LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 34

LAKE COUNTY.

June 10. — Ideal winter weather has pravailed during the last week, the frost being exceptionally hard foi so early in the winter. Tho days are clear and bright — exceedingly pleasant ; it 19 only in the early morning that the cold seems excessive. After the snow ait the beginning of the week the frost com11 enced tf such good purpose that on Wednesday the ice was bearing. In Queen&towu the water in the Park Reserve, the latter having been cleaned! out by the caret aJsei in the autumn, presented a fine surface on Wednesday. But) it was the same old story, which goes on year after year: the ice, though bearing, was not strong enough for continued skating without cracks being opened xip and the water let through, thus spoiling what was at first a fine glossy surface. That another night's frost voutci oc mva.uab.e must have been apparent lo the meanest observer. But 110, the principle is : "Well, if I don't go on someone else will," and so on Thursday evening the ice was covered with cracks and water, and is now as rough as sugar. There is a.n indication of a change now, and! if a thaw set in it is to ba hoped that when it next turns to frost the ice will be allowed to set beyond a possibility of being destroyed by premature skating. That is the wily way to get the good out of the winter here. Besides that the townspeople should pause and reflect that they have parted with the control of the park to the Government, and it would surely be better to voluntarily observe reasonable use -of the ice rather than be compelled by an outside body to do so.

Hospitals. — Nurse Clare, of the Invercargill Hospital, has besn appointed to the position of qualified 1 nurse to the Franktcxn Hospital. Severa. applications were received by tha trustees. The surgeon, Dr Douglas, has bean granted leave of absence, and leaves on Monday on a visit to the north during the winter. Dr Gow, who is acting as his locum tenens, has quite lately come out from completing his studies at Home, aoxd dtiring the last few months has been relieving wt Te Arolia, Sanatorium. The trustees of the Arrow District Hospital are advertising for a secretary and! handy man, and are also still without a successor to- Dr Thomson, but not through any fault of their own, for they have met three times this last week to consider applications, but what with, telegrams from applicants withdrawing their applications, aJid then further* Megrams reapplymg. etc., etc, the board has been unable to get the appointment made. The only course under txie circumstances is to call for fresh applications; and this has been done at a, salary of £300, instead of £250, as first stated.

Horst Sale.— Cotter Brothers, of Arrowtown, held a sale of horses at the Arrow Pound Yards to-day, but bidding was mot as spirited as is usually the case with sales there. Perhaps the immediate demand for horses locplly had been met by the sale of O'Neill's horbes last Saturday.

Courts. — Mr Burgess, warden, left Queanstown 011 Friday to attend a conference of wardens in Wellington., and will be absent there during tbs greater part of the month. No doubt the wardens from ths South Island are invaluable at such a conference on the metier of dredging and sluicing, just as the North Island wardens will be on tiie subject of timber rights and quartz reefs.

Obituary. — Mrs Kennett, the wife of Mr Thomas Kennett. of Glenorchy, aiter a brief period of suffering, died in the Fraoikton Hospital on Monday last. The deceased hacl oeen removed from Glenorchy to the Hospital but a ahorfc time, but pleurisy had made such PTogiess that her recovery was doubtful. The greatest sympathy is felt for the family. the> members of which, is well known a,r.d highly respected residents of Glenorchy. An old-age pensioner, P. Wheeler, for many years a miner in the Skipper's district, passed away at the Hospital last week

The usual licensing meeting passed off very quietly in Quoenstown. Only die applicant — Higgins — v/as objected to by the police, and this man withdrew, allowing the license to ba granted to Mr H. Mountney. The house was the Junction Commercial Hotel, Cromwell, a house formerly conducted by Mr Mouaitney, sen., in a very satisfactory manner. Mrs Johnston, at Skippers, was granted an accommodation license in lieu of the present publican's license. The license for the Suprema Court Hotel was renewed on the licensee undertaking that one or two rooms would) be papered as required by the police report. The license for the Gibbston Hotel was renewed for a short period to enable repairs to ba made. All licenses were continued to 11 o'clock, as formerly. Miss Bell's Long Gully Accommodation House was spoken of in terms of the highest praise by Mr Perrille and the Chairman, and- their remarks were fully -eaidcrsed by the other members. The fas for this housiei was reduced from. £10 to £7.

Gymnasium. — The club in Queenstown ha 3 held its opening meeting, elected its officers, and fixed its fee. Good support should ba accorded it, especially as members have in Mr Wenkheim, the president, an example of enthusiasm in this healthy recreation.