THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 218, 29 June 1866, Page 3

THE LAKES.

OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Jnne 25. The severe frosts that have prevailed 'during the last ten days have passed away, and have heen succeeded by bright autumn weather. The frosts were so severe that at Maori Point water was unattainable without first melting the ice. Sliding upon the dam there was a favorite amusement, all work being suspended either through the hardness of the ground or the frozen state of the water-races. At Skipper's, the Twelve-mile Arrow, the same state of affairs ruled. In a few of the lower workings the effect has not been so severe, and work has besn carried on, though on rather a diminished scale. These frosts will, however affect the escort returns. At the Arrow the forthcoming ball at IV.chmond's New Orleans Hotel seems to

At the Arrow the forthcoming ball at IV.chmond's New Orleans Hotel seems to

:, be a general topic of conversation with n ladies throughout the district, and though e many say we cannot afford balls, I believe r " it will be a great success. ' Ido not indulge in mining news. AT 1 parts of the district are healthy, and afar Jj prospect before the miners. In compau.o I have any amount of intelligence io re- |. cord. Meetings of directors and sharet holders, proposals* .fee.; but, perhaps, the chief is a meeting held by the shareholders of the Big Beach Company (alluvial) with . certain Queenstown men, for extending the operations* What was done no one " seems to know; every one says it was an important meeting, and so I suppose it _ was. The proposal made by the capi talists (i) was, I hear, for the men to ' throw in their shares, and agree to work ' the ground quickly out by hiring a large | number of hands, and create funds for a dividend; also to make a more extensive public company. The ground is good, the j plan to some extent rational, but I think f it a question whether men averaging £4 per week will yield to the charmer. The ; other meeting was of the Alexandra Quartz _ Company, and one shareholder had provided himself with a majority of proxies. the meeting, I believe, was satisfactory, however, and rules were passed. Queenstown is very dull. The citizens' roll, as stated, is about eighty, but the number could be doubled if females and vacant freeholds were taken into consideration. Active efforts are being made to reorganise the fire brigade. It is currently stated that only soni3 twenty persons put down their names, and that the holders o; property and stores, with two or threi notable exceptions, made excuses for not enrolling themselves. The would -be working members have therefore for the present taken the " huff." The Acclimitisation Society's project is very popular, and is likely to be a sucjes and of permanent endurance. Indeed, with the magnificent field open in the Lake District, there" is no reason why suoh a society should not flourish. It is likely a vigorous effort will be made shortly to establish a Mining Board. The new water regulations are very perplexing to both old and new proprietors I could, if health permitted, give an interesting sketch of the water-right principles and the working of the bye-laws as Skipper's. The subject, though impo taut, w.U keep till next week. Mr. Gustavus Eichardt, brother of Mr. Eichardt, of the Queen's Arms Hotel, died on Sun:lay last, from heart disease. Hi? funeral was attended by nearly all th citizens. Illness alone prevents me writing some public movements of importance, but I will do so, I hope, in my next letter. The share market is .aid to be vcjy heavy —so many new reefs, project**, schemes, etc. A v.'iy heavy fall has taken place in some of the companies' scrip. It is not likely that much will be done until spring. Quite a township is springing up at Skipper's. Several new reefs are said to have been found - Confidence is unabated here among the miners, but in the towns it is not so.