The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Thursday, Feb. 27, 186B.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 482, 27 February 1868, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Thursday, Feb. 27, 1868.

We have seen a letter from a well-informed correspondent, writiug from Dunedin, in reference to the action taken in the matter of the sale of the runs. H< s ys:—" He hopes that some numbers of the Provincial Council will use their best endeavors to preserve to them [ he people of the disiricfl thoistat*- uhi htiuy li tve c luquered from the wilderness for tiiem--9 i\es. To say :h it llie district has nceiv. ii any i.uic nsiiieration at the hands of the Provincial Government is simply nom-seiiM'. Ihe only i-rcat public work is the in .in trunk line of road, an;i it would never have been had ic nor I.e. u considered that without it Dunedui w«»-ld have lost the trade of the district. To talk of the compensation paid to Rees is simply absurd. There is, i believ3, a difference of opinion among the members of the Government on the subject. 1 wi.uld warn you, however, not to relax your efforts, for 1 find the recent losses by the floods wid Ue made a pretext for the sale of the runs u order to raise levenue, and I agree with others that counsel should be retained to oppose the a!e at ihe Waste Land Board."

In a letti-r sent to the Town Council, Mr Duncan, Secretary for Land and Works, states that "no survey had hen m;>de of the track from Queen.stown to Glenorchy (Head of Lake), and the Engineer of Roads and Works reports that it would about, £*>oo to make one,"and that consequently the only thing Government could do was to place the £4OO allotted for the

track into the hands of the Council, to make the best they can of it. On receipt of this intelli. gence, the Mayor at once telegraphed to Mr Duncan, stating that if the Government would place the services of Mr Wright or Mr Millet at the disposal of the Town Council, they would guarantee to get a good road surveyed to Glenorchy within a month, and at small expense. We are glad the Mayor took the matter up so promptly, and we have good authority for stating that a survey of the road can be made in the time mentioned. We hope Government will accede to the request made.

A meeting of farmers was lately held at Blair's Shotover Ferry Hotel for the purpose of ascertaining what would be the most suitable ground in the Arrow district for commonage purposes. The meeting was not largely attended, but those present decided on the ground it was deemed advisable to set aside, and the resolution to that effect has been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent. There seems to be a misconception in the minds of many that the object of meeting was a counter move by a f« w who are anxious for the sale of the Wakatip runs. It was nothing of the kind, but was merely called in compliance with a request from his Honor the Superintendent, that the settlers would ende vor to define the boundaries of g.azing country for sheep and for cattle, respectively.

The last ' Provincial Govern men r Gazettee' notifies tenders accepted for supplies to the Police Department. The con tractors for Que. nstown are—Mr Bridge (farriery); Messrs llalienstein and Co (kerosene) ; Mr St Ouier (prisoners'

rations). It is to be hoped steps will be taken to obtain from the Government some registration papers, as we understand the few remaining from last year have all been used.

As will be seen by advertisement in another column, members of Committee of the Gorge Prospecting Association are requested to meet this evening, to decide on what terms the boring apparatus expected from Melbourne, is to be used by miners desir us of prospecting with it. By last advices, a set of boring apparatus had been forwarded per Rangitoto, and as that vessel arrived at the Bluff on the 17th instant, this consignment may be hourly expected in Queenstown. We believe the set consists of 59 rods in 6ft. lengths, and suitable for soft or rock sinking.

In reply to a letter from the Town Council, Government have promised to place £2O upon the Estimates for the erection of a bell-buoy in the Queens'.own harbour We hope this will be proceeded with as soon as possible. The treacherous waters of the Lake are, probably nowhere more dangerous than at the entrance to this bay; for cross seas are nearly alwdys running in it.

A boat accident which, fortunately, was not attended with loss of life, occurred on Friday afternoon. The Undine, which was coming down from the Head of the Lake, was suddenly caught in a squall, and, her ballast being light and all sail set, she capsized, and immediately filled with water. Being only about a mile distant, the accident was noticed by several townsmen, and Sergeant Naden, accompanied by five or six volunteers, immediately put off to rescue the owner, Mr Wilson, his wife and child, and his mining mate. Luckily, the boat was well lined with cork and therefore kept afloat. The men received a thorough drenching only, but poor Mrs Wilson, (who was in a delicate condition) and her child have suffered more seriously from the effects. We hear, however, that the two latter are recovering as well as can be expected. The accidents that are continually taking place on these waters almost within gun-shot of the town, should stimulate the Council to take some action towards getting a proper life-boat, and erecting a boat-house for it. W r e have little doubt the Government would, for such a purpose, allocate a sum of money.

The Wellington correspondent of the ' Daily Times' says that Mr Macandrevv left for Dunedin on the 19th inst, and that the Ministry are favorable to the raising of a loan by Otago for the immediate repair of its public works. An inquest was held on Monday on the body of Alexander Cameron, aged 21, who died at the Hospital on the previous Saturday. Deceased had been seriously kicked by a vicious horse, and the evidence of Dr Doug as went to chow that death had resulted from inflammation and rupture of the bowels. Th. j-ry returned a verdict accordingly. On Tuesday the remains of the unfortunate fellow wire interred in the Queenstown Cemetery. The funeral was well attended, and the Kev. Mr Campbell read prayers at the grave.

A petiti'ii was presented at the hearing of an agricultural case in the Court-house, Queenstown, on Tuesday, against the granting of a leas,- applied for. The'petition pointed out thgtt the land contained scrub within i's boundaries, and was of puhlic value. The Warden recognised the justice of the objections, and staled they would be sent down to the Government with his report on the application.

On (lit that S'mip dnsatieiied ratepayers are attempting to get up'an agitation with the view-

f memorialisinc the IV vincial Government to abolish Municipd institution.-! We give cur rency to the saying, but hope, for the credit of Qu< en.-town, that such assertions have not the slightest foun ation to rest upon. Mr Macandrew recently took a gloomy view of the upcountry Corporations, and a lively view of Dunedin as the head centre. Perhaps this has something to do with the matter, added to the fact of the movement coming from a quarter where the wish seems father to the thought. If

some of the ratepayers really have a grievance the more sensible plan would be to call* a public meeting': they might obtain redress, but will never bring into operation sufficient influence to cause the abolition of our present municipal machinery, unless they are prepared to supplant it by something better. \ Since the above was in type an advertisement has been received calling a meeting of the ratepayers "to considei

matters of importance affecting their interest."]

We have received the first number of the 'Tuaoeka Times.' It is a well got up paper and readable. We wish we could say something equally favorable about the tone of the article ushering in the paper to the public. It has a desire to assume t at its contemporary, the 4 Tuapeka Press,' never had an existence of value? and secondly, it displays a desire to run with the hounds and win with the hare. For instance what can be inferred from the following bin a desire to please all parties upon any terms?:— <l With regard to political matters, we shall, for the present at least, hold ourselves ulooi from ail parties. It needs not the prescience of a seer to foretell that the pnsent state of unnatural quietude cannot long continue ; and even though the prophets arc dumb, and even star-gazing charlatans see nothing but the blanket in the dark, no one need look so far as the stars to guide their prophetic researches. Sapiens dominabitur astris. The signs and tokens lie near at hand, and from an examination of them we have little hesitation in predicting that at no distant date there will be another political earthquake, of a character dissimilar to the last, but one which will be felt all over the country, and which will probably end, if the most favorable result occur, in a le-settlement of the entire system of Provincial Government, but more especially of Goldfields, management." Now, what does all this mean ? Our new contemporary must take one side or the other, and we shall be only doing a share of an unpleasant duty by pressing upon its management the necessity of something more definite than this, or how can it expect to attain the '' high posit ; on "it aims at ?—" When, by consistency of purpose and honesty of judgment, a attaius that great desideratum, for want of which no talents or abilities will compensate, namely, the confidence of its constituents, it must to a great extent, guide public opinion, and help to maintain that wholesome moral sentiment which, in spite of many errors, must mate rially contribute to the making of a district gieat, and keeping it si. To occupy this proud position is our highest aspiration ; and we need onlv say that any exertions on our part will not be wanting to attain it."

Complaints have been so repeatedly made to delay or non-delivery of this journal to subscribers at Cardrona, that we begin to think it is almost useless protesting against the irregularity. However, we mention the matter in hope that the parties answerable for their transmission will be more careful; but, if we learn the old complaint continues, we shall lay the matter before the proper authority, in hopes of bringing to light the cause of delinquency. The residents of Cardrona are often complaining of injury to their interest in present postal arrangements, and we would suggest that they memorialise the Chief Postmaster, and suggest some

amendment. The plan of sending by way of Clyde, Utters, &c., to and from Cardrona and Queenstown, is something ridiculous. Surely an inexpensive weekly service between Arrowtown and Cardrona could be established--thereby avoiding a circuit of 80 miles where less than 20 would suffice.

Valuable time is slipping away in the matter of getting the petition opposing the sale of the runs signed. The secretary of the Committee informs us that the matter lies with the subcommittees, who he has urged on to greater activity. Nevertheless, it is evidently necessary that some more active steps should be taken, as the Provincial Council meet very soon. There seems to be no disinclination to sign the petition and subscribe funds when it is presented to any person, but there is a disinclination, from some cause or another, to expend the time in a personal canvas for names. This can be overcome with a l.tlle consideration.

It is not pleasure to si ate that the murderer, Sullivan, has left Nelson for Dunedin Gaol. He is being removed in order to secure better discipline at the gaol at Nelson, where he is said to have caused much disturbance in consequence of there heing no means of separating great criminals from ordinary offenders. The 4 West Coast Times has the following : " It is rumored that the Government contemplate some important changes in the location of the Judges of the Supreme Court. It is said that all the Judges will reside permanently in Wellington'," which will thus become the Westminster of New Z aland, and from thence they will go on circuit to the different parts of the colony."

Ptople are, naturally, beginning to ask what has become of Mr Mining Surveyor's Report on the nature and resources of the Otago west eoa*t, based on made during the late tour of his Honor the Superintendent ? The report, if not written while in Dunedin, was forwarded from here before Mr Wright proceeded to the survey of a road between Vontunzleman's and Martin's Bay, and said "report must consequently have been in existence at least seven weeks. Yet the people know" nothing of its contents; in fact, no information his been vouchsafed to the public beyond what .he Dunedin » Times' and « Mail' paid for obtaining. A stranger might be excused for thinking that his Honor the Superintendent, the intrepid Secretary for Lands and Works, and an " insignificant" M.P.C., made the pleasant trip for their healths' sake, and that M* Wright's report, among others, was drawn up for their own special delectation, as a reminder of the "jolly times" they had had together and apart. However, we think differently, and, if not done before, trust some member at the next sitting of the Provincial Council will see that the badger {i.e., report) is drawn from its (pig«oii) hole. Farm labor rules very high at present, and men are not obtainable, although the current rate <>f wages is 10s per day and found. Tea ad libitum is supplied, but in manv instances beer is demanded. Of course this demand for labor will cease after harvesting operations.

We had intended t<» hive given some account of the ball in aid of the Hospital funds, lately held at Skipper*. All the information to hand, however, is to the effect that it was not so successful as expected, owing, probably, to its occurrence so soon after the ball at Maori Point for the same object. We are glad to learn, nevertheless, that somewhere about £3O will be placed at the disposal of the Institution. The thanks of the Hospital Committee are due to Mr T. W. Fair, through whose exertions chiefly the ball was got up.

We are informed by Mr Worthington, the gold receiver, that he has met great success this year in cultivating vegetables, having obtained from 4<>zs seed 121b of large kidney potatoes, and has grown cabbages weighing as much as Messrs M'Conochie and Rowell have also been remarkably successful, and their garden crops, especially cabbages, have been very heavy and prolific. Our friends who communicate these facts to us forget one thing. They fail, perhaps from considerations of delicacy, to send the articles they desire noticed to the office, not necessarily for consumption, but for inspection. How can a reporter faithfully describe from hearsay ? For instance, we have heard something about the size of cucumbers, &c, but have not personally had the opportunity of seeing them.

The Municipal Council did not meet as usual on Tuesday, it being deemed advisable to postpone the meeting until a full Council would be in attendance, and as Cr Hallenstein is at present absent, this could not be obtained on that day. The Provincial Government have granted £l5O town ids the completion of the prospecting shaft being sunk for the purpose of testing the cement hills in the neighborhood of Wetherstones.

The following extract from a private letter received by Mr Campbell, of Dunedin, is published in the 'Evening News':—"Auckland, Feb. I.—The goldfields here are very different to alluvial diggings, there is nothing but quartz, but some of it is very rich, running 1 oz and over of gold to the pound weight of stone. I've seen this myself, so you may depend upon if as correct, in fact many of the claims will be home-ward-bounders as we call them; no doubt it will take some time to thoroughly develope them—the great present drawback being want of machinery. . . . Wages here are very low;

you may get a man to work at the diggings for £1 per week and upwards, and find himself, and in Auckland there is little or nothing doing. Of course there are plenty of chances at the diggings themselves. At present, most of the men working there being hard up, cannot hold on, and are willing to sell out at a very low rate. Of course this is all speculation, as a man might buy into a claim for £2O, and it might give him from £lO to £ls per week in a short time, or it might turn out wrong. Of course one must use one's own judgment about it. In about a fortnight about 50 mihs more of the country will be opened up, wh« re, I am assured by an old miner who is working with a party of Maoris, that there is i ayabie ailuvial diggings—he says he has obtained gold that will pay. We shall soon know about it, as there are a good many West Coast men here, waiting till the ground is opened for prospecting."

The following Native intelligence appearing in the ' Weekly News,' indicates anything but a pacific tendency:—" Captain Doughty (of the cutter Whitby) reports Opotiki as being surrounded by a large number of native (Hau-haus) who have declared their intention of attacking the place, on receiving reinforcements. Major St. John has ordered every available man to be placid on pay to be in readiness for any emergency. Picquets are out day and night scouring the bush, aud they frequently find evidence of the rebels being in the neighborhood. About 200 natives were seen on the beach, and a party of militiamen were sent out to attack them, when they very prudently made off. Probably, as the King natives are now willing to this local disturbance at Opotiki may cease."-