QUEENSTOWN.

Southland Times, Issue 1544, 1 March 1872, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN.

(feom oub own cobbespondent.) February 23, 1872. The engrossing subject of public atten tion here at the present time is the Wakatip election, notwithstanding the fact that some twenty days have yet to elapse before the eventful one arrives on which the issue is to be decided. The contest between the three gentlemen (Messrs Macassey, Hallenstein, and Miller) who have announced themselves as candidates for the coveted honor, baa been decidedly lively for some time past. Mr Macassey has been amongst us lately prosecuting his canvass, and it was stated that he had held a conversation with one of his opponents to the effect that he could not make him a present of £50 to retire in his favor, but that he might possibly present a bonus to the hospital if he did so. This statement caused considerable talk, and upon a version of the story appearing in the Wakatip Mail, Mr Macassey publicly accused Mr Hallenstein with having assisted the editor of that paper in concocting a libel upon him, and laid a criminal information against the proprietor for publishing it. The case, as you are no doubt aware, was dismissed by the Eeaident Magistrate. All this has afforded the good people of Queenstown " food for mirth." The real contest, will, I believe, lie between Macassey and Hallenstein, with, as they would say in sporting circles, Hallenstein for choice. Some three weeks ago the steamer Jane Williams was launched into her natural element,. and the event was made

the occasion of a gala-day. Our new band turned out and enlivened the proceedings with its inspiriting strains. The little craft took to the water like a duck, and after " gambolling" about for a short time, showing that she was under good dis cipline, she was brought alongside the jetty to pet her masts, rigging, &c, fixed. This was accomplished by the following Saturday, when her liberal owners announced a free trip to the head of the lake. Of course such an opportunity was freely taken advantage of, the result being that before the time fixed for starting a large crowd of people had filled up every available space. Amid the hurrahs of thoso on board and ashore, and the exhilarating music of the band, the steamer sped on her way. No mishaps occurred during the day, excepting the grazing of one of the steamer's paddles j on a rock, which caused a slight delay, the excursion party returning at mid- , night. The vessel has since been undergoing Borne necessary alterations and repairs, and in the course of a few days will be "on the berth" as a regular trader. The pianos in Queenstown haying become sadly out of order, a gentleman here sent for Mr West, of Dunedin, who appears to be bent upon putting us in tune. He kindly attended at the church practising, and introduced a rather more modern method of chanting. It was evident that the Queenstown choir thought chantins: and singing wore much alike ; but Mr West has already quickened their paces, bo much so, indeed, that many are disgusted, and it ia feared that the church will become divided into two parties. I should think our postal misarrangements have at length reached a climax. The contractor brought up the last mail to Kingston right enough, buc through the fault of the postmaster there it was carried back again to Invercargill by the return coach !