Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 1, 2 May 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

We understand that the Government have agreed to advance £4OO to every £IOO subscribed by the inhabitants of the Lake district, for the purpose of erecting a Hospital. Dr. Pelley, in the meantime, has been appointed public dispenser, and having arrived, may now be consulted at the camp. We should strongly urge the inhabitants to call a meeting immediately, appoint a committee, and take steps to have the building at once proceeded with, as the time of sickness and distre-s is now mpidly approaching, and it would be advisable n:>t tj be taken unprepared. A prospecting clai-ii of 120 feet by 80, has been granted (Apri 29) to Henry Bramwell and Robert Davis, at Victoria Gully, Nokomai. The applicants state that they have sunk one shaft, 7 ft. by 3, a depth of 12 ft., and have obtained one ounce of gold from two loads of dirt. There is about one foot of wash dirt, but the precious metal has also been obtained in small quantities at the surface. The shuft is situated at the foot of their race, and the gold appears to be running in the direction of the neighbouring terrace From the numerous cases of jumping that have come to our knowledge, there is doub'ess so ne ground on theNokoinai that will well repay the efforts of the miner, but we would caution them against a rush. Probably, from past experience, the devotees of the pick and shovel will not require this warning: but should another rush turn out like those preceding, much, suffering maybe expected to ensue, the season beiug so far advanced. -- - >

By a notice which. appears in another column, it will be Keen that the Southland mails are now despatched three times weekly, instead of twice, as heretofore—leaving Invercargillevery Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: and Kingston (St John's) every Tuesdiy, Thursday, and Saturday. Will Otago never take the initiative in matters of public bene fit ? or do the Dunedin authorities wish to throw every ehanee in the way of Invercarg 11 to monopolize the Lake trade. At the Shotover, preparations are being energetically made by the miners and others located there, to weather out the winter. Huts are rapidly superseding the more frai canvas erections: and chimney* of sod a d stone, some of cavernous dimensions. >uflßei-

cttfljr testify, the Victorian horror of cold weather. Races, too, in many eases of considerable extent are beinj; cut. and as the river has now been for some time rapidly falling, in all probability adequate retnrns will be made to the miners for their industry and enterprise. On Thursday last the foot of tho Lake, and neighbourhood of Kington, was again visited by one of iho-e sudden and severe gales that have of late been of such frequent and f ital occurrence. The gale spring up about 9o'clock, and at midnight was blowing a perfect hurricane. During'the night several accidents occurred amongst the sm tiler craft at anchor. One boat in particular was thrown broadside on the beach, and several others injured in the same way. In the morning it was not deemed safe by the several captains to dispatch their different steamers. The little steamer *' Expert", however, made the trip, being engaged to carry the mail.

Great excitement was caused on Tuesday night, about seven o'c oek, by the fact of a boat -having grounded on the Queeust>wn Reef, which proved so destructive to "the jM Nnggct M steamer. The u coneys* and calls of tha inmates ot the boat were disttnctlv heard on the beach near the jetty, and two boats were manned and put off to the rescue. One soon returned, conveying two female*, a child, and two men, all wet to the

skin, and with a few drenched article* of cloth ing with them. It proved to be a Urge w ha bout, carrying passengers and cargo, which hau tailed about an hour or so before f >f Frankun. Fortunately no very serious damage was done, with the exception of that to the boat, whjch has been brought' to town with a lew timber* staved in—the passengers escaping with a fright nnd perhaps a touch of a cold in the head from the welting. We understand the cargo, which was thrown overboard, has for the most part Ik en recovered. Too much care cannot be taken by boatmen, when sailing in th j vicinity of the bar, for reefs which wi-re s mie feet under the surface a month ago, are now scarcely covered, and the Lake is still decreasing in volume daiiy. About 11 o'clock on Tuesday night, the store belonging to Messrs. Boyn •, in Beach-street; was entered from tho right-of-way at the side, and some property, consisting of a quarter-chest of tea and a case of tobacco, stolen therefrom. Tho thieves were doubtless disturbed at their work, for it was apparently quitted in great haste, the large counter scales being left on the ground iu the right-of-way, and several other article* close to the hands of the depredators left untouched. Information has been given to the police, but as yet no clue has been discovered as to tho thieves.

We arc given to understand, on reliable authority, that a valuible quartz reef exists in the vicinity of Skipper's. We are personally acquainted with the party giving the in£rma> tion, who assures us that the stone he has seen equals in richness any vet ever discovered on the Victorian diggings. The exact spot is at present k< pt a secret, as the parties are about making preparations for securing a prospecting claim ana working the sane. From our own experience on B ndig<t, we should compare the otone te that f wind on th" Sainia Reef Spring Gully, which, it is well known to all ttendigonians resident there at the time of th.* working of that reuf, turm-d out 100 ozs. to the ton. We have specimens in our possession taken a distance from the cairn of the original finders, given to us by the party i i questi n, who is a rendt-nt in the locality. He a's;> showed in alluvial specimens, tlie largest piece weighing 9* dwts., being a beautiful sample of gold. ifc'

We understand that a ftvorite steamer on t\ Lake—the " Wakatip'-is shortly to be tho* roughly overhauled and re-caulked, cabin fit'd, and other arrangement* made, which will doubt* les< prove as advantageous to the energetic and ctiterorisin<r proprie:or> in a pecuniary sense, as it will add to t e c >mfoit ut the passengers* *«<* convenience of storekeeper* and others requiring th** transport of cargo. The *peed of the 14 Wakiuip" his hi herto been her only drawback, but this will soon be obviated, as we learn that Mr. Hamilton, her builder and engineer, has proceeded to town for the special purpose of bringing up more powerful machinery, which will render this, the first steamer built on the Lake, second to none in this respect.

In our lMletriusacr.'Wsthe Lake, we occasionally obs rve individuals, who have evidently Iw-en irobibui<r somewhat freely, promsnadtug the n »rrow srip of deck i i a frighfullv unsteady ra inner. Out first i npulse is to look around for a life bmy, for the best swimmer w»u I inevitably add his own life to the lotf whuh »«g»t lia wwtamed in the event of our 6«t-.ne oriented subject foiling overbad. Itis only a watter of wonder iha aecid nt< «p> —r 'Tnr- ftmgnt am

the Lake, »nd some further proviso shoult made 0.1 board the gteimer* lor the safety

passengers.

On the Shotover River, a few nbhts ago, gome malicious scamps mad.- a descent up >n a hose belonging to a party of sluicer*, n uned Thiele, Loma>, mid'Boning'on, and took posses* hion of a'nmr nine vatd* of it, cutting and destroying* considerable portion of the remainder. Information his been given to the polic , and the aggrieved parties hive published n notice, off. ring a r ward -f L2O lor such informal i*n a< may lead to ihe detection and conviction of tie thieves. Several other comprint* have reached us, detailing various simiiar outrages and a in ;U titud* of petty lircenies, w'tict «>eein »o iudi ito the pre-en-e of no inconsiderably porti >u or that indispens ihle uecomp mim. Nt of every goidtfc d —the I)iter; and call hr the presence of « larger polioe fow.

An app'ica'ionfi-nn extendi claim i* nbojj| to be aop'n d tor hv a pa ty who have bvtpjjA in.? f" r 'he Let fe* T weik-t at the^3w*'uu.H We have ascertained that they toriont for th list week'* wash 4.» «u»Vas. The* finkinf is described ;is shiliow, an* the scene of op-ra-tioiHatir»a(e«io:ne distance from the frospec-, tors' c-aim. Tiu-ir ; n»ntion is now, we believo, as their claim U worked «ut. to turn the river, and commincj «|»erationg iu its bed.

St. John BratU'jan, Esq*, started.tor Dunedin on Thursday morning.