LAKE WANAKA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 34

LAKE WANAKA.

Albsitown, August 3.— We hare had au unusually fine winter. Ploughing has been goin;; on continually, which, perhaps, is the easiest way of describing the weather. Sometimes there were sharp frosts, but with, two

exceptions it was out of the ground again in an hcur or two after daylight. The days were foggy and cloudy sometimes, but, on the whole, the weather was very genial and mild. Three good showers fell duung the past month, twice in the nigrn and last Thursday morning in daylight. The fine weather brought the black-headtd torn and dottrels lound over three weeks sooner than usual. On two occasions I have been m danger of ploughing or harrowing down a, dottere 's nest, but on each occasion I shifted it a few yards away, and the old birds took to it and hatched out the young ones. On Sunday night there was a big change in the weather, for it began to snow before dark', and by the morning there were five inches of it, but by night time it was melted to about half. On Monday night there was a sharp frost, but the snow thawed a bit through the day.

Bunny. — Tho rabbits are unusually scarce this winter ; in fact, people are often grumbling that they cannot get either cat's meat or dog meat, or even a rabbit for themselves. There is an aspect of the rabbit pest that is not noted. The rabbit agent will sometimes call on a land-owner, and in an aggrieved manner tell him that certain portions of his land are badly infested, and require clearing of the pest. The land-owner is quite easy in his mind. He is not inclined to look round for rabbits when an industrious body of men inspect his property every month, and then tell him where the bad patches are. This saves him a very large amount of bo hei^ The rabbits are very patchy. Once I was caxnped out in the mountains for a week in a sheltered face, perhaps 50 acres in area, and the rabbits were swarming on this area ; but on two occasions I went in one direction three tmlps 9vd ir "".other direction four miles, and hardly saw one.

Obituary.— The dea'h of Mr Jo>m Miller at Queensbury by hanging hii"?elf caused a feeling of painful surprise. He was one of the earliest Cromwell residents, at first working for the butchers there, and was very good among stock. During the last year or so he has had cancer in the face, caused by smoker's lip, as _it is now called, and his friends contributed towards Ihe cost of seeding him to Dunedin for further medical aid, but he was too far gone for anything to be done for him. He came from Kyneton, Victoria, where he had some relations. — Another death that caused a feelinpr of regret was that of Mr William M'Leod, of Pf-mbroke, at Alexandra. Mr M'Leod came into this district first nearly 20 years ago, when he was constable in charge of the Cromwell station. Afterwards he was sergeant in charge of the Clyde district, which used to be administered by the late Mr Inspector Hickson. After that he was in charge of the Sydenham district, but resigned his position and came to live in Pembroke. Mr M'Leod was a careful, shrewd man, and for some years past he has possessed considerable means, a valuable farm at Hawea, and the hotel and lands at Qtieensberry being among his possessions. For a year or two he "ran" the Queensberry property, till Mr Scheib took charge. Mr M'Leod was stricken down with the influenza a few months ago, when it was epidemic, but pulled round, though his personal appearance plainly indicated that he had had a very bad time We all thought, however, he had perfectly recovered, and he had the appearance of a man who would live for many yea.rs yet, despite his age of 57. Feeling the want of a change, he went to Alexandra for a holiday to .Mrs Telford's, but took ill and died, notwithstanding the attention of three doctors. Mr M'Leod married in Alexandra some years ago Miss Jessie Telford, but leaves no children. He was a very generous and liberal man, and during his long official rai eer the men he had urder him entertained the greatest respect for him. Any prisoners who came into his hands cherished his memory for his many kindnesses. I noticed the death, under very pathetic circumstances, ox Mr Arthur D. Fail, at Arrow, at the eaorly age of 27 years. The late Mr Fail was a young man of considerable ability, and was licensed lay reader to the Anglican congregation, who sustain a. severe loss. He was Arrow correspondent to the Witness also. His life was of much promise, but, unfortunai ely, he was stricken down with consumption, though he was always very hopeful of a cure. He cr.me to Wakatipu for the benefit of his health, and engaged in light occupations, such as were suited to his state of health. Portion of his time he had charge of the coach stables on the Crown Terrace saddle, and it was here that I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, and the rarified air in this elevated situation made a great improvement in him. Then he was temporary clerk at one of the Macetown mines during the absence on holiday leave of Mr Porter. Here he took ill, and went to the Arrow Hospital, where he died. The body was taken to Port Chalmers, where his parents reside. When we moralise over such sorrowful cases as these, the fact is brought home to as that invalids and delicate persons sometimes live to a great age because they study the laws of health, take no risks, are careful of their ucdily health, and preserve a cheerful, even temperament.— The death by drowning near Dunedin of William Race, "whose skull and foot, with the boot on, were recovered by the steam traw'er, as detailed at the inquest, gave the old residents here a surprise. When deceased was a little boy he lived here and at Ciomwell for some years with his step-father, the late William Imrie, and he will be remembered as a bright and cheerful little fellow. Doubtless his domestic misfortunes, as laid bare at the inquest, unhinged his mind. Weddings. -Turning to a brighter side of life, fhere are two marriages to record. Mr John Lifcrle, a few years cut from Scotland, a nephew of Mr Walter LitUe, at Cardrona, lately married Miss Alicia M. Walsh, a native of Cardrona, and we all wish them well. Then there was a strictly private wedding at Pembroke, when Mr John Lange, ittn., was married to Miss Norah Pipson, both natives of the district.

Church Affairs. — The Anglican congregation lately held its annual meeting in the Pembroke Schoolhouse. The balance sheet was read by the Treasurer (Mr T. T. Pearce), and adopted. Then the question of printing: it, with the Vicar's report, w^s discussed. Mr C. L. Mpson suggested a social of some kind, of a similar nature to those held in many places in Southland that he had been in. It was remarked that in Cromwell the Anglicans hold fortnisrlitly dances on behalf of thp church funds, and on n similar occasion at Arrow the late Rev. Mr Brook and Mrs Brook led oft the Grand March, for which they are fo be commended as liberalminded people. Finplly, on the motion of Mesdames A. G-. Thomson and A. M'Dougall, it was decided to hold a social in one of the spring months." The retiring oommiHee was then re-elected in a body, and Mv Richard rCorman appointed church officer, in ralace of the late Mr Cornelius. A pleasant time was, spent in sinking, recitations, and general convprsation. Tho School Committee do not grant flip sohool if there are refve'-shnieiits at any gatherings, but rPconiTipnd that one of the hall<! be made u^e of. There is no necessity For this line of action, for the school is always kept clear of crumbs, etc., and, if necessary, there are always volunteers to sweep it out. To hold such a meeting in ore of the halls is out of the question in mid- winter, as the people would oerish with the cold, as there is no provision for fires in the halls, whilp the schoolhouse has a fine open fireplace. And as all the residents patronise the school balls, the committee in return should" be a little more liberal-minded. Mr a.nd Mrs A. G. Thomson then very kinrlly invited the members of the congregation, who came a long distance, up to the schoolhouse for refreshments, and they

were voted a very heaity vote of thanks fo? their thoughtful kindness. School Matters.— Miss Primate, the newteacher at Luggate, is the daughter of Mr Thomas Primate, who lived in the Wanaka during the sixties, and left about '69. Part of the time he had a small sailing craft— the Water Lilj— trading on the lake.