LAKE COUNTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 16

LAKE COUNTY.

July 31. — Rumours have been in circulation to the effect that great numbers of trout and salmon fry have been destroyed by tho heavy rains of last autumn pouring dirty water into the breeding boxes' and ponds, and thus choking the young fish. It is therefore reassuring to learn upon the authority of Mr R. Davidson, the new curator of the Lakes Acclimatisation Society, that the damage done is not nearly so great as was represented. A fair percentage of the salmon fry is in a sound and healthy condition, doing exceedingly well, and so far as the young trout are concerned they are eminently calculated to maintain the character the Lake Wakatipu breeding establishment, under the care of the local Acclimatisation Society, has attained.

Cardrona Prospecting Association. — It was reported at Arrowtown on Tuesday last that this Association had bottomed a shaft sunk from their paddock, and that gold had been found, and as it was inferred that the Association did not deem it judicious to make the exact amount known before they had ascertained the direction of the run of the gold and secured their claim, the conclusion that the prospect is a payable one was but a natural sequence. Although nearly a full week has elapsed no further news is to hand. Such is the sapient postal arrangement between Cardroua and Arrowtown, which are divided by a saddle a little over 2000 ft high and by a distance not exceeding twenty miles, that it takes ten days for a letter to pass between the two places. 1 hope to be in a position/however, to wire you further particulars before you go to press. Should payable gold be found there would be a bright future before the district, as some twelve or fourteen miles intervene between the point where the gold was lost and where the Cardrona Valley debouched into Pembroke Flat. Of course it does not follow that every inch of this distance must be payably auriferous, but, allowing the blank ground to equal the payable portions in extent, it would still leave the matter of six or seven miles available for a rush of very decent proportions. Very little can at present be said as to the nature of the ground, except that it will require capital and skill to work, it being both deep and wet, requiring machinery such as water-wheels, and timber with a knowledge of how to use it.

August 1. — One of the most mysterious affairs that has ever happened in this district is the discovery of the body of an old resident, whose friends imagined him to be a long distance away from New Zealand on his road to England. Some time ago Mr John Hancock, who had been mining for upwards of 20 years near Gibbston, Kawarau river, where he was fairly successful, received news from the old country that considerable property, comprising some land near Wolverhampton containing a valuable deposit of coal, had been left him. The estate being in Chancery, his presence was required in order to effect a transfer, and he started on his journey about three weeks ago. He passed through Arrowtown with from £70 to JBlOOinjnotes inhis possession, and stayed fora day or two at Queenstown, intending to leave by Monday morning's boat for Dunedin. This was exactly three weeks ago, and since that time he has not been heard of; in fact he was not missed by anybody. Last Friday evening, however, his body was found floating in Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown. Upon being brought ashore a slight wound was discovered above the left eye and some discolouration about the face, and the right hand and arm were set as if warding off a blow. The money and watch were both missing, only a few shillings being found in the poakets. The deceased, although advanced in years, was well preserved, and retained much of his physical strength, which in early life had been very great, and he would therefore be difficult to deal with ; yet owing to the money and watch being missing soul play is suspected. Although "not an abstainer, the deceased was a sober man, and ifc is not generally supposed that he got iuto the lake by accident. No evidence was forthcoming at the inquest held on Saturday as to how he had met wich his death. The inquest is adjourned till Thursday next.