LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 34

LAKE COUNTY.

August 4. — The frosty weather of the last 10 days or so has broken, and milder weather, with the sky appearance of a snowfall, is the present order of things. The reads, which have been so bad during the winter, axe improving a good dead. Horse-breaking; — Professor Lichwark, who had visited this district about 14 years ago with his father, is again here giving an exposition of bis system of handling and breaking horses. Last week he gave his lecture and series of classes in Queenstown, and during the present week has been in Arrow. A large number have attended tha lectures, and a fairly large number joined the classes. The exposition given by the professor is acknowledged by all to be a wonderful one. The horses he has dealt with were not ones that an ordinary hand would \mdertake to quieten in a short time. Yet the professor, in the short space of a couplo of hours, bad them handled saddled, mounted, and even taught the preliminaries of leading and coming to call. The gear he used in his demonstrations is invaluable foi the work in question. One can recammend anyone whose work lies with horses not to mi&s him.

Auction Sales. — There was no great demand for the Wakatipu Dredging Co.'s claim and dredge when put up by Mi C E. Gudgeon in Queenstown, the property being knocked down for JE33 to Mr T. M. Gillies, of the firm of Macgregor and Co , Dunedin. The dredge's unfortunate past would be against selling for any big amount. On Saturday ssek the same auctioneer sells at Queenstown the Moonlight No. 2 Sluicing Co.'s property, consisting of claim and water rights. A great deal of money has been spent on this property, which has passed through several hands. I believe the l*st to ■work it was- a party of tribniers.

Football. — An interesting football match was arranged and played in Queenstown on Wednesday last between a team from the Queenstown Rivers and a tearr oi 21 Queenstown citizens. The game was in aid of *he Frankton Hospital, and the public responded nobly, as shown by the fact that although the en-tTan-ce to '.be ground was only 6d, the institution will benefit to the extent of some £11. Contrary, I think, to general expectations, the game was most evenly contested from start to finish, the final score of 9 to 8 in favour of the Rovers being no true index of the. fray. Among the citizens it would "be right to mention W. L. and C "Davis, M. J. Gavin (his Worship), and Ward as most conspicuous. The Rovers appeared to be somewhat nonplussed by the numbers of their opponents. In the evening a most enjoyable social was held. Mr Hotop (one of the trustees of the institution) taking that opportunity of th&nking the players and the promoters of the garoa for the trouble tbey had taken to further the interests ol the hospital. The speaker voiced public appreciation no doubt, for it is something of a sacrifice for old players to indulge in a hot g?me a.gain*^ men in training, and it is well known how much work falls to the promoters and those who willingly assist in bringing these things to a successful issue. It is to be hoped that other entertainmtc-nta, combining amusement and recreation, can be arranged. A county footba.ll match, Vincent v. Lake County, is to be played, I believe, at an early date. The courrty team wall need some practice as soon aa the selection is made as Vincent will be a hard team to beat.

Bachelors' Ball.— The weather on Friday looked very unsettled during tho day, but at night ft was fine, though cold. An unusually large number attended the Franktcn and Lower Shotover Bachelors' Ball in Mr P. M'Bride's barn at Frankton. People came fiom every surrounding part, those from Qi.€«nstown, conveyed by two drags and innumerable othnr vehicles, numbering some 40. There must have been some 90 couples present, and one and all found the ball one of tho iuost enjoyable he-Id in the district. The suppar was an excellent one, and the music all that cou'-d be desired. ' Obituary. — A well-known figure tc Queenstowi people passed away in the person of Mr E. Aldridge, who succumbed in Chrifltohuroh to injuries received from a kick from a horse. Deceased for very many years carried o& a. blacksmith's business in Queenstown. and when it was taken up by his son, left for Christchurch to live with a- acn-in-law and carry on a little horse-doctering. The remains were brought to Queenstown and interred on Thursday. Much sympathy is felt for his relatives, several of whom reside in Queenstown. Horticultural.— Oa Tuesday l«t tli« annual

meeting of the Wakatipu Hort -Rural Society was he-d in Que« iEtown. I re was not a numerous attendance, but the thorough way in which the affairs of the society weie diecussed, and the suggi -tions made for thi=< year's show may be token as a determination to make the show a greater success and more popular xhan ever it has been before.