QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 10, 12 January 1870, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN.

(From our own Correspondent.) January 10th 1870. After having spent a very agreeable time during the Christmas and New Year holidays, we are now looking forward with pleasure to the annual meeting of thefLake District Jockey Club—pleasure beguise (notwithstanding the gloomy forebolings of a " Cromwellite," which appeared in the last issue of the Wahatip Mail) this is expected to be the best race meeting we have had for some years. As a proof that some of our residents are pretty sanguine I may state that the right of booth and Grand Stand went for the sum of .£59 to Mr A. Eicliardt, Queen's Arms Hotel, who certainly deserves good support for his enterprise. The stakes are somewhat higher this year, and ought to draw good fields. The only thing to be wished for is good weather. As I feared, the dramatic performance of the Queenstown Amateurs did not meet with any great support, owing no doubt to the unpropitious night decided upcn (Christmas Rve). They give another entertainment on the first night of the Races in aid of the funds of the Jockey Club, when there is no doubt they will have a bumper house. The Wakatip Regatta was a very successful affair, considering that times are not remarkably'' good and money rather scarce. There is some talk of organising a Rowing Club, and making the Regatta an annual sport in the district. Some credit is due to the gentlemen who took so much interest in getting up the Regatta, foremost among whom was Mr James Tyree, photographer, of this town. The tea meeting in aid of the Queenstown Presbyterian Church was a highly successful affair, and the fair sex vied with each other in the art of pleasing, and forcing one to eat and drink much more than was good for the digestive organs. After the tables were cleared some capital addresses were delivered, the only thing to complain of being that some of them were rather long-winded. I am glad to say that the proceeds amounted to over .£SO. While on church matters, I am sorry to say that a hitch has occurred between the Presbyterian Church Committee and the contractors for the new Church. It appears that in terms of contract, the building was to have been handed over on the Ist of February, but the contractors finding that they could not finish it in that time applied for an extension of time till the Ist • of March. This the Committee granted, conditionally upon the contractors for the ' church (Messrs Forsyth and McDonald) ! allowing other contractors into the build- • ing after Ist of March, for the purpose o1 - erecting, the pulpit. This the contractors , would not agreee to, and they appear to havi sought the first opportunity for cominj • to an open rupture. They hive knockec r off Avork, boarded up all the windows am 1 doors, and threatened legal proceedings -What the upshot will be time will show. The Shotover Bridge is rap'dly approach o ing completion, and will probably \be ope: • for traffic in the course of a couple c d months. < As a remarkable instance of the " schoo | master abroad," there were no loss tha

fifteen applications for that oHice in the Qtioensfcown District School. Tim number was reduced to four, and forwarded to Mr Hislop, Secretary to the Education Board, the school committee agreeing to abide by his decision. A brewery is shortly to be erected in Quoenstown, and the gentleman who has taken the affair in hand (a Mr Surinan, of Riverton) thinks highly of this district as a field for the new industry. Certainly, if the number of beer-drinkers be anything to go by, he ought to have no reason to lack custom, in Quoenstown alone he will have some seven or eight " publics" to supply, besides an extensive outlying district. Of course, a great deal will depend on the quality of the article brewed.