THE LAKES DISTRICT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 287, 25 October 1867, Page 3

THE LAKES DISTRICT.

(From Oct? Own OoRREsroNnr.NT.) QUEENSTOWN, OCT. 2.'!. Nothing can be more favorable to the agriculturists than the late rainy weather which has prevailed during the last fortnight ; the crops look magnificent, and are in an extremely forward condition ; old residents in the district, say, that " they never experienced such a favorable spring before." The Flour mill at Frankton has ceased working, the season's wheat having been all ground up, there will doubtless be plenty of occupation for it next year, as there is a great breadth of land set with wheat : the proprietors, Messrs Robertson, and Hallenstein are about purchasing in Victoria the necessary machinery for making oatmeal, and Pearl barley, also for grinding and crushing grain and pulse for cattle feeding. A Fellmongery establishment i.s being started at Frankton, and should the barley crop, turn out as well as expected, a malting and brewing establishment will follow. The miners are all now busily employed the supply of water being iu abundance, the I sluicing parties on the Shotover and

Twelve Mile, Arrow are doing remarkably well, and their numbers are being considerably increased by arrivals from the West Coast. It is seemingly very strange that there have been so few visits to this district from the Chinese, who, were they but to try, could ti ml plenty of profitable employment in the Arrow district. At the Eight mile, Twelve mile, and Bracken's Gully, [there is plenty of shallow ground suitable to the labors and means of this industrious and plodding class of miners, who. besides mining, might rind employment (as in Victoria) among the sheep farmers and agriculturists in the neighbourhood. Writing about sheep, the new class of stock-owners that has lately sprung up, are fencing in with posts and wire, paddocks from 200 to 400 acres for the purpose of keeping within them their small flocks ; the plan, especially when the paddocks come to be laid d"Wn with English grasses, which it is intended s-> to do, will answer admirably, and be a sure source of profit, and be the means of ,-ecuring permanently to the Province, a most valuable class of settlers. The traffic on the new road, via the Kawarau River, is steadily increasing ; during Saturday and Sunday las', no ltss than six loaded waggons, and one dray passed along for Queenstown and the Arrow. The Government should however do sonieteing for Messrs Owens and Edwards in the shape of a grant of land, or a money subsidy, .so that the rates of puntage might be lowered, the present high p ices, although they press hard upon travellers, are by no means remunerative to the present owners Even as pioneers of civilization, Messrs Owens and Edwards deserve some recognition of their services. On Monday last, Arrowtown was quite alive, (the female portion of it especially) Mr. Warden Lowther Broad having brought home his Bride ; the happy couple met with a most hearty ' reception and unanimous evidences of good will on the part of the population must have been extremely gratifying to both parties.