THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 827, 16 August 1864, Page 5

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

August 10,1864.

The weather has again set in beautifully fine i and frosty, the storm and flood ot the sth inst I seem to have passed like a dream, though they j havelt'ftj-unfortunatelv, very serious results behind them, and have caused: a temporary depression amongst all classes of the community. The damage reported is very considerable, and said to equal if nofc to exceed the devastations of the horrible floods of last winter; this is easily understood, when we consider that the long prevalence of fine weather has induced parties fco sefc !to work on every available sp fc on the rivers and I beaches, and that the protections raised against ! a sudden rise of the water have been notoriously ! inefficient. Several large wheels were swept down the Shotover; and amongst others M'Master : and party, on Sutherland's Beach, have lost all their mining'material, and have some weeks' work before they can again get afc tlieir rich ground. All the river and beach claims are indeed more or less injured, and in some cases the men have given un altogether and taken to the terraces as more certain and permanent work. Accounts from the Arrow District state that fc 1 c miners on the river are setting to.'wifch a will to repair damages, and that there is a steady increase of population from the swamped cut waiters on the Molyneux. Little gold has lately come in from the Twelve-mile (Arrow) and other localities at a high elevation, as fche difficulty of obtaining water for sluicing still continues, and many parties are quite at ast mdstill. In the Cardrona valley deep sinking is being tried with success, and matters are altogether looking more cheerful than of late. Mr Schaw, the newly appointed Warden, proceeds there to take charge on Monday; his district extends over many miles and a very scattered population, and will tax his constitution and energy thoroughly to perambulate. We understand that the Government have included in the gold field that portion of Mr Wilkin's-' run, situated on the Cardrona, and give that gentleman in exchange the same number of acres nearer the Wanaka. The arrow Quartz Mining and Crushing Company have issued a new prospectus, which is more likely to meet the views of the public than the one first put forward. The promoters now agree to sell their interest in the reef, for the fixed sum of LBSO, to be paid either in cash or shares.. Mr Hacket, the Assistant Government Geologist, is said fco have forwarded a most favorable report to Dr. Hector as to the auriferous qualities of the reef, and we may hope to see the same published at no distant date. News from the head ofthe Lakes reports great distress on the Bucklerburn and other creeks, from the flood of the st.h. A clean sweep seems to have been made of everything, and the losa to the miners is very serious. A project has beeu star.ted to drain several thousand acres of valuable land in this locality by increasing fche fall of the Kawarau 4ft., and thus lowering permanently the level ofthe Lake—this may seem like a countermotion to the sage idea of the Dunstan people who would block up the Falls altogether, and give over Queenstown to the eels and bull trout, t )ur plan, however, is feasible, as a comparatively small expense would suffice for the blasting, &c, necessary to lower fche Falls a few feet; but how such a body of water could be dammed up ior L 250, is a puzzle in hydrostatics aud finance. The Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade held a meeting last evening—Mr Bell (Captain) in the chair. The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, Mr Bell was requested hy the members present-to withdraw hi? resignation, which he had tendered afc the last meeting, and ultimately that gentleman consented to do so, in accordance with their unanimous L A discussion ensued as to the immediate necessity of obtaining a fire-engine for the brigade, aud it was ultimately r solved to advertise at once in the Baily Times for tenders' for a suitable engine, ano" the captain, treasurer, and secretary were instructed to prepare the specifications. The roll having been called, the meeting separated. Great regret is felt afc the departure of Mr John Morton, a constable in the police force, who has been stationed here for 14 months. A purse of sovereigns was presented to him on his departure, together with a numerously signed memorial, a copy of which I subjoin. Mr Morton expressed his acknowledgments in feeling and suitable terms. Cardrona Creek, I'Oth August. Testimonial to Mr John Morton.—" We, the undersigned residents on .the Cardrona Creek HEPBURN, AND Go.

feeling a desire to testify our appreciation of the manner in which you have exercised your offics on this gold field during a stay ot fourteen months, hereby express areeret tbat we are deprived of your services ; and we cannot permit you to leave the district without in some way specially recognising your kindness and discernment in the exercise of a duty anything but agreeable. We feel much pleasure in bearingwitnetsto your kindness of manner, and every quality which entitles a man an 1 a gentleman to our sincere esteem, and we hope that any future occupation you may be engaged in may prosper tothe utmost of your desires and of ours j and that health and happines3 may be your lot in whatever land you may adopt; as your future home." The following letter was received by Mr Martin, of Arthur's Point, in answer to a prtiiioa sent in to the Government;, urging them to purchase 15 yan and Baird's bridge :— " Provincial Secretary's rffice, " Duuedin. 29th July, 1861. "Sir—l have been directed by his Honor the Deputy-Superintendent, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the sth instant, submitting for the consideration of his Honor the Superintendent a memorial from the miners, puckers and other residents at Arthur's Point and neighborhood, prayine that the Government will, by purchasing the bridge at that place, relieve them from the heavy chare es to which they are subjected by the proprietor; and also bringing under notice the state of tbe road between Queenstown and Arthur's Point. " I am now to request that you will be good enough to inform the memorialists that the . Government regret that they have no funds at their disposal at present which they could devote to the purchase of the bridge as requested, but; that they will place a sufficient sum for the purnose on the Estimates to be submitted at the next session of the Provincial Council. With, regard to the state ofthe road referred to by the memorialists, I am to add that the attention of the proper officer has been directed to it.. " I have the ho nor to oe, Sir; " Your obedient servant, •' alkx. Willis, . ". Under Secretary. " Thos. Martin, Esq., Arthur's Point. Fatal Accident—A Miner Suffocated in" A Drive.-R. Beetham. Esq., Coroner, held aa inquest on the 6t,h inst., at the Cuurfc House, Queenstown on the body of Uriah James, a miner at Arthur's Point, who met his death under the circumstances detailed in the following evidfcllCG " "■■■' F. Smith : Deceased was a mate of mine. We were engaged on Thursday afternoon, iv working a drive afc Arthur's Point. I was throwing out some dirt at the top of fche drive when a large flake of sand fell on me. I then called out to the deceased, saying that the drive was falling in. Th-j deceased was about six feet from me. Immediately after that another pie:e of earth fell. I turned round to see where he was, and saw a large flake bury him up. I took a shovel and tried to uncover him; but as fast as I dug tbe earth fell on him. After that I came out ot the drive. Subsequently assisted to dig the deceased out. When recovered he was in the same position as when I first saw tbe dirt fall on To the Jury : When I called to him he did rot speak, except a groan. He did not speak to me about slabbing. We placed two slabs aiter dinner before we entered tbe drive. There was another man in the drive leading from the Shaft j he came out and helped me to dig the depeasett out. The claim is not a valuable one. It is not worth above a pound or thirty shillings per man. a \yg6_C. Bartholemew Dowell: I knew the deceased ; be was not a mate of mine when he met with hia death. On Thursday last heard Smith calling out, aDd went to the shaft, throwing: the sand back. Afterwards went and relieved one ot them. We thought it best to sink a paddock. We bioke through at eight or nine feet. About three-quarters of an hour afterwards, I came upon the deceased. He was quite dead. , To the Jury : Do not know if the deceased natl any relatives. He was lying on his knees and elbows He came from the borders of Devon and Cornwall, in England. Previous to the body being recovered, Dr; Evison wss sent ios from Queenstown, and was on the ground when the boiiy was recovered. _*!_,__ Dr livieon : I examined the body of the deceased as soon as recovered, and found no ex* ternal injuries upon it. He was quite dead, and., the cause of death was suffocation. The Jury returned a verdict; ef "Accidental Death." A „' REPORTED RUSH AT THE MATAURA BEACH, NOKOMAI. Dan Boucher and parfcy have applied for a prospecting claim afc this place, and consequently a number of miners have Eet off to see what it _n like. Mr Oaples. whose name is well known, writes to the Wakatip Mail, on this subject, m the following terms: -" A prospecting claim has been granted this day to Dan Boucher and party, close to where I am working, and I think it ik likely I know more of the paying nature of thcgrou'nd around here than this prospector, who aliehted on the ground only a few days ago. After learning all the information I could give him he obtains half a pennyweight to a dish. and. takes this with a considerable deal of putt, and applies for a prospecting claim, without having either box, tub or cradle to prove the ground.