MOON LIGHT.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 904, 18 February 1875, Page 2

MOON LIGHT.

(noM oat omt co&inioniß.) Since my last there hag been fully a week's cessation from labor by the Chinese population while celebrating their new year by. their accustomed festivities but the waters of the Moonlight and Moke Creeks are again assuming a more turbid hue, denoting a commencement of operations by our Celestial neighbors. The Gorge track will be passable for pack, horses in a few days, so ' that the men engaged in repairing the breaches caused by the flood have made good progress. The footpath at the upper end of the Gorge will be commenced immediately, which will prove a great convenience to those miners living in the upper regions—which locality is appropriately designated "Siberia" during the winter months. Kane and Urquhart, in Jones' Creek, expect to have a good washing-up soon, and their prospects even look better than at any time previously. The Nil Desperandum (Forster Bros, and Boyd) have just finished a new dam, which they have blasted cut of the solid rock, and they will now have enough water to enable all hands to work during the day—two new faces have been opened out, and blocking will commence immediately. I see a share in this claim is for sale, and should think—if too much is not asked —it ought to be a good investment. The claim in Dead-horse Creek, owued by Messrs Gardiner and Steele, is turning out "good gold," and prospects are improving. The Shotover Junction party have been floating more timber down to their claim, and fencing in more ground. That portion which they worked last season proved very rich, and shareholders anticipate good results from the grojnd a-head if the river keeps sufficiently low to permit operations. The new postal regulations cause much dissatisfaction, owing to the inconvenience to the public, who have not sufficient time to answer by the return mail, thus necessitating the sending of their letters by the packers,, or other chance opportunity which may offer. 1 observe in the advertising columns of vour paper that Messrs Lawton and Gardiner are intending to dispose of their old established business. One does not like to see such old residents retiring from busy life amongst us. I scarcely think the retirement is on account of these gentlemen having made their 44 pile," but it is probable that they intend to confine their attention to sheepfarming on runs held by them; or, perhaps, they intend to follow the example of some of your Queenstown mea —buy a run and become squatters right off.