THE LAKE COUNTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 365, 20 February 1863, Page 5

THE LAKE COUNTRY.

■ o__£^*3-WSV" COURKSPONDENT.) '-_....'^ '-.-•;:,-: : ; ;I«ake7Wakatipu, 16th February, 1863. .Queenstown "ii. th. centre of a flourishing district* • Queenstown is arising place ! Queenstown is the iieplu. ultra in beauty of situation and climate 1 y Thees are the impressions that are sought to be impressed upon the visitor and stranger. To say any thing■• against thef great inland "Lake City" is treason. Queenstown will always be a township, but itis'not the natural centre of this vast district or the . best suited' by position to command the trade of the surrounding districts. It has no agricultural resources around it, and the Shotover and its tributaries, from which it derives its chief importance, can be more easily served by the Arrow or Frankton. It is indebted for its origin to Mr Rees, who had his head station here, and being in the first days of the rush the only providere, people flocked in here for their supplies. Messrs Dundas and Government Surveyors being on the spot, Mr Rees got them to lay out what at that time was to have been a private township, Mr Rees leasing out the building allotments. This part of the arrangement fell to the ground, in consequence of the Government not giving Mr Rees the pre-emptive right for which he was applying. The streets being well defined, the town has, without question, assumed an appearance of regularity which makes it the finest in tliis respect of ah its gold field compeers. At present it is a city of canvas, the only building of any other class being the iron Branch Bank of New South Wales. None will deny to it beauty of situation, but this has already been noticed, l'oituitous circumstances have thus had a great deal to do with the formation of tbis township. As a centre it depends for its prosperity upon the Moke, the twelve miles, the twenty-five miles, not, those of the Shotover and the Arrow, but thoss oi the Lake. But the chief source of strength is felt in the extension of the diggings at the bead of the Lake, ou or about the Rees and Dart rivers. No doubt, that if not this year, that next one this part of the district will fully realise the expectations formed of it. It is doubtful, however, whether the great advantages expected trom these diggings will tall to the share of tiie sanguine people of Queenstown, for as soon as their extension would justify it, the boats would convey goods direct from the Kingston depot, passing Queenstown by altogether. Still several advantages must issue from tlie visits of tho miners to sell or deposit tbeir gold, and take the relaxation they occasionally allow themselves. Queenstown possesses many advantages over the Arrow Township, ns goods can bo more readily conveyed to it, and timber is rpsdily procurable. To the Arrow everything has for ths present to be packed on horses—a most serious drawbucic to the progress of any place. Tbe hotels, amusements and general I comforts are fir greater in Queenstown than on the Arrow, and tho place lias a more settled and refined appearance. In re'-i- business it cannot compete with the Arrow Township, though in every other respect it is much superior to it. Like Dunedin, ■ Queenstown lias its two jetties, and another one on a larger scale about to be built. As in Dunedin, these are the favorite places of resort, and arouud them arc to h. found bands of men discussing affairs, while they are forming their own plans, or awaiting some expected information from some quarter or another. Here, also, is to be seen the genuine " loafer" and idler; and the arrival and departure of the boats is almost as much a matter of interest as the steamers that go and come to the greater jetly of the grander Dunedin. One steamer —the Nugget, lately running between Dunedin aud the Vanxhall Gardens—is now plying on the Lake. Her first trip was made on the fourteenth, and with eight tons ofcargo and passengers • and the trip was made from Kingston in three hours and a half.' The wood used was scrub, and the distance made twenty-five miles. Two other steamers are reported to be on the way. There is plenty of room for them during the summer season; but how they will manage during the winter depends entire'y upon the nature of that season, aud whether ininiug operations can be carried on. Facilities and rapidity of communication will greatly tend to the openingup of the district at the head of the Lake, and of which very little is known at present. The value of building allotments is about a pound a foot frontage, held under tho business license clause of the gold fields regulations. This tenure is most insecure, as the place is four miles distant from the limits of the proclaimed gold field, and consequently you hold your property by the force of might, rather than under the protection of the law. In amusements,.the usual dancing rooms, the "free and easy" are seen; one billiard and one American bowling saloon are in full work, and are open day and all night long. Other preparations are being made to add to the list, and rumors are current that some well known gentlemen intend to build a permanent theatre of a more substantial nature than wood and calico. Tho formation of a Yacht Club is also on the tapis, and has been favorably received. Much of the prosperity of a town sometimes depends upon the attractions it offers in the shape of amusements, and especially when that town may be situated upon the gold fields. !?o it is with Queenstown, it has not tbe command of the business trade, but its residents are making it in every respect a most desirable place to live in. Frankton, wheri the Government do commence to carry out their promised works on it and form the main camp as at first stated by Major Richardson, will find a rival, of no mean pretensions, has grown up in the interval of delay and- procrastination that has characterised all the proceedings connected with this unfortunate official township, named with 6clat after the name of a lady much esteemed here, offered to public favor with numerous promises, it stands another memento of the incapacity of the Government. It will, therefore, have a hard strugle with the " Royal City," and no efforts are spared to defeat any rivals. Queenstown is also a maritime city, and a host of boats ply upon the great inland sea, schooners, yachts performing the useful duties of lighters, whale-boats seeking human game rather than the "monarch of the deep ;" and dingys that venture out when all is pleasant [and calm. Some of these boats go to the i_es at the head of the Lake, some to Frankton; but the. greatest numbe- ply between Kingston,—the Dunedin and Invercargill depot and these several places. Racing and quick trips, the merits of the boats and iheir " skippers," form a good deal of the " table talk" current in the city. If a race of young people grow up on these shores theii slang will not be so much of horses as of boats, and a race of young people will grow up in this Lake district, under more favorable, ennobling, and elevatiDg circumstances than characterise the greater part of the settled districts of Australia. To an old Australian colonist it is something refreshing to hear of other topics than horseflesh and the jargon, and the endless bounce about horses. A few weeks'! have just rolled by aud the scene has changed. It is no longer a deserted sea. Where solitude reigned, and the deep blue waters attracted only the attention of a casual passer by,—a shepherd, who heedlessly walked over vast treasures, realising neither U.e oue or the other circumstances, or the traveller who- grumbled at meeting the obstacle of the waters. What a change to them must the scene of to-day present, and what will to-morrow do may well bo asked. With boat building, steamer building, a timber trade commencing, the development of the auriferous resources of the country being daily opened up, the wholeof its requirements yet in its infancy, who shall picture the scene that is unfolding? It is upon these facts that Isaiu before, Queenstown must remain, a. ■township. The formation is the gravelly shingly beach, over which the Lake in other days flowed. It is dry, gravelly, and harsh, without grass, except the species of mossy tuft grass can be called grass. The hills that surround it are bleak, vast, noble, but desolate looking, and no later than yesterday were covered with snow, though all was warm and pleasant in the valley. The clearness of the atmosphere makes them seem almost close to the observer, though they are several miles away- In their snow-white drapery they are really beautiful, and the rough, dark, hold outlines are brought forward distinctly, This is Queenstown of to-day; proud in her glory, selfreliant in the district by which she is surrounded. Of that district previous letters have partly sketched the resources. An opinion is daily gaining ground that the bhotover will be workable during the winter, andboatsare already promisingtoconvey up supplies duringthis season. As far as the bed of the Shotover is concerned, the working of it may be looked upon ascertain, whether its tributaries will be worked is doubtful. During winter the severe cold must tend to freze the wash dirt, but some say it is warm enough to wash. These are only problematical conclusions, as no one has yet made the experiment. The dirt may freeze that will be taken from the river bed but it will be piled up for milder weather. Men will not lose the chance of a pile if they can help it, but I am' afraid great suffering and disappointment must ensue, and that however valiant the boast of to-day under a glorious sun may be, the attempt to fully carry it out will not be so easy a task. Should the Shotover prove •'. workable much of its present trade will be diverted ■ from the Arrow duri_g the winter months to both Frankton and this township. The Mpke Creek, l the Twenty-five Mile and the whole of the workings sin that direction are likely to be totally unworkable [ during the winter. I The only, new discovery of any note isa prospecting i claim granted to Tyne and party, for a place about s eleven miles beyond Fen's Creek (twelve miles). It l is a creek running into the Lake, and the prospect .obtained wan from three feet sinking* but_ tbe only I

result they {rive in fupport of their application is one ounce out of a hole 4 feet by 2 feet. It is probable this'is not the true result. The escort will be about 28,000 ounces, showing an increase upon the last. Tho Arrow and Queens-town will send equal quantities, and the miners will deposit about one-half. The escort will not leave fill the 18th, but it has closed at the Arrow, and will close here to-morrow. I have nut as yet been able to gain the full particulars of the miners deposits.