Queenstown.

Taking steamer by the Whakatipu S.S. Co's Mountaineer, which paddles her way over the dark waters of the lake, we look on either side and judge the hills, as they appear to be about a stone's throw away. We declare if we had a stone we could throw it ashore, but are undeceived by observing how slowly we pass the points of land, which are really about four miles away from us, the so-called hills being only 6,000 or 7,000 feet high. As we approach Queenstown, the rays of the setting sun light up the rugged peaks of the Remarkables, which rise at Double Cone to an altitude of 7,688 feet above the sea and 6,620 above the level of the lake, patches of snow lying even in summer in nooks on their sides. We pass also pretty wooded bays and grassy slopes; heaving the lead, we find there is 1,400 feet of water, the bottom being thus over 300 feet below the mean level of the sea. Sundry daily excursions may be made from this quiet little town, such as to the waterworks at One Mile Creek, Frankton Falls, Shotover Gorge, Arrowtown, Skippers, or the