LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 31

LAKE COUNTY.

March 6.— "Weather and crops are doing their test to make up for past remissness. During the last few days it has been very close and heavy, just the weather to help on the cropa. Cutting is now going on in all the earlier parts of the district, and accounts of good yields are ccming in from several of the grain-growing fiats. The gloomy forebodings of a few months ago have been made short work of by the improvement in the recent weather. ' As, fortunately good weather may c counted on till the end of May, the lateness of the harvest docs not matter much, beyond being delayed into shortening days. Green fodder is also abundant and of good quality, though' the aphis blight is rather vc-orse than in former years, cabbages, what there may be of this vegetable, suffering severely. Licensing. — Though the date for electing the licensing committees is fixed for the 26th inst., there are so far no visible* candidates in the field. There is a general impression that the present state of affairs will be perpetuated in spite of an election. This is, of course, far ofi the mark. The next committee will bo elected quite independent of any antecedent, and so far as the perpetual chairman (the vcarden. and S.M., Mr Burgess) is concerned his utterances in. that capacity make it clear that he wishes for a committee to share with him the responsibility of a licensing hoard. In fact, it would be an insult to that gentleman's good sense to suppose him capable of courting notoriety by tho aid of a legal quibble. .-Binder Trial. — Yesterday week a trial of Jones's lever reaper and binder took place on Mr Shaw's farm at Arrow Junction, it being •witnessed by a number of the farming comjaunity, whoise verdict wae that for speed and general efficiency it is superior to most macliines in this district. Though somewhat late in the season, several orders were booked from experienced men whose judgment is widely respected.

Financial Tilt. — Much interest was evinced locally in the controversy between Sir Joseph Ward and Mr W. Fraser, M.H.R. for the Lakes, about the finances of the colony, Mr Fraser coming out of the contest with flying colours. Those who have followed Mr Fraser's speeches in the House and out of it have long since noted that he is possessed of a keen financial instinct, that saves him from making mistakes; and in addition he has the gift of making his numerical arguments "understanded of the common people." Besides the- finances of the colony, Mr Fraser is also well versed in those of the local bodies in his electorate, he haying a thorough grasp of their business and positions as well.

Go-ahead Queenstown. — Queenstown has fallen upon lucky times, what with the influx of ■week-enders, a lavish expenditure upon the embellishment of the town and neighbourhood and other fixings, while the moTe substantial interests of the community have not been neglected. There is a continual coming and going of inspectors, tourist agents-, traffic managers, engineers, and •what not, presumably on departmental visits or business. It would be difficult to follow the doings of these gentlemen — in fact, it is difficult to conceive what all this horde of officials can find to do in a- place like Queenstown, except it be to kill their official time and spend the taxpayers' money.

Horticultural Show. — This function came off on Tuesday last, and, like its predecessors, was an unqualified success; in fact, the society is one of the most successful cf its kind ever projected in Queenstown. The display of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, was, considering the season, a truly surprising one, for whatever may be said in extenuation of the abominable weather experienced during the past five or six months there- is but one opinion pronouncing it to have been the most ■unfavourable for vegetable growth since the advent of the white man. With such evidence, backed by accounts of good crops from many parts of the district, there is no n««d to despair of the agricultural prospects of the Wakatipu.

Our Scenery. — It is always pleasant to hear our scenery referred to in laudatory terms by travelled visitors who have seen much of the ■world. During the present season many such favourable notices have been entered in the visitors' books kept in the different hotels. Among the notices is one from Mr James Pinnock, of the Constitution Hotel, London, which is conspicuous for its directness. Ho speaks of our mountains and lakes as the finest of the habitable world, and of our climate as healthgiving.

More Light. — Acetylene gas has -aught on •with much favour in these part 3. Queeastown led the way, Mrs M' Bride adopting the light for her hotel ; Mr Pritchard, merchnnt, Arrowtown, and Mr J. L. Jopp, Royal Oak Hotel, of the same place, following suit, the old hills and small boys standing amazed at the sudden brightness. I remember the time when the only illuminant in the. district was the tallow candle stuck into a bottle, and when there was not a single window in either Queenstown or Arrowtown. That was the time when more money and gold changed hands in a day than is now the case in a- month.

The Weather. — At the time of posting (noon), there was a smart shower of cold rain, and some equinoxial weather. The indications are tha* there may be a succession of v few daya of broken weather, but no great floeds need be apprehended.