THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 720, 8 April 1864, Page 6

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

(tWk OtlE OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 4th April, 1864. There has been no change worthy of record in the weather since my last report, though yesterday a heavy gale with squalls from the south west, induced an anticipation of a rainfall, after 90 long a sequence of dry days. This morning is again brilliantly fine, but with a marked difference of temperature, a sharp frost having set in last night, sufficiently severe to freeze over standing water, so that the first ice of the season was to be seen bs late a3 10 a.m. in the shade. The continued lowness of the rivers keeps the activity of the miners at its maximum, and accounts from every part of the district are most satisfactory. Arthur's Point seems to have succeeded Maori Point as the reputed El Dorado of the diggings, the river bed workings turning out even richer than was hoped by the most sanguine. Information has reached me that four several claims realised respectively last week the enormous amounts of 501b, 351b, 301b, and 281b; numbers of wages-men are employed, and work goes on night and day without cessation. The little township is, as may be supposed under the circumstances, very lively, and presents rather a contrast to otber place, not blessed at present with the co.vtiguity of a rich gold field. The river claims at Maori Point are nearly worked out, only Sullivan's party remains, and they have not any great extent of ground left. Last week they dividsd 51bs weight a man; and the paddock they are at present engagedsupon, promises to be very rich. Accounts are good from nearly all the beaches between this and Arthur's Point; the Long Beach about halfway between has particularly exceeded expectation; 200 oz. to the paddock having been obtained by several parties. Mr Wright, the surveyor, has gone to the Upper Shotover right hand branch to survey and report upon the gigantic plan for turniDg the river, mentioned'in a former letter; nearly three miles of the bed will be effectually rendered available for reining operations, a tunnel through the solid rock having been projected to carry off the entire stream to a lower level whence it again falls into the main river. Maori Point contributed to the last escort 3000 ounces. Tiiis of course includes what may have come in from upper parts of the district and from beaches below as far as Butcher's Point. Accounts from the Arrow represent an improvement in mining matters generally, though the failure of the ground above the Falls has bsen 8 sad disappointment. Within a few miles of the township claims are fcnown to be yielding large returns, as much as from 20 to 40 ounces a day in more than one instance. On Saturday night one party, supposed to have been only making tucker, lodged 560 ounces in the Gold Receiver's office. This was obtained from a river claim in by no means what was considered a golden spot. Wheels will soon be at work on the Townßhip Flat. Notwithstanding repeated reverses, the Hit or Miss Company are buckling to again, and will be in a position to commence trying for the bottom again this week. NothiDg new or important from the Twelve Mile or Cardrona. A considerable amount of gold is said to have come in from Bracken Wully, but this requires confirmation. It may give some idea of the value of ground at certain points on the irrow if I mention that in a case down for trial on Friday, in the Warden's Court, the damages are laid at L6OO, the complaint being for encroachment to the extent of 4ft by 12ft. The long promised track to the Twelve Mile is at length in course of survey, Mr Millett,the assistant surveyor, having commenced on Friday last. It is to be hoped there will be no undue delay with regard to the tenders when once they are received; those for the shelved tracks have been already a fortnight in town, and no signs yet of action. The winter will soon be upon us, and should it prove severe, will cause these essen tial works to be again indefinitely postponed, as it ■will be useless to attempt cuttin? sidelings, &c, when the ground is rugged with frost.. The Arrow people are naturally pleased at the decision of the Government to construct a main trunk road via Arthur's point, but as its intended course will pass the township by a mile, a petition will probably be sent in to induce a deviation to be made, so as to bring the road by or through the present buildings. The affairs of the Wakatip Hospital continue in a very unsatisfactory state; the committee under the circumstances virtually decline to act until the decision of the Government upon Mr Warden Worthington's report is communicated to them. In the meantime, the whole control and management rests in the Resident Surgeon, who is seldom on the spot, but gives the charge of the patients over to another medical man, whom he appoints on his own responsibility. Out door patients, who went to Hospital yesterday, solely to see Dr Pelly, found this gentleman, Dr Evison, acting on his behalf, and apparently was called as master of the establishment. The following annual report has been sent in to the Provincial Treasurer: *' Report for Government on the affiirs of the Wakatip Hospital, from 30th November, 1863, to 29th February, 1864. "The committee of the Wakatip Hospital did themselves the honor to forward to the Government, on the Ist December, a detailed report of the progress of affairs up to that date. " The present will be a supplementary one. the two together forming the annual one, required by the Provincial Treasurer. "Since the 30th November, 67 in-door patients have been admitted, showing a decrea°e as compared with the previous quarter of 93 patients; the numVer of out-door patients treated has been 62, as) compared-.with 102 for the previous quarter. " The total number of in-door patients treated since the Hospital was opened on the 2nd September, 1863, has' been 227; of this number, 203 have been discharged as cured or relieved, 7 have died, and 17 remained in the Hospital; on the 29th February the total number of out-door patients has been, for the same period, 164, who have received medicine andj advice; or a grand total of 391, who have used the Hospital during the half-year it has beea ppen. The average daily number of in-door patient 3 has been 15 or 17 per cent. . "The nature of the dieases have varied. At first all the patients suffered principally from diseases under the head of,' scorbutic' (the most in number being diseases and complaints connected with the chest). Annexed will be found a carefully compiled tabular statement,of the various diseases treated upon, and in reference to which Dr Pelley, the Resident Surgeon, reports, under date 4th March, 1864 —' -- - " That the diseases are now generally of an acute character. The Hospital is now in a very good working condition, and I believe the cost of its maintenance is considerably lessened. The want of baths is very much felt; the new building in the rear of the Hospital might easily be con-

verted into a temporary bath-room." " The position of the finances is shown by the balance sheet? endorsed, by which it will be seen that a cash balance of L97113a 4d remains in the bank. The liabilities aeaiust this are L 157 19s 6£d, but as a considerable aum of money is due by the Government, the total available assets for the current year from 1-t March, 1864, are L 1697 123 sd, a result the committee d"eui mnst satisfactory, especially as the permanent plant and stock of the institution- costing over 1350—is not included therein. A Grant in aid to the ext»nt of L 2500, will probably meet the wants of the institution to Ist March, 1865 ; but whatever extent they may be, they will be as carefully husbanded as heretofore. As anticipated in the first quarter's report, a considerable reduction has been made. An amount of LSOO 23 lls'l Jhas be~n excended on the patients, or showing a cost for tbe quarter of about L 7 7s p?r head against; L 8 13s, for the present one, for the indoor patients. This includes all charges for attendance. The garden audnhe lower rate inline for vegetables,together with increased economy in the entire rcanazement, has materially assisted in arriving at those result?. At the same time, a larue sum has been expended in permanent improvements and comforts for the patients. . The services of the house steward have been dispensed with. . His rate of wages was L 175, and no inconvenience has been txperienced, or any complaints made through this redaction. A collector has been appointed, who is paid by commission and a small travelling: allowance: otherwise, tb° s*aft remans as before renorted. _ "Several improvements have been effected in the management of the Hospital, and the several returns and forms which are enclose I tave led to a system of ree:ulariH' not attained under the stewardshirj of James Kirk;

" The committee havp tn repnrt a difference between themselves and Dr Peiley resanlins; this gentleman's continued violation of the rules and regulations under which he accepted office The action the committee were compelled to take has produced some degree of unpleasantness, but care has been taken that nothing should interfere with the welfare ot the Hospital. As an examination

into the charges laid by the committee before Mr Warden Worfchington is going on, the committee deem it imprudent to further refer to the subject. They have the satisfaction of knowing, however, that their services have been generally appreciated, and that confidence has been maintained.

" Though the committee would like to refer to the decrease cf inmates of the Hospital as a satisfactory feature, they are prevented doing so in consequence of the severe nature of the cases pre* sented to them. One patient has been an inmate of the institution since it has opened, and many more of the cases now standing are of lengthened duration. The Hospital is thus gradually resolving itself into a receptacle for incurable diseases, and it is worthy of remark that the patients, except the entrance fee, can be rarely made to contribute to their support. To thinking minds the subject is worthy of some consideration, and the committee have found their greatest difficulty to be in keeping a line of demarcation ; between an hospital and a benevolent asylum. " In conclusion, they desire to place on record the services rendered by the employes, and to state that without their assistance, and especially that of Mr M'lntosh, many of their efforts to place the Hospital upon an economical and satisfactory basis must have failed. " We hereby certiiy that the above is a correct report of the affairs of the Watakip District Hospital. " W. G. Befs, President, " Thos. Brown, Treasurer. " Queenstown, 23rd March, 1864." An exciting race took place on Saturday week at Queenstown, between two gigs -the Lily and Mystic, for the sum of £100. The weather was most propitious, and the distance, 7 miles, was accomplished in 32£ minutes by the Mystic, whose gallant crew brought her in one minute ahead; the winning boat with the coxswain aboard was chaired amidst vociferous applause. The approaching races at Arthur's Point, on the 14th and 15th inst., are beginning to excite considerable interest, and are expected t6 be a great success, from the number of miners in the immediate vicinity who are well known as a body, keenly to appreciate sport. A Cricket match is on the tapis between the Arrow and Arthur's Point clubs, and will probabJy take. place on the 16th or 18th, on the ground of the latter.