LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 39

LAKE COUNTY.

December 17.-^-Owing to the prevalence* of ~ high winds during ihe week • the ground is dry and. tlie roaus are Deconung aeavy and ausiy. With Tne winds we nave occasional^ showers of rain, but there has been more wind than anytmng else. On the nign country— at Slfippers and tne Crown Terrace^ — vhe winds are ielt extremeiy cold, and one and all would be gratenu tor a good. downpour oi ram and a spell oi -ess blustering weatner. As it is, we need not hope tor a very set.led change until after Kew iear. iiospitals.— At the annual . meeting of the Arrow itospitai 'JLrustees, held on Monday last, Mr David Richardson took Ins seat on the beard tor tne first time as representative . of th 3 Invereargili iJorough -Council. The position of chairman, whicn has been ably n-.led by Mr \bevin'for some years> became -vacant by his removal to Queenstown. Mr G. JL). Baird was elected as chairman for the ensuing year. 'Xne date of the meetings waa alterea, so thai the board should, meet in future "on the first Saturday in every month. — At the Wakatipu District Jdospital'ineeUng, held last Saturday, the resignation of Mr E. C. W. Porter was ■received by tiie board, which resolved to record the many services by the retiring trustee to "the institution 'and the able way in"'which he had acted "as -treasurer. Mr Bevin ■was appointed a trustee and treasurer in Mr" -Porter's "stead. County- Grader. — A trial of the grader purchased by the County Council some months ago has been made on the Arrow-Miher's Flat road, and the result of the "working seems satisfactory. It -will be easier to judge when a more- lengthened trial has"- been given. At present it is -being .worked by a team of Reid and M'DowelTs horses. Tourists. — Very few have arrived at Queenstown or passed through the district this week, and I believe that none have gone over to Lake- Wanaka. The impression seems to be —that there will be very- few travelling here ■untL after New Year. Lake Wanaka is a spot much neglected by those who come for pleasure and for sight-seeing. It is a wonderfully pretty lake, the air is soft and pleasant, the accommodation good, and if the, tourist desires - it lie may, instead of re turning to Queenstown, continue his journey by coach to the Hermitage an dout to connect with the railroad. — The Bowling Club in Queenstown has arranged with a caretaker for the green at £1 per week during the season, and members of the club continue enthusiastic in the game. A number qi Bowlers are expected during the Christmas holidays, liie Queenstown Braa3 Band, which plays again this year under engagement with the Tourist Department, commenced it 3" outdoor evenings last Monday. The arrangement is to play on Mondays and Thursdays in the park during the summer season. The two evenings upon which they played this week were-cold and veiy windy. Under these conditions, which precluded their 1 having anything like an audience, they deserve praise for the programme they went through. Races.— On December 31 the Arrow Jockey Club's races will be held in Reid's paddock, —close to the town. From a spectator's point of view, this is an ideal v ground, the hill on the direst side rising up in ? .small terrace, ■which forms a natural grand stand and affords a full view, of the courtee. The^ straight and finishing-post "are along- the foot 'of this slope. So far the nominations are fully up to expectations, and a good day'a sport may be anticipated. The privileges for the meeting were Bold by Messrs Cotter Bros, in Arrowtown thi3 afternoon, when the booth and refreshment stall fell to Mr D. Richardson for £13, the gate to Mr H. M'Kibbin at £13 ss, and the racecaTds to Mr Perrelle for 10s. The entries for the Lake County races at Frankton on January 7 are smalL but the quality may be there and some good races eventuate after all. Sports. — The Sheffield Cup Handicap was a. feature of the Arrow Caledonian Society's sports last year, and how attractive it proved is shown by the number of entries for the same race this year. It is impossible to pick the winner from the following entries and handicaps: — L. C. Ai'Lachlan (Invereargili) 2 yards, I, W. Dodda (Dunedin) 6, J. Morton (Invereargili) 6, A. Bennet (Dunedin) 1, J. Shivas (Invercargill) 8, A. Brown (Queenstown) 9, G. Campbell (Invercargil'i) 11, H. M'Mullen (Arthur's Point) 12, A. Milne (Alexandra) 11, H. Constab.e (Queenstown) 13, A. -Attley (Arthurs Poini) 14, T. Attley (Arthur's Point) 14, and C. T. Edwards (Arrowtown) 16. The sports will be held on Boxing Day. "Valedictory. — A gathering of friends took place this evening in the Athensauni Hill to farewell Mr anofc Mrs Jievin, who leave for the Bank of New Zeaiand branch in Queenstown. * There was- a large and representative assemblage. The chair was taken by Mr 'William Reid, of Macetown (county chairman), and I may say right here that in his opening- remarks ana in his subsequent speech to the guest-3 he was in his best -vein. During the evening games- were played — chess, .draughts, and cards ; vocal and instrumental Stems given, and speeches made. Among the •peakers -were the chairman, Dr Thomson, Mr MTOoweH, Rev. Mr Fisher, Mr Orr, and Mr Thos. M'Donne'il. Their remarks all tended to the one ultimate point, which was briefly: That in the departure of the guests of the •vening Arrowtown lost a considerate and genial banker, an enthusiast in sport, and a man interested in local works and bodies. In Htca Bevin £h« town would lose one of the

hardest and most -enthusiastic workers in social, church, and other matters which fall to the lot of the ladies, and upon whom success depends. Mr Fisher, at the termination of his speech, presented the guests with a memento from the Arrow residents; a silver service bowl for Mrs Bevin, with the date and inscription, and a sovereign case and purse of sovereigns for Mr Bevin. In replying, Mr Bevin thanked the donors of the memento, and said that wherever he might be his recollection of Arrow and his friends there would be vivid and pleasant, ana he trusted that such a recollection would always be mutual. During the evening songs were given by Mrs Niven and Mrs Perelle, Misses L. Youngman, M'Leod, and E. Graham, and Messrs W. Stevenson and Dickson. The Chairman, after thanking the performers, moved a vote of thanks to the ladies for the preparation of the dainty refreshments' whicii nad been provided. This was deservedly carried by acclamation. The proceedings terminated with the singing of "Auld iang syne."