UNKNOWN

Dunstan Times, Issue 422, 20 May 1870, Page 2

UNKNOWN

(! itOM Oi XOWN CO ... ’OSD' S’ r,

Queenstown, May 17.

It has finally been decided that the Shotover Bridge shall be finally opened for traffic on the Queen’s birthday, tho 21th iir t. As there will be a grand public dinner in the evening, at Queenstown, to be followed by a ball, visitors from a distance will have no cause to complain of not being liberally entertained. On Wednesday, the day following, the steamer makes her usual weekly trip to Kingston and back, and so another very pleasant day may be spent. I hear that many intending visitors from down-country are afraid of the wea' her. ’■-hat is a complete delusion. Tho weath-r is quite as fine here aa at the Bun-itail, while the mountain scenery shows considerably more to advantage by the hills being Capped with snow. Another thing, smooth water on the lake may be almost relied upon, there being little or no wind at this Season of the year.

I am very happy to say that the Temperance movementhas at lust foundan advocate in Queenstown. Mr Frederick Evans, the enterprising manager of the Phoenix Company, at Skipper's, has taken the bull by the horns, and on Saturday night he boldly denounced intemperance before a large audience at the Wesleyan Chapel. Mr. Evans was ably supported by the Revs. Messrs. Coffey and Boss.

The consequence of drinking has been brought forward very prominently lately in the Resident Magistiate’s Court only a week since. The police made a seizure at a shanty, at Arthur’s Point, of some of tho vilest compounds ever prepared to poison man. Brandy and "whisky appeared to consist of raw spirits from some illicit still —spirits of wine and kerosene. So vile were the compounds that the Bench ordered samples to he retained for analysis. The delinquent, who very properly was lined £SO, state ! that she purchased the liquors from a highly respectable house in Queenstown. But that is a pa : pahle untruth. No tradesman ever sold such stuff. No wonder that men go mad from drink, and either commit suicide, or tumble into rivers and get drowned, or live like beasts rather than men. Two notable instances of this have occurred lately. The body of .■ a man, named Wiliiam Thompson, was found in the Shotover, a little below Arthur’s Point, stark naked, having a comforter tied round the middle. The deceased had evidently been engagdd fighting, and from the effects of blows and drink, tumbled into the river, from whence his poor body, covered with sand, was dragged ashore, for the purpose of a coroner’s inquest, Blair’s Shotover Perry Hotel was the scene of a disgraceful row among the roadmen, who, under the influence of drink, did their best to batter each other and Mr. Blair into tho bargain. Here fourteen men were living likobeastsinastable, withhoress fortheircompauions, insteadof pitching thei tents and living comfortably, as is the case (generally) with road parties. Thoro is no questioning the fact that the goldfields are cursed by drink and its dispensers in the shape of publicans and grog-sellers. The only only remedy for and security against the evil is a re-modeling of the Licencing Ordinance, and this is a matter well deserving the attention of the Legislatureof the colony.

The Wakatip Brewery has proved a thorough success. Messrs. Sumner and Davies have produced a first-rate article, which cannot fail to establish itself in public favor, and dcive the inported article out of the market.