STEWART ISLAND.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 40, 8 January 1898, Page 9

STEWART ISLAND.

Christmas has come and gone, and we have again started on another new year, and yet there seems to be very little change in the weather. For the past three months there has been nothing but wind and rain, till it seems as though we are not to have any summer at all. Old hands at the fishing say they have not had such a bad time for over twenty years. The clerk of the weather was very good to us on Boxing Day, when we held our annual regatta. It was a passable day. The first-class yacht race, for which nine started, was won by The Thistle, with eight minutes start from the scratch boat ; Lena, second, with three minutes start; and Twilight third (scratch boat.) Altogether it was a fine race. The ladies’ pair oared race was won by the Misses Smith. Two entries. The men’s single sculls, after an exciting race, was won by S. Smith ; the whaleboat race by Smith (2), Gnomes, and Bragg; the swimming race by J. WlHiams ; the tub race by H. Hansen and the duck hunt by H. Roderique. The committee is deserving of credit for their untiring efforts in trying to make the regatta a success.

The sawmills are all closed down just now, but are expected to start again about the 7th.

The Government steamer left here yesterday for the sounds. I notice a few tents croppi g up here and there at the edge ot the bush, which is a sign that the tourist does not think the weather so bad after all.

Mr Hendry, Inspector, has lately given our school a call, and I hear the percentage of passes is very good. This is greatly to our worthy schoolmaster (Mr Peterson’s) credit, as he has a good deal to contend with, for some parents do not seem to think it is for the children’s good to keep them at school regularly.