THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 34

THE COUNTRY.

LAKE COUJBTY. May 20.— Up till to-day the weather ha* be?n most enjoyable — clear and warm during the day, and with just a slight frost at night. This moaning, ho* ever, it suddenly changed from a mild', still atmosphere to a. cold heavy southerly ga-le. ar.oompa.nied by rain. Although it has cleared somewliat, the wind still holds, and the capping of enmv on the mountain top's gives the air a wintry feeling.

Coming; Aimisert.ents. — Far Wednesday next (Empire Day) sevtTal fixtures have been mads. A riffe- match in Queenstown between, a team; from the> local VcluHte^ra sod a- team from the old M. Battery has been arrangsd. This is tha first match held by the local corps Against any local team, and will tend to promote the friendly feeling already existing between Volunteer and civilian.. A football team ixont Lumedien will visit Queenstown, and try conclusions with a. team from tb& local Rovers. The local team looks » strong one, and should give a good, account of itself. On Wednesday night a social evening will be held in Arrowtown, taking* th* Form- of a progressive euchre 1 ournaiceiLt, with dancinsj later in the evening. This is in connection witfii St. Patrick's Church, and a good attendance may be looked for.

Weddings. — Two -wedaingg were celebrated; during the week. The first took place on Wednesday last, whan Mr Thomas Johnston, eldest so-q otf Mrs Johnston, of Victoria Bridge, and. Miss Thompson, eldest daughter of Mr Edward Thompson, were united in the bond's of holy matrimony by the Rev. E. T. M&thercs. T&» wedding took place at M'aeetavrn, where the bride and her pa-rents, reside. Mr C Johnatosn, brother of the. bridegroom, and Misses W. and A. Thompson, sisters of - th* bride, filled the respectiv* pexts of best man and bridesmaids. A liberal wedding breakfast wasprovided fcr the- occasion, when some 7& guests were pre&ent. In the evening a .most successful and. enjoyable dance was- held. — On t-be» same clay, at the residence of Mrs Downey, at Molaghaora, Mv W. Downey, of Arthur's Point, was married! to> Miss Violet Davis, youngest daughter of %tc W. L. Davis, of SkippersRev. J. Wilson performed, the ©eremony. The two young couples will carry the best wishes of many friends for theix futaie' prosperity. S>kip-pers Library. — It will be remembered? that quite recently the new library at Skippers was opened, and the. opening was marked by a most successful ball. The residents, with characteristic thoioughness, are now providing a piano foe the hall, and to this cad a. bait •will be held there next Friday. Everything! is being done that will make the affair a success, and? if the eleraents are kind there will no doubt be a large attendance. Local Entertainments. — A most successful social and 1 danoa was held at Milter's Flafe* Schoolhouse last evening. The promoters were fortunate in having a finer night — clear, and; not too cold, — so that the attendance was large. On Wednesday evening last a social was held) at the Presbyterian Church, Arrowtown, far the purpose of providing funds to cover repairs* to the chuwh. These have been somewhat extensive, but are done with such completeness that the church now presents an almost new appearance. A very pleasant evening- -was spent in musical items and short aoid inteiest* ing addresses from several of the members. Rainbow Fry. — The rainbow fey that v»eT« liberated in the Park Pond in Qucens'tawn. at the commencement of the season have thriven, so well -that f ,hev now measure somesin or' more. George Reid has been busy during ths -week removing t^ie trout from th» pond for distribution in suitable streams* tarough the district. Several members of the society have given willing assistance in thtf work of liberating the fish, with the result thafr consignments have gone to the Head, of the! Lake, Upper Shotover, and other placea where they pare calculated to thrive. In a few years they -should afford excellent fishing. Bank Change. — Mr P. L. Poster, junior in the Bank of New Zealand, Queenstcffim, has been transferred to the Invercaxsill bxaiiefc.

>here he will take up hi 3 duties at once. His place will be taken, by S. A. George, of the Bluff branch. During his residence here Mr Potter has shown considerable interest in the volunteering movement, and was fast developing into an excellent marksman. The Q.R.V. •will miss his services as secretary to the corps. Mining. —lt is pleasing to note that some of the Criffel Face properties are being put in the market for flotation. These propertiesknown as th* Criffel Lead —are situate in a locality which has in days gone by yielded an abundance of the precious metal. Old miners at Oardrona -will tell of returns there which in these days seem fabulous, but it is certain that the Robertson Bros, took thousands of pounds ■worth of gold in a few days from a. small tunnel scarcely more than a few yards long. Such yields were, of course, exceptional, but there ia no doubc tha* the locality is a rich one, and that thorough, and! systematic prospecting has not been completed. There seems no reason why the new company should not meet with success. Odds and Ends. —Doling the w-eek another farm -changed hands at Malaghans, wheat Mir P. O'Neill sold Ms farm there to Mr John Cockbcrn. I believe the figure was £& 10s per acre, showing a good increase in the value of land in thai locality. —At Queenstown this twsek the district surveyor has been busy surveying the foreshore, presan-ably for the resumption by the Government of this strip. — In the park, the caretaker has the afisislance of ati extra xnmn to finish off tho autumn cleaning up—the -cloning -of paths, collection fli«Htann leaves /and so forth. Here, where the -seasons aie-so we3l marked, a vast amount of- work -is .always necessary if any benefit is to' be expected from ilie irosts of winter. —33y ike way, au word of praise is due to the Queenstown dielsgate, .Mr Botop, for ±he con-cise-and 1 commonseaase way in 'which .he.-placed "befoaxj^e Otago* league-'the advisability of ' promoting the attractions of the cold Jakes aa •cenic and health resort-s. - - j ■