LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 31

LAKE COUNTY.

May I.— As we have not had our due share of leat during the past summer we are having it meted out to us when it ds, or ought to be, •winter. The days are net only balmy, but often positively hot, even tho nights being quite summery. This state oi things helps on tho crops wonderfully, so that a few more -weeks of the same will see all tha crops safely secured, and manj of them sold and paid for. Tb* "poox farmer" is once more in evidence •with gocd crops and high prices, but somehow he does not get much sympathy from the general community, and fortunately for him6elf is independent of it. As the world goes, sympathy hasn't the same charm as hard cash. Municipal. — The municipal fracas is over for two jears. So far as Lake County is concerned the affairs was a tame one. Queenstown, however, rose to the occasion, indulging in an election for the civic chair. The two candidates were Mr L. Hotop,, chemist, and Mr J. M'Neil, builder and stonemason. Each candidate having considerable, though widely differing, claims upon the ratepayers' consideration a good deal of interest was taken in the polling, after their respective qualifications had been freely, and somewhat hotly, discussed. The result of the election is" as follows:— L. Hotop, 91 ; James M'Neil, 40. School Committees. — The forty odd schools •or so in Lake County have been provided with aiew or re-elected committees, without any killed or wounded resulting from the contesta. Some contestants, it is true, were put lors do combat, but probably the world will .go on as heretofore. The ladies were conspicuous by their absence, though there is here a, fair field and no favour for theu advent in public life. Nearly Drowned.— Three young boys getting into a boat at Queenstown, at a little distance off the beach, oue of them, the six-year-old son of Mr C. Constable, fell overboaid in Oft of •water. On the alarm being given Mr P. Duffy, at the time at tea in Mr St Omer's restaurant, •went at once to the rescue and p.uuged into the water, and brought the joungster to the surface fiom a depth of 9ft. The little fellow was in \n iinconscious slate when landed, but recovered, little the worse for his •unintended bath. Much praise is due to Mr Duffy for the prompt manner in which he went to the rescue.

Valedictory. — Mrs Blackie, v.-ho lias conducted a pmate school at Queenstown foi four years with much success, was pieser>*«d by her pupils with a silver-mounted breakfast civet on the occasion of her leaving Queenstown. Mrs Blackie having been in an nclifferent stale of lealth foT some little time d-ecided upon a change. The cruet, which was suitably inscribed, was presented by Miss Gladys Brent.

Rabbits. — Bunny appears to be to the fore, and, if one is to judge by advert.ssments in the local papers, one must come to the conclusion that he is booming. No less than three firms are competing for h:s carcase an<J his ekin, each firm offering the highest price. Judging by the food upon the hills the rodents ought to be in good condition, but in the more settled parts of the district and Tear the centres of population, they are rather scarce.

Winter Time-table. — With to-day trains, •coaches, and steamboats sto again put upon Jtheir winter time-tables. The trains to and irom Dunedin are once more regulated to four journeys each way per week, which, so far as •mails are concerned, are quite enough for our oi-eeds. Outlying places like CaTdrona, that, for the winter months, have only one mail a •week, feel the alteration, but with a telephone in the place the hardship is bearable. Wmter Scenery.— The Wakatipu Mail correspondent for the Head of Lake Wakatipu referred in one of his recent letters to the winter scenery of the district, which culminates at (th« Head of tha Lake. It ia a. clam fact thai

the winter invests? Wakatipu scenery -with, a charm, quite distinct from that it displays during summer. The clear, deep blue sky, lit up by sparkling stais and the soft light of the moon, seta off the snowy peaks -with magical effect, adding tne spice of mystery to the wonderful witchery of perspective. In the daytime many precipices draped -with traceries of ice and snow may be visited, beg-g?-ring the crystal coves of the most gorgeous transformation scenes presented by the world's leading theatres, and on a scale so stupendous as to stagger the mind. Then we generally have the finest weather during the winter. Beautiful, clear, calm days, warmed by a dazzling sun, make one feel ns if he •were drinking the very essence of life" and health, and joy. Nights and mornings, though often, frosty and nipping, can a-lways be provided against, and it is a noted fact that the harder the frost the better is the general health. It is stated that Sir J. G. "Ward is to visit Queenstown shortly, and it may be suggested that recursion trains should be run during moonlighl nights, when the mountains are well covered with snow. Many people, who cannot get away from their occupations during summer, m ; "ht be able to spare a few days for healthfu recreation during the winter. Losses. — Several horse owners in the neighbourhood of ATrowtown have met with heavy losses in horseflesh within a fc-w days past. ATr J. L. Jopp, who keeps extensive livery stables in connection with lu3 Royal Oak Hotel. Arrowtown, and also carries on the business of a, general carrier, lost a draught horse valued, at £50, which, being one of an exceptionally fine team, will be difficult to replace. Since then Mr G. Melvin, of Lower Shotover, lost two good farm horses, ons dying in the stable, the other in the paddock. In neither case has any reason b?en assigned for tne Eudden depth of the horses, which died without any previous signs of ailm-ent.