QUEENSTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 688, 25 June 1875, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRFSPOXDF.NI'.) The approaching Municipal elections arc beginning to set people thinking a little, and who shall ho selected to fill the Mayoral chair is the subject o£ much comment. The present occupant of the oflico, I am given to understand, intends contesting for the scat again, and 1 should judge stands a most excellent chance of lieing ro-clootcd. One other candidate will, in all probability, bo Mr William Warren, the proprietor of the Wakatip Mail. Mr Warren has already suffered two defeats when contesting for the Mayoralty; and should ho once again come forward, there is but little doubt but that ho will bo as far removed as ever from the honor ho covets. Mr Warren has, upon several occasions filled the office of councillor, and with some considerable degree of credit, but, I think that there his ambition should end. A very great deal of obloquy has been lately cast upon the Queenstown Corporation, and newspaper writers delight to attribute the present unsatisfactory stale of the civic finances to mismanagement on the part of the present Mayor and Council. But this charge is very unjust. The difficulty, though not experienced, was looming iu the distance before they accepted office, and they had no alternative but to let things take their course, and tide over the evil when it came upon them, and they have ever since been stemming the adverse current. The solution of the matter is this : for several years previously Queenstown was in a highly prosperous condition, and so much had been said and written about the

place that many people concluded that tho

pleasant state of things which then prevailed would (last for ever. In this they wore deceived. The rash to the Palmer took away a large number of miners; the railway works operated with much the same effect; and the over-production of grain by the farmers brought things to a climax ; when followed reverses in due course, consequently the inability of the Council to meet its engagements. Public opinion, while the good times lasted, was everywhere in favor of improvements, and as people, perforce of public example gathered from tl(e success of public loans, deemed borrowing money the only true and high road to fame and fortune, wore clamorous that the Council should embark in more extensive undertakings than heretofore; consequently nothing would suit but on expensive scheme for supplying tho town with water. There was no help but to go into it, and had things continued swimmingly, all would have boon right; but the opposite was the case, consequently things got into a mess. However, they are not quite so had as they are made out to be, and the Council is slowly recovering from its difficulties, and if let alone all will be well yet. What has poor bunny done to Mr Henry Manders, M.P.C.T asks almost everybody. What has poor bunny done, and where is poor bunny f are tho questions that naturally follow. The whole affair is positively involved in mystery. There are but very few in the district, yet Mr Mauders is moving the spheres most strenuously for their extermination. The only solution that I can offer is, that some fhst cousin of Mrs Manders’ groat uncle has purchased a sheep run somewhere down in|Southland, which is overrun by rabbits; and who, instead of emulating the example of runholdors down at the Dunstan, in purchasing ferrets and exterminating the vermin, elects to do so at tho expense of tho country ; and our poor farmers and miners are asked to boar the cost. But they cannot see through the mysterious matter, or the Rabbit Committee’s recommendation that—“ They may he empowered to offer rewards, and to pay for each rabbit skin produced and caught within the district over which tho Committee has control, a price for each skin.” Some years ago Mr Henry Manders quite upset our equanimity by announcing in our local organ that he had discovered, swimming in Lake Wakatip, a rara avis, which, upon examination turned out to be an overgrown cockabulla; and now ho asks us to discover rabbit skins, without any rabbits within them. Tho vagaries of our member, as Bailie Nicel Jarvio would say are “ prodigious.” A rather amusing case occupied Judge Harvey’s Court for somo few hours during his last sitting here. It was a claim for L 72 ICs 3d, brought against Messrs Ord and Parsons, for repairs to a coach which was capsized somo time since near the Arrow. Tho claimant was Mr C. E. Price. The defendants paid L3l Is 9d into Court, in full satisfaction. Such a modest demand for repairing a small light coach was never hoard of before, and the hearing afforded very considerable amusement. The amount sued for was made up in tho most ingenious manner. Only 471bs of iron was used in the repairs of tho coach, yet 4cwt of coal was required to lick it into shape. Tho plaintiff had charged 30s a day for himself and boy, besides a loti; more money for overtime. Thenhe charged for sundry other boy’s and blacksmith's labor, and no end of ingeniously introduced items. No lawyer’s bill was ever made out with snob claborativeneas as that of Mr C. E. Price, Skilled evidence valued the work done at L 23. Mr Fin- , counsel for defendants, stigmatised the proceeding as a “swindle,” but this strong terra His Honor demurred to, and suggested “ unreasonable.” A verdict for tho amount paid into Court was returned, with L2O 11s 9d costs to defendants. After payment of all expenses in connection with the suit Mr C. E. Price became entitled to the large sum of 5s 6.1. Messrs Ord and Parsons at one time offered to pay LSO rather than go into Court. Your old friend Mr William Jackson Barry, is here, starring it away as an auctioneer, and judging from the number of his advertisements in the local journal, he should bo doing a flourishing business. Mr Barry, with all his faults, possesses very many redeeming virtues. Such an original character is not met with every day. May the old man live and prosper. Things in general are looking much better, and I should imagine that the worst is past. More confidence exists than has been the case for many months past. Trade is steadily improving, and a prosperous spring is fully anticipated. The news coming down from the reefs is first-rate, while tho alluvial has also partaken of a happy change of circumstances. There is more vitality in tho district than is generally supposed to exist, despite the eroakings of many. Hotel living, after tho manner of brother Jonathan, promises to become fashionable here. Our worthy Warden, having sot bis face against the tyranny of servant-gal-isir, has taken up his abode, at Eichardt’s, Queenstown undoubtedly possesses tho best hotel accommodation out of Dunedin, and is scarcely-surpassed even there. Mr Scott, tho agent for the Otago Bible Society, is up here doing his host in the matter of diffusing useful knowledge. His books find numerous purchasers. They are really well selected and very cheap, as woT as being adapted to all classes of readers.