the change that came over the landscape, but anyhow, it is a proof that, given a fair chance, plant life is ready to assert iteeK. The immense difficulty it has laboured Tinder this season may be gauged by the fact that potatoes planted 12, weeks ago are just beginning to show above ground. This is certainly not encouraging to either gardeners or seed sown, and consequently everything is late. There will be no new potatoes or green pea 3 for our Christmas dinner.

Ir. W. S. Co. — The Government purchase of the properties of the Lake Wakatipu Shipping Co. is much discussed locally, though its real' Unrighteousness is seldom, if ever, touched upon. Whatever Sir Joseph Ward may say in extenuation of the act, it does not in any way lessen the harsh and arbitrary manner of the transaction. The threat that the Government would put on two steamers on the lake in case the I*. W. S. Co. did not accept its terms is neither a valid explanation nor a good excuse for taking ..he company's property at half its estimated value to the shareholders, without giving them the chance of arbitration or a just estimation of the value of the property by competent and disinterested partis 3. The way the -Government went to work i 3 neither just nor 'fair; to call it "Liberal" would be the most outrageous joke anyone could perpetrate. The -complaints, as alleged by Sir Joseph, about the management of the company, are taken out oi •ir, and have no foundation in fact. On the contrary, every season the Wakatip Mail, the -Queenstown paper, published laudatory remarks on the management of the Shipping Co. ljy tourists and travellers Such remarks were Beyer made about the management of the rail 1 way to Kingston, which often came in for much opprobrium. Volunteering. — The Queenstown Rifles have just had a week in camp. Unfortunately the •ottluur »as anything but genial, cold and wet

predominating both clay and night, with a good deal of strong wind. However, the volunteers faced the situation manfully, much good and profitable drillTieing gone through. The drill and instructions were of a much more practical nature than upon former occasions, great prominence being given to skirmishing work and duties, Staff Sergeant-major Kibblewhito bping strong on this d-vision of tactics. Military snorts and games wound up a most successful week's we-i. the whole passing off without undue excess of any kind, and with a few trifling exceptions, the conduct of the rifles was highly praiseworthy. Farmers' Union.— This movement as spreading, and begins to make itself f?lt, its influence being visib.e in the recent county elections. A new branch has been formed at the head of Lake Wakatipu, on the motion of ifr Fraser. Mr J. Bunnery was elected chairman. Gibbston farmers might follow suit with a branch of their own, as they are rather too fai removed to join the Wakatipu branch. Queenatown Brass Band.— The ladies of Queenstown arranged a welcome recaption on the home-coming or the Queenstown Ba^d from the recent contest. The affair took the shape of a social, and was well patronised. A very enjoyable evening was spent, the affair being much appreciated by the bandsmen.

Accident. — Mr Patton, of the Qneenstown branch of the Bank of New Zealand, met with rather a serions baggy accident on Wednesday last. White out driving with his wife and family on the Gorge road, the horse shied, throwing the occupants out of the buggy. Mrs Patton and the children escaped with slight injuries, but Mr Patton waß severely hurt about the head, the skull being fractured. Under the care of Dr Douglas everything is being done to facilitate his recovery, and the patient is rallying -steadily. Arrow Jockey Club. — The meeting of this club will come off on Saturday, December 6. The entries are unusually good, quite a number of nominations of horses with good records having com 3 in Given fine weather, the meeting will be an enjoyable one.

County Elections — Where the ridings were contested a lively interest was shown in this event, the polling being exceptionally good. The following is the new council :— Queenstown (two members) — J. J. M'Bride, J. Cockbum ; Arrowtown (two members) — W. M'Kibbm, P. Reid; Maceto^rn — W. Reid ; Greenstone — H. Birley; Shotover — J. Lnmble; Cardrona — E. M'Dougall ; Kingston — W. Butson.

Bioramic. — The Salvation Array Biorama. showed at Queenstown to large audiences on two nights. The display of pictures is very highly spoken of.