Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 2, 6 May 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

An application has been made to the Government for the grant of an area of twenty acres in the Shotover Gorge, on the part of a company about to be formed in this district for the purpose of thoroughly prospecting and if possible working the Gorge. It has long been a matter of doubt among miners if the present bed of the Shotover River below Arthur's Point is the original one, and it is the opinion of several that such is not the fact, but that the river ran through the Gorge itself into the Lake, diverted from that course through volcanic agency into that it at present occupies. In the course of conversation with one of the projectors, it was pointed out to us, among other evidences in support of their theory, the sharp, abrupt turn the river makes, at right angles to its previous course, below Arthur's Point; the small finds below the Point in comparison with those above it; and the apparent continuation of the original river bed through the Gorge. If such should prove to be the case, the benefits that will be conferred upon Qucenstown, and the Lake district generally, it is not an easy task to calculate, taking into consideration the unexampled richness of the river as already proved. It is to be hoped that a question involving such manifold interests will not be suffered to be burked, but the truth or fallacy of the supposition once and for all decided. In the meantime we wish the projectors every success. The following is a copy of a letter addressed by the Hon. Sec. of the Queenstown Committee to his Honor the Superintendent: Quecnstown, Lake Wakatip, 4th May, 1863.

Sir,—l have the honor to lay before you the annexed copy of resolutions passed at a public meeting held in this township on the Ist inst., and also to draw your attention to the report of that meeting for lurther details, for which purpose a copy of the Wakatip Mail is herewith forwarded for your information. Your views and those of your Government, on the subjects taken into consideration by the meeting, arc respectfully sought for, as the questions arc of considerable importance to the residents of this township and the inhabitants of this particular district. I have the honor, &c, &c, William Bruce, Hon. Sec. To his Honor the Superintendent.

The past few days have been prolific in boat accidents, scarcely a day passing without something of the kind taking place, and it is our painful duty again to record a similar event. From Kingston we learn that the " Helen," owned by Messrs. Skene and Kerr, left the foot of the Lake for Frankton on Monday, and when but just off the beach was struck by a sudden squall, and went down bodily with all she contained, among which may be mentioned the new iron safe for the Bank of New South Wales. We are, however, happy to state that no lives were lost on this occasion. " Our Own Minstrels," after creating quite a furore at the Arrow, are now in Queenstown, and, we perceive, are about to give some of their inimitable performances at the Royal Hotel Theatre. Certainly it appears that " mine host" of the Royal does not intend to let the character of his house, for public amusement, depreciate, and we think we might safely venture to predict that the gentlemen comprising the company will have reason to congratulate themselves on their visit to this township. Their first performance will take place this evening, at eight o'clock. A meeting of the Quecnstown Vigilance Committee was held on Monday night at Bracken's Hotel, to inquire into some alleged irregularities in the conduct of one of the watchmen. After a lengthened discussion, the meeting was adjourned till Friday, for the production of proof.

The Southland Escort, as will be seen by an advertisement in another column, will start for Invercargill about the 15th instant.