QUEENSTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1866, Page 2

QUEENSTOWN.

(i'ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 9. To the frosts mentioned in my last letter succeeded heavy rains, extending over i several days. AVe had floods in every direction, at the Arrow, the >hotover, Moke Creek, &c., but Queenstown did not this time suffer. A general dread is said to have been entertained of another flood; but, I am informed, the Lake did not reach within eight feet of its former high level, and that yesterday it was within two feet of its lowest level. But on the rivers the [case was different, and I have therefore a series of catastrophes to emimerate, for I cannot stop to describe them in detail. The severe effects must be attributed to the ice bound nature of the grounds. A fortnights frosts had cemented the ground to a greatdepth, so all the ■ tits?. !ruins "shordwrAbe hills and terraces j instead of sinking into them. " But- under the steady down pour of a couple of days, the ice bound ground had to yield, and my account, therefore, mentions landslips of an extensive nature, as well as floods. The chief and greatest effect was at the Arrow. The hill bound narrow rivers were soon flooded. The Criterion sluice gate, though heavily supported with timber, splintered into matches, the dam next went, then the amalgamating tables succumbed and were twisted in every shape, and the feeding house suffered damage. The Company are now doing what every practical person said they should have done from the first—work their machinery by a water-race, they are busy cutting one. It is acknowledged that the whole design has been bad. The “Who would have thought it” Company’s shaft, was lost. The Barracouta suflered also; the river dams are non est. The sluicing claims and races are all injured, more or less, by small or gigantic landslips. Up the Shotover every river has suffered severely, and as to the races, not one has escaped. The landslips in this direction have been enormous, whole hills went together, while in other places thousands upon thousands of tons oi earth gave way and slipped down bodily. The Maori Point track beyond Deep Creek, is impassible ; the old way is open to daring pedestrians, Mr Fuller, of the Scandinavian Company, offered to put on forty men, taking the chance of Governrepaying him, but it was found they had no room to work except four at a time; meanwhile, communication is by all sons of daring most irregularly kept up, but yesterday a few pack horse load of goods were sent forward to relieve pressing wants. The final result was an earthquake of a severe but short duration, on Sunday, about ten o’clock, since then it has rained, but the last two days las been intense frost again, to which will probably follow the usual results. The matter of granting agricultural leases to every one who applies for them is engaging some attention ; it is felt that how. ever desirable it may be to settle down a yeomanry population, it is yossible to “pay too dear for one,s whistle.” The Government very wisely laid out reserves for miners commons, auriferous reserves, (fee., but they are of very mean extent; how ever, some of these have been invaded by selectors, and some of the applications are made on behalf of versons at the West Coast, so I am informed. The consequence is that withn a year or two, every reserve will be in Mil cultivation, and the cries of those who claim commons to run their stock upon, will clash with those who will exhibii a lease of ground, and of course, claim right and privilege of purchase. The reserves are, as I have said, very small and quite inadepuate, especially as a great many depasturing leases for sheep and stock have been issued. The general opinion is that Government has no right to alienate or allow reserves to be

nfringed, no matter how plausible the reasoning of applicants for cultivation blocks may be. Speaking of cattle and sheep license I may say, that under the former some 500 head are now running, and of sheep, some 4000. In fact quite a new class of squatters, at a rental of 2s 6d per head, per beast, and 6d per head for sheep, are being fostered by the regulations. Now, this is an enormous tax, combined with uncertainty of tenure, for the licenses are only annual, and it may be confidently relied upon, that Government will find it impossible, before long, to resist demands of a special nature, or their may spring up such a thing a a league, offensive and defensive, between the squatters upon crown lands, and the annual squatter upon proclaimed goldfields lands. For it is to be especially noted that these sheep and eatt’o are not chiefly for trading purposes but for breeding. Recently, several successful miners and storekeepers have been investing in this direction, and we have had sheep (ewes) from both Christchurch, the Waitaka, and the Wanaka. ihis is a subject that will in another year or two, engage attention; especially, if the Land Bill gives a right to purchase or lease ground on goldfields. The School Committee, less fortunate than you of the Dunstan, who got really a good serviceable and cheap stone building, have accepted tenders for the erection of a school house, upon the reserve site for £4OO, the other tenders ranged from £449 to £466. It will be a plain useful building, only one room, 60 x 20, built of timber, and yet it costs £460, The Government grant is £350 to the object; the building is on the whole dear therefore. The election of a Mayor, has brought forth a requisition to a Mr Macdonald, a mining agent and sharebroker, other requisition are mentioned, but of course, as Municipal Councils, or to use the heavier phrase Corporations, authorised by the Act, present little attraction these are declined. 1 think, Queenstown citizens, should recognise more fully the position of a Mayor; it is most |important that this office should be filled by an energetic man, He has to inagurate a system. At present the subject of Municipalities their endowments, their extension, their powers, are all of interest. The future conduct and manner of conducting up-country Municipal Councils is, therefore, of serious moment.. Much depends upon first results, new Corporations should not expect at once to expand into the full blown system of Victoria, though it is certainly advisable that an extension of boundaries, a power to make the Mayor a supreme ruler of the borough over which he presides, and a land endowment should only be given; hence the necessity of electing nnp-«< 0 [ telligcncc,again Bayp4df*Ciiui-<>y, t > either the offices of Mayor or Councillors. I presume the good burgesses of Queenstown will make up for their significant silence, and that the battle will wax warm and zealous. I mentioned in my last letter, the case of Fuller v Perry. it is a remarkable case ; this week the parties have been endeavoring to arrange upon the terms of an appeal. The judgment as stated was for the plaintiffs. Mr Fuller very ably conducted the case, indeed, caused surprise, and to-morrow he conducts the case Fuller v. Perry, for encroachment upon their tailrace, of the Scandinavian Company, in the appeal matter mentioned, the legality of water rights, <tc., is involved; and, I think, it will be the most important case yet tried on appeal, affecting this class of rights. The Fire Brigade has not yet proved an active organization at Queenstown, but, I hear, a meeting of a number of the storekeepers is to be held shortly. The Acclimitisation Society met at Powell’s Hotel, Queenstown, on Tuesday. A large amount of business was transacted, Mr Rees was nominated for the office of president, Mr Fuller, vice-pre-sideat, and Mr Slanders, secretary. The subscription was fixed, I believe, at £1 Is yearly, payable half yearly or yearly, and a donation of £lO 10s, or a gift of useful animals, to constitute a life membership. Upwards of twenty names were proposed, members will be balloted at next meeting. The funds will probably flow in rapidly, and the scene of operations will extend over the entire Wakatip district. At an early date, a general meeting of members will be convened and a fresh election of a Committee take place. The ball at Richmond’s New Orleans Hotel, on the 4th inst., was a great success, many visitors were present. It unfortunate y happened, however, that through the shifting of the ford, that the coach, in the dark, was delayed in crossing the Shotover. The bad time arrangements for the postal service, is an everlasting source of complaint, from Friday to the following Thursday morning, one cannot for love or for money get a letter posted or forwarded down your way, though, in the meantime, two mails arrived here via Dunstan from Dunedin. It is an intolerable nuisance. Female servants are remarkably scarce here, and many persons suffer great inconvenience. We have numerous marriages and more are spoken of. The Forresters connected with Court Pride of the Lake, give their half-yearly supper, in a few days, and each brother has the privilege of introducing a friend or stranger; the order is prosjierous here. The Masons did not celebrate St John’s day in the usual manner, the inclement state of the weather is assigned as tho cause. A regular crusade has been made against people having nuisances on their premises.

and against owners of unregistered and ferocious dogs ; in both cases with great •satisfaction to the general public. The first piles of the Queenstown jetty have been duly driven home. The Lake is falling very rapidly and is again at its average level. Business is brisk, in raining matters I have nothing to report. The share market is more active, Skipper's and Pactolns are in demand. Several meetings take place at the Arrow on Saturday. Criterion's are low, but if they reach a figure still lower, many persons will invest largely. Money is freely offered on loan upon shares or mortgage.