Original Correspondence.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 71, 2 January 1864, Page 5

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the Lakb Wakatip Mail.

* # * Our columns being impartially open, we do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents.

Hold hard there, Mr Editor! hold hard: stea-dy, ste-a-dy! What's all this I've heard about your being the watchful guardian of the Wakatip District ? Watchful guardian, indeed —watchful guardian of what ? Why, me and my shipmate, Jack Forecastle, were just a wee bit screwed t'other night, being on our Christmas visit to Queenstown, when, on leaving the Prince of Wales Theatre, we strolled along the beach towards our long boat, as we used to do when last in town some six months ago. But what a change! Why, we actually tripped over a battered sardine tin at the first start we made, which caused us no small surprise. This, however, was nothing; and I can scarcely describe our horror, or tell of the misery we endured on making our way to the old jetty; for, what with climbing over stacks of timber, tumbling into dilapidated boats, knocking our heads against ghosts of calico sentry boxes, nearly breaking our legs by slipping between round poles, cutting our hands ana feet in scrambling amongst broken bottles, and by being nearly torn to pieces by savage dogs, we were quite exhausted when we found ourselves alongside a large iron store. Here I must pause, for it is impossible for me to express my indignation; but Jack Forecastle said, " Why,dam'me Harry—blow'd if they ain't been and set man traps along the Queen's highway ; and, now that we have left a whole host of infernal machines behind, here's a wall over which

no mortal can escape, so let's break into Bullen's store and call for help." 1 said, "No, Jack; let us lie down here until morning, when some friendly boat will put in and rescue us. Then We will go to the magistrate and ask him to come down and look at this disgraceful state of things." No sooner were the words uttered than Jack, (who had by this time utterly lost his senses) jumped into the lake, and I believe was drowned, for he has never been seen since—and I was fined 40s the next morning for being drunk. I am, Mr Editor, your obedient servant, Harry Bluff. Queenstown, January Ist, 1863. +

MOUNT IDA.

Fullerton's rush has been greatly out of the favor of the people, as there have been several holes sunk which have proved to be duffers; but in spite of all this the prospectors are doing very well—making from 15 to 20 ounces a day; and there was a hole bottomed 300 yards above the prospectors, which gave one ounce off the bottom at 10 feet. It caused quite a rush along the hill. There are about five holes getting good payable gold. At Hamilton's rush there are about 600 persons on the ground,some of them doing remarkably well. The gold is of a coarse nature. A rush has occurred at the bottom of the gully on the flat. Thre was also a rush to a gully up to the prospector's gully; prospects payable. There are some parties getting gold on the hills. Water is very scarce. Provisions are plentiful and cheap, but lam afraid the place is overdone. At the Hogburn several miners are taking up the abandoned ground in the gully. The extended claim system will doubtless answer here, only we want cheap water.