THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 666, 3 September 1864, Page 3

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

(from the daily hubs correspondent,) 24th August, 186 i. The new rush to the West Coxit of Canterbury, or rather tbe id?a of a rush, for nothing definite is known here has attracted a great number of miners who were not doing over well, and will have a considerable eilect in diminishing our population We know our los 3is only temporary, and C3n afford to make light of it ; but the plain truth is that the men are leaving the district in gangs, ana seemingly with no very settled notion of what they are going to do. The restless spirit of the digger is easily excited ; with miles of scarcely te-ted ground close to them, and certain and sure returns for the expenditure of a moderate capital, the prospect of a " pi.'c," in some unknown region, luies on, like a " Will 'o tbe.Wisp," and forbids the quiet settlement which would ensure competency. Fortunes are not to be msde on the New Zealand gold fields in n day, but thousands can make a comfortable living, and a few, who draw the prizes, handsome for tunes, by sticking to their work and developing the resources of where and whereabouts they ma* pitch their tents. The weather has continued beautifully fine, and, indeed, in this district for the last few months might have been stereotyped '•' set fair ;" with the exception of a fewdiys' break atinterva s we have enjoyel a mnst lovely winter, and spring seems to be coming in " like a Jamb." though we must in reason expect the " rude Boreas." and others of our classic 1 *! friends to give us a change during the equinox of rain and blow. The rivers are at a very low level, and all clßinH injured by the late flood are in a fair way of getting to work again. It is to be feared, however, that further checks must bs anticipated A thaw is imminent to-day, and should the same mildness of temperature ureia*l at the higher elevations, the melting of the snow will assuredly swell the volume of the waters, and a genera! floodiag out will again occur. The working out of the river lcds is most desirable, but under present arrangements seems indefinitely postponeJ, and in the meantime terraces and spurs of undoubted richness must remained untouched, because they cannot be worked to advantage until the tailings are allowed to be run into the stream

On my way to the Dunstan within the last few days, I had occasion to pass through the most Southern part of this district, and was surprised to observe so great a development of mining activity. Parties are working the bed of the Gentle Annie Creek, and tuough the rush is over there are decided symptoms of remunerative labor ; the terraces on the Kawarau are attracting considerable attention, and splendid prospects have been obtained at various poiuts. Wherever water can be obtained it is . rapidly being mad? available for sluicing, at no slight expenditure of money; in many cases fluming- will have to be taken across the river, and as in the Dunstan district, wire ropes wil! be employed, to which canvas hoses are suspended; these al=o serve for the fragile baskets to traverse in wh'ch tbe miners pull themselves to and fro over the rapid torreDt with a nonchalance worthy of their prototype in recklessness and vagariousness — the aucfpnt British tar. Extended claims have b»en applied for in this quarter, and without doubt there is a large and remunerative field of labor open to enterprise. There is no town news of any int-eregt The Queenstown Education Committee held a meeting: on the 15th, but the proceedings were entirely confined to matt p rs of detail and routine ; the master's salary for the quarter was voted and two visitors appointed who are to report monthly. The average number of children attending is nearly 19, none being admitted under five years of age.

The Queenstown Cricket CJub has commenced practise for the season, and evidently intends to take a stand in the province ; when communication is easier, as it will be before many months, we hope to have a trial of strength with the metropolitan eleven.