THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 806, 19 July 1864, Page 5

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

(from our own correspondent.)

July 13, 1364. After the slight break mentioned in my last letter, the weather has against set in fine and frosty, and has every appearance of being settled. The rivers rose slightly, but no damage of any kind is reported, and they are down to-day as low as ever. The Lafce yesterday was certainly kwer even than last week, atid the small'settlement of publicans and packers, near the site of Franktown, is b Jing gradually left an inland village, instead of having water sufficient for cargo boats up to the very doors. The arrow Quartz Mining and Crushing Company have published tbrir prospectus, but the extravagant terms demanded by the present legal holders of the ground seem to weigh very much in public opinion aaainst the success of the scheme. Out of ldoo shares, 400 are reserved, 315 of which, it is understood, are appropriated by the three prospectors; it is a irreat pity that the selfish interests of these men shoulu mar so promising an undertaking, and we must hope that even at the eleventh hour, they will consent to the more reasonable policy which has been from the first, we are informed, endeavored to be.eni'oieei uppn them by the frovisional Committee. There is scarcely room for doubt, that both in quality and quantity the reef is first rate, and will pay for capital invested : but the public naturally look shy upon any speculation where the lion's share is appropriated ; and out of LSOOO, so lare;e a sum as L2OOO claimed as compensation, is too much, without a considerable outlay of capital. Mr Hacket visited the reef a few days ago, and is said to have formed a most satisfactory opinion of its richness and capability for working. Messrs Wright and Millett, Government Surveyors, have, it is said, completed their report upon the Lake Gold Fields, and no doubt must have collected a most valuable body of statistics, as with, indefatigable zeal and industry they visited personally even the remotest gullies.^ We must be prepared for a considerable depreciation from the "returns of population given in those valuable documents, the Wardens' reports, as, like the police, who must take up enough " drunk and disorderlies" to make a respectable monthly balance of fines, the gold fields' officials naturally do their be3t to make a ■" bull" out of every little "frog" of a ' district over which they may be appointed to preside. At the same time, in justice to those gentlemen, it must he observed that they have very little means or machinery to obtain accurate information, but must depend upon such stray crumbs as they can pice up in a general way; and whereas in this district: the population is scattered over so many square mile?, it is impossible, without making it a regular, business, to make even a fair Approximation as to numbers. . ■'•■ ■ ■

The miners are beginning to express their surprise that the visit of Mr Warden Worthington some months ago has been so entirely without apparent result. It wa3 understood that he was commissioned to inquire into grievances and receive suggestions as to alterations desirable in tbe "Rules and Regulations." Fe came, and saw, and heard, and there the matter ended. The .old blue book remains the same / entirely unsuited as many portions of it are to the peculiar requirements of these gold fields. For example -Rule 16. A, Section XIV—" Water for general use." Two sluice heads of water shall, if required, be at all times allowed to flow in the natural course of a creek or a river for general use, is a most prolific source of disputes, as from the want of a definition of " general use," great difference of opinion occurs as to the meaning of the term. Two sluice heads, it must be considered, is a valuable quantity of water, and few of the smaller creeks run more than this quantity. Now to take a very common case, a party constructed a race, perhaps, and most probably, a long and expensive job, heading from one of the various streamlets on the Arrow or Shotover watershed ; they register their rights and comraencesluicingtheirground. Then comes a second party, or even an individual, who sits down by the bank of the said streamlet, and commences fossicking in its bed for gold, or pretends to do so; the water, however, is monopolised by the race, and he or they rush to the Warden, and insist on Rule 16 A being strictly carried out, and two sluice heads allowed to run down. Then comes the question," What are general purposes ?" _ Is one man to ruin a sluicing company by washing on the whole stream running down for his especial behoof, or is tin registered right to protect the company, and how far. In this district Mr Beetham has ruled that it is no protection, and in a case lately where a large payty had a right to four sluice heads, gave permission to another party to head a race below them, and to appropriate two sluice heads, under the Rule 16 A. Mr Broad and Mr Williamson both have .decided differently, and have ruled equitably that "general purposes" does not appiy to other races subsequently ■ CDnstructed, nor even t'i mining operations in the ,bed of creeks, unless prior occupation can be established. The meaning ot the rule would seem to be that water required for the use of the inhabitants of a town or settlement! is not to-be entirely appropriated for mining purposes, but a sufficient stream allowed at all times to flow for ,culinary and lavatory purposes. I have enlarged somjwhat upon this point, as to the miners it is a real grievance, and productive of a great deal of bad feeling and misapprehension. Mining regulations should be as clear and explicit as possible, and not leave room for the eccentricities of Wardens or Assessors upon points of so much importance to the rights of valuable property. , Recent accounts from tbe Uoper, Shotover speak of renewed activity on the river and beach workings about Maori Point. The sluicing companies on Skipper's Gully are hard at work bringing in their races, but will hardly complete them before the spring, as the severe frosts at the high elevations seriously impede operations. The Quartz Company have entirely suspended crushing for the present, and probably are waiting for more perfect machinery; they are getting out . very good samples of stone. The hydraulic sluicing at Pleasant Creek is much spoken of, and is said to be conducted in a very efficifint manner. No' details have however reached me as to the value of the ground, or the 'returns realised A j track is at length being surveyed to Moke Creek and Moonlight; so we may hope to see one made in time fjr'next winter. All the miners except 18 have left Moonlight, but Moke is the scene of as great activity as ever. It is said <( that a dray road to the Twelve Mi'e (take Wakatip) could be constructed at a moderate outlay, say LSOO, which would completely open up this most important section of the district. New 3 from the Cardrona io-day report the population on the increase, but rowdyism unfortunately prevalent; there are too many public houses, and the one policeman cannot be expected to control half a dozen drunken mobs. At the head of the Roaring Meg some twenty-five men are working, as it may be supposed, under very great, privations. The Gentle Annie, once a rush, now only boasts some half dozen, who a-re only eking out a mere subsistence. A few miners are also working . the beach of the Kawarau in this neighbourhood—with what result is unknown.

No local news of any interest from the townships. A noisy meeting of the Fire Brigade was held Tuesday week last at Queenstown, but the particulars are only interesting to the parties concerned. Tie terraces commanded by the race of the Prospecting Association are being taken up, and sluicing has already commenced. We all wish success to this enterprise, and anxiously await the result.

Mr Schaw is appointed Warden and R.M. to the Cardrona, and will proceed there on his return from leave. Mr Macindoe takes his place at the Arrow as gold receiver, combining the duty of Clerk of the Court.

Composition for Lkather.—One of the beat compounds known to us for rendering leather boots and shoes almost perfectly waterproof, and at the same time1 keeping them soft and pliable, is composed of half an ounce of fresh beef tallow, one ounce of yellow beeswax, and one eighth of an ounce of shellac. Melt the tallow first, and then remove all the membrane from it ; add the beeswax in ihin shavings, and when it is melted and combined with the tallow, add the shellac in powder, and stir until it is melted. Beeswax is one of the best known preservatives of leather. This compound should be applied warm to the boot or shoe, and the sole should receive a similar application to the uppers. In using it a rag or a piece of sponge should be employed, and the boot or shoe held cautiously before the fire until the compound soaks' into it. Care must be taken not to expose the leather too close to the fire. If the boot be blackened and brushed until it becomes glossy before the application of this preparation, it will remain black and shining for a long time after it is applied. A little tar mixed with the foregoing composition makes it more adhesive, and improves its quality for walking in the snow. A liberal application of this composition every fortnight during winter will keep boots and shoes waterproof and soft.