LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 34

LAKE COUNTY.

December 10. — We cannot complain of the way we have been treated during the week Just ended. It is true that some of the days have been cold and at times bleak and ■windy, but oh the orher hand there have been showers of rain at opportune intervals. For the more delicate garden flowers and vegetables it has not been suitable, but for iiardier and bigger things it iha& been favourable. For the tanners the weather has been good — better, at anyrate than the unbroken continuity of heat we had last year. There seem to have been few p2ople travelling this year, and in Queenstown — where the visitors land, as a rule — it is found that the veicome revenue derived from this sovirce last year is absent for the corresponding period of this season. However, the traffic mr.j increase after the Christmas holidays. The weather is nion settled then, s.nd as a rule- it is after New Year before the visitors commence to arrive with any regularity.

Entertainments — Last evening the concert given by the pupils of the Queeustown Dominican Convent may be said to have been the most attractive yet submitted. The concert was held m the Garrison Hall, and the attendance was large. A feature of the performance was the part singing of the pupils in a gipsy scene. In this scene a number of quaint, pretty songs were given — at times by the boys alone; at times by the whole performers: at times by the girls alone; now singing in unison and now in parts. The harmony and balance and the true tone of the voices raised the performance to a very high standard of excellence. Another most agreeable feature was the singing of Mr J. C. M'Bride, who possesses a true, clear tenor ■voice. The concluding play, in 'which the designs of a foreigr land-grabber were frustrated_ by many amusing devices of the landowner and his friends, was performed in a very able manner. Those who took characters in this piece showed themselves letterperfect in their j>art3, and acted with commendablo ease. — On Tuesday evening last Montgomery's Specialty Co. gave an excellent performance in Queenstown, and on the following night performed in Arrow-town. In both places they had good houses, and gave a very creditable show. The combination is bigger than those hitherto brought lotmd the goldfields by that entrepreneur Mr Edward Montgomery. Valedictory. — Arrangements are being made in Arrowtown to give a suitable sendoff to Mr Bevin, of the Bank of New Zealand, who has been transferred to Queenstown. Mr Bevin has already taken charge iii Queenstown, and Mr Patton has taken ever the Arrowtown branch; but the changes were carried out so quickly that it hardly give time to arrange a popular fare-welling. However, as the places are so adjacent, the send-off can still be arranged. Mr E. C. W. Porter left Queenstown on Saturday morning to take charge of Wyudham branch. On Wednesday night some 40 friends of Messrs Porter and Patton mc-fc together at Eicha.rdt's Hotel for the purpose of farewelling those gentlemen. A pleasant evening of speeches, music, and refreshment was spent. Several toasts were honoured, and many paid tribute io the qualities of the parting guests, both as bankers and as citizens. On Friday evening, in the Garrison Hall, Lieutenant Reid, of the Queen&towni Volunteers, presented Mr Porter, who has captained the corps since it.s formation, with a purse of sovereigns. The presentation was made on behalf of the volunteers, who chose this method of conveying theix lo3b in the departure of Captain Porter, - - —*

Bowls. — One of the topics absorbing tha interest of most of the people in Queenstown of late has bsen the opening of the recently-formed Lowling club. This function took place last "Wednesday in the presence oi a large throng of people and on one of those pleasantest of days — dull, warm, and Ineathless. The green was formally opened by the mayor in a felicitous speech, and hia remarks were fol.owed by a speech from Mr Walter Searle, president of the club, who gave in outline the formation of the club and the prospects for its future. Certainly from! the attendance on that day and from the keen interest shown in the game, there should be no qualms for the future. Most of the members are new to the game — indeed, I believe that with the exception of some two or three, all are beginners, — but the judgment, skill, aaid nicety of touch — required to achieve «u'-.ve=<* s>?em to have appealed to all who took a hand. On F* >r e\emng the new mow^r and. roller arrived. The services of the Queenstown Band were courteoiialy given by that body on opening day, and the ladies supplied refreshments in quality and qujyutity. Appointments. — Last Wednesday Mr C. E. Gudgeon was appointed town clerk for the Borough of Queenstown, and this afternoon. Mr H. N. Firth, of Queenstown, was eleatect secretary of the Wakatipu District Hospitai Trustees. ■> Lake County Show. — This show was a great success from a financial point' of view, as it was from its orher aspects. I believe* that after payment o-f all expenses and prizs-money, there will be a balance to credit of something .like £40. School Appointment. — At f meeting of the Southland Education Board last Friday, Mr C. T: Wild was appointed teacher of the Crown Terrace School in place of Miss Clapp, who has been appointed mistress of the Otama school. Cricket. — In a match b&tween Arthur's Point and Queenstown Cricket teams on Wednesday last, the latter were victorious by 123 runs to 56. The matoh was played at Arthur's Point. Caught. — The tbief in the recent robberies in QueenstowM — one at Mrs Tallentire's house and one from L. J". Lynch's store — proved to be a» lad of 13 years of sge. He was caught as Frankton manfully making his way down country, and doubtless perfectly pleased with his security. He was brought before the court in Queenstown on Tuesday last, and eonianitted! to the Industrial School at N-elson.

Obituary. — Tha presence of death has been painfully felt in Arrowtown during this week. On 'Saturday last "Mrs Feebly, an old and widely-respected resident oi the district, passed trom pain and sickness at the age of 66 years. She had bso-n suffering for some time, and there was no hope of recovery. The funeral took place last Tuesday, when the; sympathy for the bereaved children was: shown by thelairge attendance cf those -who came to pay their last token of respect. Another sad death — one following upon a long and trying illness — was that of Mrs Summers, a daughter of Mrs Jas. Reid, of Arrow. Dea.th took place in lnveroargill on Monday last, but the remains were interred in Arrowtown. Here, too, is much, sympathy for the husband and relatives. Yeb another death i? to be recorded — that of Mrs Hadicy, who died in Arrowtown on Thursday last Up till a ford-night ago Mrs Hadley enjoyed good health, but then a sudden illness - confined her to bed, and from this she did not recover. Beth she and her husbamd, Mr Sidney Hadley, who survived her, were well known, and much esteemed, so that the greatest sym-y pathy 19 felt for him in his hour of trouble. Licensing. — The quarterly meeting of the Wakatipu Licensing Convmrttee was held in Queenstown on Tuesday last, when the following transfers "were granted: — M. H. Dawson_toJ. Perriam, of Dawaon's Hotel, Cromwell ; Mrs Elliott, to Hopgood, of Nevis Hotel ; Paterson, to G-. Thompson, of the Halfway House Hotel, r.ear Cromwell. An application for a packet license by J. Allan foi ths steamer on Lake "Wanaka was refused, the committee considering that the traffic there did not warrant it. Conditional licenses for Taoes at Waakaka and at Longridge were granted.

Odds and Ends. — Entertainments suitable for the season are now announced galore. In Queenstown, on "Friday next, the Eev. A. Mitchell, of Balclutha. a.nd possessor of a, fine bass voice, will give a humorous song-lecture on "The Fisk Jubilee Singers." On the same night a dane will ba hels a.t Lower Shotoversrhool the proceeds being devoted to scheol prizes. A concert and dance, under the auspices of the Arrow Caledonian Society, will be held in the Athenseum. Hall in Arrowtown. On Christmas Eve and. Boxing night a sale of work in aid of St. Paul's Church will be held in Arrow.