Lake County

Southland Times, Issue 19036, 2 May 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

Lake County

(from Our Own Correspondent.)

The weather has never given so much, and perhaps such just, cause for unfavourable comments from farmers, as is the case at present. The fact remums that rain and cold predominated, and tho crops that had been cut had to be ■ gathered in bits and scraps us tlio sunshine permitted.. In spito of all this, tho yield being good, there is no particulai ground for grumbling, so far as tho harvest has gone, but as there is still a very large quantity of grain out, tho trouble is not over yet. Considering that we are at the end Of April things begin to look serious. Fortunately our climate is a wonderfully electric one. and 1 recollect being one of a skating putty on a pond at a farm at Miller's Flat, in June, while the farmer on the neighbouring lot was cutting his second crop that year of self-sown oats, and a very fair crop it was. So there is still a hope for the belated ones.

We got right end up through tho Ii censing elections turmoil, and ueithei publicans, and sinners, ,nor moderates, nO prohibitionists are any the worse for ii all. Things, so far as Wakatipu ii

concerned, remain very much as they were, and the £173 spent by the County Council over the matter was as good as thrown away. The money would have been far better spent in widening the tracks in the mountainous parts ol the district to safeguard the lives of bibulous individuals wending their toilsome way homewards after dark. Tho committee elected are all moderates— il this word is to be taken — and v ill form a very good working body. When they agree upon the stage their unanimity is wonderful.

Repeated attempts have been laj-.fie t< acclimatise deer in the forest at an<

near the head of the Lake, and the local Acclimatisation Society have spent a nice lot of money one time and another over it, but in every case the attempt came to naught. Either the animals destroyed one another in their amorous* battles, fell over cliffs, or disappeared in some other way. Nothing daunted, however, the Society has engaged in another importation of 12 fallow deer, at a cost of £22 each from Tapanui It is to be hoped that better luck will attend the new effort to stock ihe magnificent forests abutting our lake. In tho meantime the Tourist Department has procured eight fallow deer from Mr Chimside, of Werribee Park, Vie , which arrived last week, when they created quite a sensation. The deer have been liberated in the Ronteburn Valley, near Kinloch, a locality admirably suited to their habits, and well chosen for th« spreading of their progeny far and wide

With the approach of winter owners of live stock are apparently anxious to unburden their runs. Advertisements of sales by auction or by private treaty ai'o quite numerous in the locul papers. 1-ut actual transactions were at figures that almost put an end to sales. Retail price* at the butchers' are actually affected by the surplus, which is rather surprising, as the only changes that havo taken place of late were invariably on the rise. The quautity and quality of the stock now offering for sale is also a proof that our winter, even if esp»cially bad, 'is not nearly so severe on stock as some people try to make it appear to be.

Miss Florence Healey, who is a native of Arrowtown and, as teacher for 4J years at Crown Terrace won Uie goodwill and kindest wishes for her welfaro Of her pupils, their parents and the community, has been transferred to Mimihau school. The young lady was tendered a social, and was presented with a purse of

sovereigns

A few weeks ago there died at Glenorchy a lady whose advent to the district dated back to days before the gold rush. Mrs Boult, the wife of Mr P. B. Boult, the. lady referred to, was the sis-ter-in-law of the lato Mr G. J. Rees, the father of the district, und came to what is now Queenstown with her sister in 18G0. The deceased possessed musical talent of a high order, which made hers an ever-welcomo appearance at local en-

terfcainments

The Easter holidays were favoured with delightfully fine weather, and the different functions arranged for their observance were pleasing successes. The churches, especially the held impressive services, the Queenstovn and Arrowtown churches being beautifully decorated for harvest thanksgiving-. The Government steamers ran excursions to the head of the lake which were well patronised.

The County Council held, a meeting the other week, at Which separate applications for the offices of engineer ami j clerk were considered. After something like five hours' deliberation. Mr John Black, who wns the- Council's engineer for the past ten years, was reappointed, and Mr H. O. Harte, of your town, was selected as clerk. The striking of tha ate for the year also took up the time of the Council, and ultimately a five farthings m Hie £ rate wae: agreed upon. Tho cost of the licensing election (.£175) gave councillors a shock, and one case nt least of needless extravagance wbi cited. However, considering that there were 50 polling-booths in the electorate, the cost could not possibly have been

much Jess.

At Arrowtown last Monday Alexander Clegg, recently established as watchmaker fin that town, was found dead in his shop. It was alleged that to satisfy iiis craving for stimulants he was in tho habit of concocting mixtures for himseli which caused his death. At an inquest

the jury returned a verdict of suicide while temporarily insane.

Very extensive improvements have been made and are still in progress at Queenstown to make the placo more attractive to tourists. By the time the next season comes round a complete transformation will have been wrought. *

April 23rd