THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 650, 2 October 1874, Page 3

THE LAKES.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Arrowtown, Sept. 30tb. The weather these last two days has boon exceedingly rough and boisterous, aud it would appear that winter had.; really only just set in upon us. Evidently we shall have a very backward spring ; everything looks at least one laouth-Jater than at this time of last year. Incendiarism has again uplifted its destroying hand amongst us, although we thought, thanks to vigorous measures, that it was scotched for ever. On Friday last, shortly after one o’clock, two stacks of wheat, supposed to contain some (500 bushels was observed to he on fire, at the farm of Mr W. T. Marshall, at Lake Hayes. On Monday the Coroner held an inquest, but nothing as to the origin of the fire could be elicited, but that it was’the wo kof an incendiary there could be no doubt. A verdict that the stacks were maliciously fired was returned.

On Saturday evening last the Library Hall was crowded upon the occasion of a Soiree and Concert, in aid of the funds of the Church of England. About 250 persons were present. The ladies, as usual, vied with each other in providing the good things for their guests, the tables being loaded with everything possible to form an agreeable and substantial tea, ’and which was done full justice to. A Concert followed, as a prelude to which w r as a prologue, written and delivered by Mr Cope, who was loudly applauded. Some of the local hits, such as “ The Good Templars,” “ The probable removal of the publicans to the Palmei,” “The two Corporation Seals, ” “The refusal of the Government to repair the Gaol,” “The Trout Ova,” and sundry local improvements were relished amazingly. In the Concert our local celebrities quite distinguished themselves—Mesdames Perrelle and Watson sang with their usual good tasteand excellence. Miss C. Evans, a rather young lady, was raptuously applauded in “Pm a merry laughing girl.” The Kcv. Jackson Smith gave a humorous reading. A dance wound up the evening’s amusement