QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 23, 20 April 1870, Page 5

QUEENSTOWN.

(Froth our owa Uomsjimdmt.) April 11, 1870. Tlia opening of St. _ Andrews ITesbyteriaSi Church, Queenstown, Which I intimated in my last letter was to 'take place oil 3rd ihst., wfA duly cousmhmated on that day. Some disappointifleht was felt wheh it became known that the Rev. 1), M. Stuart, of Dunedin, was prevented, through some unforeseen event, front being present on the occasion. I believe the Church Committee were so confident of Mr Stuart’s coining that they left themselves nd tilde to procure other ministerial t'id ; consequently, there being three services, bur local minister had a very heavy task to perform, and I am glad to bear testimony that his zeal in thi good cause carried him through successfully. There was a very large attendance from outlying districts, and the number of strange faces testified that the Scotch element is pretty strong id the Neighbourhood of Lake Wakatip. It is a credit to the entire district to state that, k'ffer the collection on the day of opening, the building was wholly free from debt. The church is really a very pretty one ; and the contractors— Messrs Forsyth and M'Donald—deserve great praise for the manner in which it is erected. Ihe Odd-Fellows in Queenstown contemplate shortly proceeding with the erection of a hall iu which to hold their meelingt. Considering that another friendly society (the Foresters’) has been in existence here for a number of years, the new society gains ground rapidly; and, judging by its great success wherever branches have been opened, there is no reason to doubt that the Odd-l'ellows will soon become a powerful body in this district. April 18. The nomination for office of Councillor, ti represent Lake Ward in the Municipal Couucil, took place on Saturday, in the Town-hall. The Mayor (B. Hallenstein, Esq.) presided. Three candidates were nominated, viz., Messrs John Campbell, Wra. M‘Guinness, and H. Manders. The poll takes place to-morrow, and the result is expected to lie between Messrs Campbell and M‘Guinness. The candidates address the ratepayers this evening. At a meeting held hero on Saturday evening, it was decided to expend a sum of money in prospecting the country between the head of Lake Wakatip and the Dart River. The region is supposed to be auriferous to some extent, but it has never been systematically prospected. A practical and experienced miner—Mr,\Vm. p OXj one of the pioneer prospectors of this district—has been selected to perform the work ; and, from his well-known energy, and knowledge of the “lay” 6f the country, there is little doubt of his bringing gold to light if it exists in the region he is about tb visit. For an illustration of the “mouse and mountain” fable, I would refer your readers to a sensational announcement, by telegraph, by “ our own correspondent,” which appeared in the last issue of your Dnnstan contemporary. Under a startling heading in large capital letters, lie procecds to state that “great excitement” prevails in Queenstown and the district generally anent Martin’s Bay, and dilates upon the fact of a party of miners obtaining a payable prospect, as though some El Dorado or modem Paelolus had been discovered. lam not aware of any “great excitement” further than that caused by the arrival of some 30 or 40 men, who Were about to proceed by steamer to the head of the Lake I'd work on the track to the Bay. With every desire to see a fresh goldfield opened on the West Coast, and a thorough appreciation of the benefits which would accrue to this district by such a discovery, I yet must deprecate attempts at the sensational and startling, when there exist no good grounds for them. Besides other bad effects they may have, they are apt to lead me i astray by inducing them to suppose the picturj brighter than it really is. It will be quite time enough to do the “sensational'' when there is something tangible to write about. It is to be hoped that “our own” of the Dnnstan Timet will not again allow himself to be carried away by his imagination. I may also state that his Town Hall scheme, for which he states “a company has been formed and provisional directors appointed,” has not, so far as I know, been more than merely spoken of, and, instead of a “ company” having been formed, the scheme is not yet before the public. Two accidents to equestrians have lately occurred here, in one of Which the injuries received were of a very Serious nature, Mr David M‘Kinlay having Ohe of his legs broken, and his shoulder put out. Mr Win. Donne, bailiff to tho R.M.’s Court, was also thrown from his horsj on Friday last, and received a severe cut on the temple. Both sufferers are in the Hospital. To-morrow evening a meeting is to be held to take steps for celebrating the opening of tho Shotover bridge, which event is likely to take place early in May. Following da some pretty “hot” sentences by the niagistrates for drunkenness, and some severe remarks from them regarding the quality of liquors sold by some Bonifaces in this town, there seems to be a growing feeling that somo restraint ought to bo put on the sale of vile compounds under the names of whisky, rum, and brandy. Without entering into tho nicrits or otherwise (if such liquors, I am certain there are-some of our hotel-keepers who would gladly consent to an inspection of their spirits—feeling; as they naturally do, that the fact of one or two publicans selling bad grog lays them all open to su picion, and consequent probable decrease in busine'S. The agitation—if it may bo so cailed —lias boon principally brought about through' two o' three cases recently brought before the Bench, in which the accused were “ mad drunk," and therefore quite oblivious of the savage propensities which such a condition evoked;