LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1754, 4 July 1885, Page 12

LAKE COUNTY.

O'BOM OOH OWX COHHKSPOXDEM.) June 2S). A Public Meeting was held at Arrowtown on Saturday night to bring under the notice ol the Government the necessity there is for completing the dray road between Arrow! own and M.'ce'nwn by constructing a road along the bank of the Arrow lMver, thereby avoiding the present, numeious crossings ; also this formation of a road trom thi'Mivetown reels to to the Matatapu Bush ; iiml I v ask Mr Fergus, M.H.I}, for the Lake.s, to gel ( ;|i"ropri>itcd the sum ot £7000 out of the grant set aside for the development of the mining industry to go t owai-ds the construction of extensive waterworks at Macetown, to enable miners to work the auriferous terraces which exist between Arrowtown and Macetown, extending over a distance of 12 miles. The | great necessity which exists for the tirst ot these works was forcibly and frequently demonstrated during the past month, when the river wiis more than once in a state of high flood and several lives were threatened in the journey up the river. In one case a spring-cart and its occupant were washed nearly 100 yards down rf;he river, and the escape trom death in this case was nothing short of miraculous. This danger will be always present during every flood, so long as the present state of affairs in this road is allowed to continue. The second work is;no doubt a very desirable one, but before it is underfrken the benefit accruing therefrom should be carefully balanced against the cost of the work. It is a well-known fact that the timber "in the Maeetown bush is very limited — very little timber indeed . exists there which is fit for the sawmill ; and as for mining timber, it has been proved to be much inferior to that from the head of Lake Wakatipu, and even at a reduced price, is not patronised by mining managers. Besides this, a dray road constructed liom Macetown to the Matatapu bush would prejudicially affect another and much more important public highway — namely, that of dheet communication between Lakes Wakatipu and Wanalta by the Soho (Roaring Billy) creek saddle, only about 800 above the level of the lakes, w ith exceptionally easy approaches; whereas the road between Macetown and the Matatapu rises more than double that elevation in \ery steep pinches, without any compensating advantage. For these reasons residents in tlip localities concerned should not be too hasty in advocating this work without considering all the pros and cons which surround it. Tho latter work — a powerful and permanent water supply for Macetown — has much to recommend it, for, independent of the golden alluvial wealth of the place — though ""about this there arc different opinions — there can be no doubt that such a work will be of the givatcst importance and benefit to (lie reefing industry, by providing a neverfailing supply oi wafer available all the year round for crushing' purposes. The meeting 'was well attended, and the discussion ot the different subjects brought before it was animated, though somewhat fciven to hair splitting. The Mayor of Arrowtown presided. 'Moiie Poachers. — It is reported that another poaching case, though perhaps not so interesting in its details as the recent ones heard at Queeustown, is likely to be brought before the next sitting of the

I?.M. Court. The offender, it, is stated, has been caught in the very act ot netting, and a most glaring case haa been nuuie out aaahiat him. LLAViiiAKiM..-— Mr John Frazer, ,iun.. who "graduated" at flic Wakatipu Mail office in the de'paitmeni ot tellers— called type for short— was entertained at a social gathering at Eichardt's Hotel, yueenstottii, by a number ot his friends to bid him farewell on the c\c of his departure. Mr Fia/.er always took an encigotic interest in sever.il social and public insf ltiitions, and was ever ready to lend his <ud in any movement which h.id the advance of Qucenstown"lor il s object, and by his urbanity and civilit y made many triemW. VolVx n:kkisM .—Major Gordon inspected the local corps af Quueustown and Arrowtown last WJek. Although the attendance ol the Volunteers was }K".'htipb not quity so muupious us upon former ow'a"ienst thnii 1 ofucieni'y appeased not to have suffered in a - iy lespecl. Coxccnr. — Afirst-cUissenfertainmeutwaspro\id'id by the committee of .St. I'eler's Sunday-«.ohool at (jueciistown on Friday lasf . There was a very lurgf* attendance, and "the fare provided — vocal lis well as instrumental — was excellent, so' that the whole aft'.iir must be \oled an unqualified »ui;oe.ss.