LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 39

LAKE COUNTY.

January 16. — A welcome change came on Tuesday. After many weeks of extremely dry weather — such as to cause considerable alarm among farmers and stock-raisers— rain came, and showers have fallen daily since. Turnip crops, grass, and cereals generally have benefited considerably by ida» change in the climatic conditions. However, it is generally considered, the crops will be pcor compared with previous harvests. Mining. — Work is proceding apace at the United Goldfields of New Zealand Company's reef at- Macetown. Several of the mines have been thoroughly tested and proved to contain highly payable 'stone. Mr Mainland, who" will supervise the erection of the aerial tramways to the Homeward Bound, G-aribaldi, and AH [Nations claims, proceeded to Macetown on .Tuesday last. The material has been constructed at Sparrow and Sons' Foundry, Dnnedin, and is on its way to Macetown. The work of erection will be cpmmenced immediately— Messrs- Anderson Bros, and Hannah have been busily engaged for the last month or two getting out quartz from their quartz reef in Scanlon's Gully, Macetown, and have put a considerable quantity of payable ore through their battery, which ia situated at the mouth of the gully. They have considerably improved the method of getting the quartz to the battery, the innovation being the erection of a wire rope for hauling purposes. Good headway is being made at the scheelite mines at the Head of the Lake, and tLe same remark applies to the various alluvial claims at Skippers and Cardrona. — The Wakatipu Prospecting Association has prospected the various localities from Deep Creek (Skippers) to Mount Hyde (Macetown). Several small quartz leaders carrying gcod gold have been discovered in the vicinity of Advance Peak (Macetown), and further work will be done on them. Lines of reef in Butcher's Gully (Skippeis) and Woody Gully (Upper Shotover) will ah-o he fully tested by the prospecting i*a tv. Taken altogether there is a very bright future ahead in mining for the Wakatipu district. Personal. — His many friends throughout the Wakatipu electorate are gratified to know that Mr William Fraser, M.P., has so far recovered fi-om his recent illness as to be able to take outdoor exercise. — Prior to hie departure from Ciyde Mr R. Taggart, who has been appointed rabbit agent in the Wakatipu district, was presented with a purse of sovereigns from his Clyde friends. The numerous speakers at the valedictory social testified to Mr Tagpart's sterling work. — The remains of the late Mr William Jenkins, who unforrunately died from the injuries throueh a chaff cutter accident (reported in the ?". itBess), were interred in the Arrowtown Cemetery on Tuesday last. Many friend-, attended to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory. — The demise of MiHenry Youngman at Dunedin caused feelings of regret in this district, where his son, Mr H. G. Ycungman, is postmaster at Arrowtown. From what can be gathered the deceased gentleman was not only one of the Dominion's earliest res-dents, but he was one of Australia's pioneers. His death has caused another break in the fast diminishing band of early settlors whose efforts did much to make the colonies thriving and prosperous portions of the Empire. The Tourist Traffic— Tourists are flocking to the district in large numbers, and "hotel -and boardinp-house accommodation ie fairly well taxed. Daily visitors are arriving, and tho season promises to be an exceptionally gcod one. A number are also wondincr their way to Lake Wanaka by coach. The first of the week-end excursions to Queenstown commenced last Saturday, and some 140 availed themselves of the cheap fares. The Public Health. — Inspector Gladstone, of the Health Department, has been making a housP-to-houae inspection in Queenstown, inquiring into the <=anitary arrangements. Very general improvements are to bo ma<le to the postmaster's quarters at Que^mrown, which are fairly old. Sale of Work.— A \<ry .successful sale of work was held in Quoon->town on Tue-day and W"dnesdav last in connection with Sf. Peter's Ansrlican Church. The ladies of the congregation are to be congratulated on the success of the sale. The funds will "be considerably augmented thereby. A Good Sign. — In consrauence of the renewed mining activity at Macetown and genral prosperity of the district, dwallinjrs are in demand at Arrowtown. There is not a vacant house in tho place at present. Queens Town Park. — The Tourist Department has made the Queensrown Park a pretty and ideal spot. At this particular season of the year it looks at its b^st ; everything is nent and irim. an<3 th° flower plot= odd to tho pic+uro-scjuenpis with their various tints. The bowiintf preen is libeiallv patronised by vi«itois. who say it i« playing excellently. Ihoro is some ta.'k of the master printers of Dunedin testing the strength of the count ry print >r« at bowls on the green early noxt month. Lake County Council. — The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday la-t. _ Tho business, pren^rxily. was of an D-dinary nature. Con«idorab'o di^cus>»ion took pla-o ■over the question of draining a swamp in Pembroke township Mr Norman (inspector of public work--), Mr Furkeal (district enc-inofr). and Mr G'adstrne (11-oa'th Department) conferred with the council over the matter. anH finally a re*o 1 u f i m vr-s r>pssed to call for tender* for the drainage of the swamp, pro\ idling tho Government ronh-ihu'ed £37 10s —Tho Tialf-vcarlv bManre sheet was pa «^d and finally ".-tH^d - M-\«rs Wiicr'it St'ii'nnfop., on'l Co *v tender fcr d i 'olln-- a + £1 16% prr ICO "as aocpt-vl Mr Di--<1 MacHe wa s tho -ucco==f'il tV"i"r for tl " fellow ma: co'-'tr3cts • - Tiii'-toon rh»n< pra^3ilirl2■ it Ilozjn'* OuHv nt £? > ->v chain. 8i chain- sra'.^rir.r- nt Waii'i. .i' £2 2- -j>] i, 'i <■' -'n nvd 2" i (in-n- ir<.i ' lin? .it Ri k! - fl.ilv- Ha\r = i at £2 IS per chain. — The o_urcil il\<-d XVcclrc.-Jai-as ths day for the statutory half-hcliday

f within the county for the ensuing 12 ! months. — Tenders for the Lower Shctover ! bridge were extended to March 1. > Ministerial Visit.— The Hon. T. Maci kenzie. accompanied by Mr T. E. Dcnn-e (of the Tourht Department), visited Queenstown and Arro\vto-\\n on Friday and I Saturday. At the form or place deputations from the Lake County Council and Queenstown Borough waited on the Minister in regard to district and town improvements. The Minister promised x) look into the various matters brought und-er his notice. At Arrowtown the Mayor and several citizens a]?o brought s-evpral rnatteis under his notice, which the Minister said he would look carefully into. The party proceeded to Pembroke on Saturday afternoon, and will spend Sunday at Lake Wanaka. The Hon. Mi Fowlds and Mrs Fowlds are expected to arrive in Queenstown on Monday night on a short holiday. Cricket. — The Glenarchy cricketers inflicted defeat on the Queenstown knights of ths willow by an innings and 89 runs. •Glenorchy 146. Queenstown 30 and 27. Local enthusiasts of the game were gratified with the successful tour of the Otago team up north, and particularly with the splendid batting achievements of Skipper Wilson, who frequently, when a resid-ent of Invercargili, brought teams to the Lakes. v olunteering-. — The Wakatipu Mounted Rifles go into camp for their annual training on the 23rd inst. It is to be hoped there will be a good muster, and tfcjt employers will do their utmost to let the men attend. Unfortunately, of late years Volunteering in country districts has been very dead, employers and parents apparently failing to realise that it is their duty to foster military training. General. — Mr J. Aitken, of Bannockburn, has taken over the Gibbston Hotel from Mr A. Scott.— Mr G. O'Fee, of Crown Terrace, lost a valuable horse last week through inflammation. — The Arrowtown hotelkeepers have been instructed by the Licensing Bench to carry out repairs to their premises and make more modern conveniences. — Ernest Toy, Australia's celebrated violinist, aesisted by some Dunedin talent, played to Queenstown and Arrowtown audiences this week. The efforts of this talented artist and his company were greatly appreciated.