THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 279, 30 August 1867, Page 3

THE LAKES.

'(from a coi;i.j:sro:cm:xT.) ', Queenstown, Aug 29. 'Summer weather is now sotting in very ■last. Chi Sol is beginning to assert his I •might, ftiul, wore it not for the large accusnmlatioiis of s o\v on the ranges, one "would scarcely think we had but just fussed through so trying a winter. Mining operations are being vigorously •prosecuted. The supply of water is ample, and there is every reason to believe that the yield of gold will be •doubled. ! The newly opened terrace claims between i the Shotover and Skipper's Crock arc turning out remarkably well, and wo shall ,si.»on have a largo increase in our population i'i this directio-. There is a large amount of fine sluicing ground about this quarter, and plenty of water can be brought to bear upon it; but ground sluicing, as a. rule, has been much neglect' d in the Lakes District, and it is only just now •that «ur miners are begining to open their eyes to its value as a -permanent and surely remunerative industry. Many of the beach claims have been turning out most "handsomely during the last few months.. Skipper's Creek has been quite lively jv'nin, and I fully expect that next winter ibis famous locality will support a pretty 'large population. It has till the .present been comparatively deserted since the -great flood in 18G3. The ground is found to r bo but very imperfectly worked, and ami almost as much gold remains bellied as was taken out in the good old days. At the 'lVerve-iinile (-Lake) the Boatmen's Claim is turning out as productive as ever. Moke Creek is also looking lively. The quartz companies at Skipper's are crushing away, and they have now a water supply which will keep them going for some months to come. The Scandinavian is working fifteen and Southberg sixteen head of stampers. Perry's claim -c'aim is idle, Mr. Perry being on a visit to town to make arrangements for starting again. The agricnitarists arc getting in their crops, and ploughing -and sowing-arc going on from daylight till dark. The success of the Brunswick Mill, and the high price of wheat, should make tilling the a profitable occupation in this district. Tiie farmers are very badly off for labor, which, besides being excessively scarce and dear, is of a very inferior quality, and good ■useful men, accustomed to farm work, will .lind ready employment. The works on the main trunk road are proceeding as slowly as ever, and, if no •more energy is used, the liberal sum voted for the approachs to the punts will be eaten up, and no equivalent in labor doneIt is a great mistake ©f the Government to employ day labor. The contract system should in all cases be pursued. The boring ■operations at Porster's Ferry, on the Shotover, have resulted in the discovery of a ■suitable bottom for the driving in of piles, hut when the bridge will be made is a question not easily answered. However,

with the Arrow Punt at work, we may get along, and not be an isolated community as at present. Mr Warden Lowtlier Broad was entertained by the Town Council at a banquet, on Wednesday evening last, at Powell's Family Hotel. All the members of the Council were present. Mr. Broad left for Wellington on Saturday, on leave of absence. The fencing in of the public reserve is nearly complete, so that the citizens will not be put about for a place for public recreation ; at the same time, I do think that a recreation ground is rather superfluous. 1 here is so little doing in the town at present that the place is all one recreation ground. I would suggest that a prospecting association be formed, and that the citizens take it in turn to develop the auriferous resources of the surrounding guides and ten-aces. Mr. William Jackson Barry, Mayor of Cromwell, has been on a tour through the district, lie appeared highly delighted at what he saw, and fully acknowledged the energy displayed by the inhabitants. The highly cultivated paddocks and the comfortable cottages of the farmers, let alone the flour mill, quite took him by surprise, ami he promised that the expeperience gained dining his trip should not be lost upon Cromwell.