THE JAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 662, 25 December 1874, Page 3

THE JAKES.

(from our correspondent.) Amnvtown, Dec. 21at. Notwithstanding that the Lakes district bears an incessant bad name for dullness, things, after the fashion of a certain old gentleman, whom it is needless to name, are not so black as they are painted. We certainly experienced a very disastrous winter, both for the mining and farming interests ; but that is passed, and while making allowance for every imaginable species of dullness existing in both interests, the very reverse is the case just now. Farm produce of every description was never so scarce and so. dear. The miners have an abundant supply of water such as was scarcely ever experienced at this season of the year, and for the few that are working the yield of gold per Lead is not below the average. The Twelve-Mile has not been so brisk for a long time, while with respect to the workings on the Arrow River, the Kawarau and tributaries there is no diminution in the returns for the number of men employed. The population, like everywhere else, is not so large, nor can we expect it to be otherwise while the demand for labour is so brisk tor Public Works, and that furnished by the miner being exactly the thing that is wanted. The fault lies in the fact that there are too many business people for public requirements, and trade at the same time is rather out of joint. The extraordinary success of the Good Templar movement has materially interfered with the trade of the publicans, who bemoan the badness of the times because there is less demand for whisky ; while, with respect to the storekeepers the Lakes’ district hr s beon to them, for so many years such a preserve (its isolated position being so favorable for high prices) that they have neglected to meet the times. As a proof of this I have only to instance the fact that a well-known hawker has been canvassing the districts for the last six weeks, disposing of whole express loads of articles of men’s and women’s clothing, &c., and has even found it profitable to establish depots at Queenstown and Arrowtowu for the accommodation of h’S customers. Such a state of things would be impossible either at Clyde or Cromwell. The isolated position of the district is, without doubt, the cause cf reform being so long reaching us, but it must come nevertheless, and 1 quite endorse the opinion of a writer to the Wakatip Mail, who, some time ago, hinted that a change of leaders in our body politic could not be otherwise than highly, beneficial. Even while writers in the public press have been doing their best to draw public attention to the vast natural beauties of our mountain and lake scenery, so that visitor's might be attracted to the district, narrow-minded grovellings are preserving us from their visits. Everywhere else bridge and ferry proprietors have so rodneed their charges that these hitherto hindrances to travelling are removed ; but in our case the very reverse is the case, and the tourist—notwithstanding a Government subsidy to prodneo an opposite effect—is charged highly for paying us a visit. Verity wo arc working in too narrow a groove, and preserving and protecting ourselves out of existence.

The Corporation of Queenstown have got themselves into a nice little fix anent the award to Mr J. W. Robertson, for the OneMilo Creek water supply. After fighting a long and weary battle to have everything their own way in this matter they have at last got it But, as is usual in cases of this description, the “ payment of the piper” follows as the first necessity of so much unalloyed pleasure. The award and law costs in this caso obtrude themselves upon the notice of the civic functionaries in the shape of a nice little hill of items, such as award, 1,870 ; law costs and costs of arbitration, L 73 IGs 6d ; equal to L 913 ICs Cd. Tho demand for this amount bias not been met, consequently instructions have been given to issue a writ, and ■ what else may follow none but the uninitiated can divine. Tho Queenstown Corporation arc already indebted to tho extent of L4OO or LSOO. The upset, therefore, looks ominous for the ratepayers. It is a great pity that Mr Robertson's offer to supply the town with water at a merely nominal charge, and at an elevation whence it could be conveniently distributed almost anywhere conditionally that the Council should guarantee to him a sufficient supply for driving some machinery which he purposed erecting for manufacturing purposes. Now, as tho sources of this supply were unquestionably tho property of Mr Robertson himself nothing could have been more liberal. Arrow people always said that Queenstown was poor and proud ; hut they are silly likewise, or have been badly advised. At Arrowtown no lawyer can succeed in establishing himself, while at Queenstown three manage to live and flourish.

A public dinner was given on Thursday last, at Eichardt’s Hotel, Queenstown, to the gentlemen comprising the American Venus Transit Observation Party. The attendance was a large one, and represented nearly every class of the community. It is almost unnecessary to say that the getting up of the banquet, with its concomitant et cat-eras, amounted to perfection, and fullyrealised Mr Eichardt’s well-earned reputation that ho does everything “ up to the handle.” Of course eveiybody aired their eloquence and came out grandiloquently

upon the occasion. The Wakatip Mail gives us more than two columns of the speechifying, and to afford all those who had spoken the opportunity of seeing their perorations in print some (dozen unprinted ones are held over until its next issue. As the speeches, so the Mail assures us, are above the level of common after dinner utterances, wo are all anxiously looking forward for the promised intellectual treat, revelling, as we delight to do, in the transcendent wisdom of Bank clerks and Camp officials.

In Christmas amusements the Arrow comes out most liberally. On Boxing Day the Good Templars give a grand picnic at Lake Hayes, to be followed by a Ball in the evening at Mr Gilmour’s flour mill. An Amateur Dramatic Performance also takes place the same evening at the Library Hall, Arrow town, for the benefit of the Library On the 28th and 29th there will be the Arrow Races and Sports, when L2OO will be available for prizes. On New Year's Day the little hamlet of Gibhstown comes out with its annual race meeting. I hear of nothing at Queenstown, with the exception of a picnic at the New Year. The public festivities there are deferred until the Frankton Races.