LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2569, 10 June 1903, Page 35

LAKE COUNTY.

June 6. — The bad wea-ther prevailing down country during the pa-=t week affected us in the high country but little. There were a few miserably cold and bleak days, but they were interlarded with fine and sunny weather. In iact, the complaint is the wea-ther is not ■wintry enough. We ought to have got snow »nd frost in real earnest before this. Now is the time for winter weather, and there ia no fun in having it doled out in spring, when growih in the vegetable- world is about to beg'n. JHor is this unsettling of the seasons good for the general health. There are a good many sneezing and snuffling and coughing, and complaints are heard on every hand. " Prosper, Crown Terrace. '—As is well mown, the Crown Te-rrace ra.nks with the finest land in Otago for richness of soil and general productiveness. Amongst other productions it has brought forth the poet laureate of the Crown Terrace, who in melodious verse sings of the fertility of tho land and of the glorious crops reaped therei-om. Tl-us ws»on the yield being abundant, the poet was ditto, and, in fact, many residents argue that the abundance of the crops is in some occult way to be traced to the poetry. However this may be, the residents are quite prepared to suffer the poetry so long as it has this effect. Prosper, Crown Terrace!

Obituaiy — The thinning ranks of the early pioneers have been still further thinned out •within the la&t week or two. On TuesdHy la-,t there died at the Arrow Hospital Mr W. C. Bremer, one of the very early pioneers of tue district, arriving in the Wakatipu nearly 41 jyears ago. The complaint that terminated a long, useful, and prosperous career was a bad form of heart disease, and the end came after about six weeks of suffering, and naturally came Buddenly. Deceased followed mining at that rather isolated place. Bracken's Gully, where Ob.c wa3 taken, ill, and, not improving, went lo the Arrow Hospital when he was past all bumart aid. As stated, the end came suddenly »t the age of 71 years. He was a familiar feature in Arrowtown on hia weekly visits. He vmß straightforward, honourable, and kindly in disposition and highly esteemed by all. Deceased was a native of Hanover, and came over from Victoria to Otago with the gold rush in Ifcho early sixties. He was unmarried, and has tio relations in the colony. Having been very

successful in mining he leaves a considerable estate, some of which will go to a sister in Germany. The deceased being a prominent Mason of high rank, and one of the very early members of the Arrow l&lwmning Ledge, he was accorded a Masonic funeral, but the weather being cold aid wet the attendance was not so large as it otherwise would have been. After the Rev. Mr Brooke (Anglican) had read the burial service at the grave the Masonic service and ceremony were gone through. — Last Wednesday week there passed away at Queenstown Mr Robert Wilson, also one of the early pioneers of the district, at the good age of 74 years, from the effects of an attack of influenza, followed by bronchiti°. The deceased was engaged in mining, busings 0 , and other occupations, filling for 25 year 3 the office of verger in St. Peter's Church, Queenstown. He led a quiet and unobtrusive life, and was universally respected. He was a native of Mussdburgh, Scotland, and leaves two sons and one daughter. The mortal remains of the deceased were taken to St. Peter's Church, where the vicnr, Rev. Mr Brooke, held a short service, and thence to the Queenstcwn Cemetery, where the last rite 3 were performed by the vicar.

Waka-tipu Licensing — The Wakatipu licensing Committee held its first meeting on Tuesday, 2nd mst. All the members attended, and for the first time for six years there wns a committee. It will be remembered that about six years ago the then chairman, metaphorically speaking, knocked his committee on the head, and, placing himself in their place (still metaphorically speaking), ruled the roost, no doubt to hia own intense satisfaction, and admiration, and acclamation. When his removal led to the appointment of a. gentleman in his place, who is now chairman of the committee, the anomalous position of a chairman without a committee survived, as so many follies do. However, a change came with the last licensing election, and eight candidates were nonrina£ed. They declared themselves as moderates, and the electors taking their declaration as genuine chose six of them. They have gone to work and have done well. Sergeant M'Kenzie made an application that all 11 o'clock lic«nses be reduced to 10 o'clock, and showed good reasons in favour of his demand, but overlooked the conveniences of the travelling pubic, steamers running sometimes, and coaches always, up to 11 o'clock, and occasionally even later. The committee taking this fact into consideration refused the reduction, granting 11 o'clock licenses to applicants for the same. Two applications for publicans' licenses were adjourned, 38 such licenses were renewed, also seven accommodation licenses, one wholesale and one bottle license. From this it will bs seen that the 4000 and odd men, women, and children in the Lakes electorate need not fear a drought.

Valedictory. — The departure of Captain J. A. Algie from Arrowtown was made the occasion of two very pleasing functions. The Wakatipu Mounted R.fles, of which corps Captain Algie was one of the founders, and the member who worked most energetically for its succsss, met on Tuesday evening last to bid adieu to their captain. The affair took the shape of a smoke concert, arranged on a comprehensive and pleasing programme, having due regard to the leading interests of the district. Songs, speeches recitations alternated m a merry m?nner without hitch. Surgeon-captain Thomson occupied the chair, and the principal speakers were Lieutenant de la Porelle, Sergeant J Jenkins, Corporal M'lntyre, Sergeant M'Bnde, Troopers J. Cooper, Grant, J. Re.d, and E. Healy, Corporals P. Tobin, W. Reid, and S. Stevenson. Captain Algie, replying to the toast, "Our Guest, ' expressed his regret at parting from the corps and Arrowto-vn generally, adding that he earned away with him nothing but the most pleasant recollections of the people. The speaker referred to his experienco in South Africa as a member of the Ninth Contingent, and pointed out that those who sneered at volunteers should consider that at no distant date a mild form of conscription may be introduced. The meeting took place at Mrs Dyson's New Orleans Hotel, the hostess providing a sumptuous and abundant spread, to wh'ch about 30 members of the corps did full justice. Last night, Friday, a social by the general pub ie was tendered Mr Algie, to express their thanks for and appreciation of his able management of the local post and telegraph office and his courteous and obliging manner The affair was well attended, and a very pleasant evening was spent.

Stone-throwing With a Vengeance. — A resident of Arrowtown, driving home his domestic ccw, in order to suit her steps to tho coldness of the evening shied a stone at the poor beast. Hitting her in a vjtal spot, the cow fell dead. So much for a'-one-throwing. Bun ' y.-- Buuny is booming. Mr J. A. Gardner, Quec-nstowii, sent off 15,000 carcases m one week lately, and this is only one firm out of three doing business m Queenstown. From personal experience I can add that the quality is as good as the quantity.

Tired. — An unfortunate Chinese, Ah Chow by name, working at Cardrona as a miner, got tired c<f posing as a Celestial amongst the snows of Wakatipu. He therefore took a short cut to the regions the name of which he bore by hanging himself to the ridge pole of hia tent. Being missed from his usual haunts, Constable Tracy, Arrowtown, went m starch and found him in the position described, life being quite extinct.

Weather and the Crops.— The last two nights were exceedingly cold, and ice formed to the thickness of an inch in one night. The frost will have a drying effect upon the crops still standing out, of which there are a few.