QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 18, 16 March 1870, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN.

(From our own Correspondent.)

March 7, 1870. Winter seems suddenly to have set in upon us. To-day the weather has been bleak and wintry, with piercing colrl winds, and people generally seem to have donned their winter garments which remark will also apply to the surrounding mountains, for they have got their tirst coat of snow. However, we cauuot complain, as we' have' enjoyed e::ceptionably good weather for the past year ; and now that the crops are gathered in people cannot but be thankful for past blessings! I see by an advertisement in the Md'd that Messrs Robertson and_G'o., owners of the steamer Antrim, intend giving an excursion trip up the Lake on St. Patrick's Day ; No doubt this will induce some of your residents to pay us a visit, as such opportunities seldom occur for a pleasant day's enjoyment.

The return mvtch between the! Queens'town and Arrow Cricket Clubs took place last Friday, on the ground of the latter Club, whert the Queeustowu team were again victorious, beatm* their opponents by" nine runs. The usual com"? piimentary " spread " was provided in find style by Host fecoles, of the Royal Oak Hotel, and hearty enconiums were passed onthegoorl things set down. It is to be hoped that this defeat of our' Arrow 1 friends will not damp their ardour, but that it wiU have the elFect of urging them to greater efforts for next season. I hear°that the Arrow Club is hardly satisfied that the Queenstown men are the best, and that it is purposed to have another match at Franktou shortly. Apart from the consideration of which may be best, it is certainly a good idea to have a third match, as it will send both Clubs to practise, in order fairly to test their respective merit's.

March 14, 1870. I arrf gUA to he able 1 to state that the Government are proceeding with the track to Moke Creek, via Arthur's Point. It is intended to form a dray road as far as the Point, and thence a bridle track to Moke Creek. There are now some twelve or fourteen men at work upon it, but complaints are rife that they are making no great progress It is thought the work would have been done more expeditiously—if not in a better manner—by lett'ng it by contract, for as a rule the " Government stroke" is pretty generally indulged in when opportunity oilers. Mr Spenee (as auctioneer for Government) sold to-day some allotments in the township. Competition was not very keen, and most of the land was sold at the upset price. While on this subject I would ask why the* local licensed auctioneers do not get the benefit of these sales. They have to pay a; license, and certainly the Government ought ta'bc the last to discourage them. The new Presbyterian Church has passed from the hands of the contractors, and will b« formally opened on the 3rd of next month, when the Rev. D. »l, Stuart; of Dunedin, will officiate. It is a very handsome building, and will no doubt be greatly appreciated hy tho Presbyterian body in this district/