THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 319, 5 June 1868, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.) Qnceiistown, Juno 1. The weather has been very unsettled of late, and the roads, from the almost continuous wet, are in a very bad state for travelling. We have had a number of visitors from your quarter lately; some of them have been, seriously inconvenienced by that abominable and dangerous stream, the Shotover.; I fully expect soon to hear of some fatal casualty there, the fording place is thoroughly unsafe for strangers, but I suppose that no active measures will be taken by the Government for a bridge until a Provincial Treasurer, or a Secretary, or some great squatter gets carried off in the cold embrace of its waters Messrs J. "W. .Robertson and Co., the head of which firm, is our worthy

Mayor, are proceeding rapidly with the building of their new steamer. The engine.? have been contracted for, by a Dunedin House, and it is expected that before the end of the present year, Lake Wakatip will bear upon its waters, a first class steam boat fit to encounter any weather; a trip up the lake will then be a real pleasiire, which is not the case with the present craft, the excursionist always being in dread of a sudden descent into the regions below, where the eols dwell. The steamer «ill be principally employed in bringing down timber from her owners mills, the increasing demandfor this indispensi ble article requiring to be more expeditiously supplied. A melancholy case of sudden death occurred on Saturday last. The wife of our respected townsman, Mr. John Dohey of the Union Hotel, was overtaken by a fit, from which she never recovered. Farming- operations are being prosecuted briskly, th« breadth of land under wheat has been largely increased this year, the District having proved itself most favorable to the production of that cereal. Now that the ' Buns " are not to be sold—thanks to the untiring energy of Messrs Haughton and Marnier.--—tl e latter gentleman certainly deserves some public recognition of his services—population seeking to. permanently locate itself, ought to be coming in last, four applications for fifty ocres each, under the new Leasing regulations, is not a very expensive matter, and two hundred acres of la-il will make any industrious person a comfortable living, more especially when there is a good run for cattle, which everywhere exists in ibis district. The growing of wheat will doubtless prove remunerative for very many years to come, and it'enn be ground on the spot; there is always a ready market. The Chinese have at last settled upon (he Shotover; the Celestials are now in occupation of that fabulously rich spot the " big beach " at Arthurs Point, and there is but little doubt, but that they will be richly rewarded for their labors; their combine 1 system of labor cannot fail to meet with success. Those of the Agricultural Leaseholders who carry on business not necessarily confined to farming have lately boon called upon to take out business liee sos. jfow this is carrying things a little too far, and I am ! sure that this " Shylock " proceeding : on the part of the Provincial authorities will do much to bring them into contempt; surely a lease or an undertaking to lease, with a right of j purchase at a'stated period, is so far I .as a " holding " is concerned, eqivaj lent to a freehold, ami it is little less than a species of dishonesty to require a licciii-e for trading under such circumstances ; we are taxed pretyneav|ly as it is, but there can be a limit to all tilings. The public buildings about Queenstown are realty of a most creditable description. The School House and Master's residence. Episcopalian Church and Town Hall would ready be a credit to a Town if much greater pretensions. The plan of lining these buildings with polished native woods is capital, the red birch when planed and varnished, is almost equal to bird's eye maple, the grain of some of the lining boards in the. Town Hall would be considered as handsome for ve errs. While at Frankton the other day I paid a visit to the flour- mill of Messrs. Robertson and Hallenstein. It is a very extensive affair, and is not surpassed by any similar establishment in Dunedin. The building consists of four stories, and is very strongly built, the largest procurable logs of black pine and totora being used in the framework. The necessity of this is apparent, when the vibration of the machinery and the stowage of grain is taken into consideration. The entire cost of the undertaking was £'4.401. The motive power is supplied by an undershot wheel, sixteen feet in diameter by a breadth of twelve feet. The estimated power of the wheel is equal to twenty horses, but. any power can be derived by increasing the size of the wheel, the supply of water being unlimited By working eighteen hours per day twenty-four tons of flour per week can be made, two pairs of stones only being used. Everything is most admirably arranged, manual labor, from taking a sack of wheat into the mill and putting it through the various stages of grinding being only necessary as a directing power, till it is returned in the shape of flour. The Lakes District must be exceedingly indebted, to Messrs. Robertson and Hallenstein for their enterprising speculation in thiis supplying the people with the means of prosecuting the cultivation of the soil with cur tain success. The curing and smoking of bacon is an industry lately brought into exissence in Queenstown. Mr. George Atkins, of Beach street, has just goneinto this business in a regular systematic manner, and has laid heavy contributions on the members of the porcine tribe belonging to the Wakatip district. Some bacon and hams shown to me were of excellent quality, far superior to the imported article, and much cheaper into the bargain.

KESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COUHT, CLYDE. ~y Tuesday, June 2. (Before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M.) Sandisonv. Neiper.—Clahnfor£33 175.3d. balance of wages due. This ca36 was adjourned from a former date, to permit of the defendant procuring witnesses to establish his ease. The plaintilf was allowed by the Bench to produce evidence in reply. John Wilson, a miner, who appeared on behalf of defendant, sworn, deposed that he knew the plaintiff at Eraser's River. He had sent for witness to go out there ai d join him as mate. Plaintiff had been getting a little gold. Witness stayed two nights at Fraser's River. Plaintiff showed him where he was working. Cross-examined plaintiff—Considered Us plaintiff was carrying on a store for tue defendant He nover asked witness to work as a mate with him ; nor did he (the witness) ever see him working at mining. He showed him about half a pennyweight of gold in a dish, which he said wjs the produce of a day's work. Henry Partridge, on behalf of the plaintiff, sworn, deposed that he had seen the plaintiff at defendant's store, at Eraser's River. Had never seen him engage] in mining. Witness's tent was close to the store. The store was not properly stocked, and plaintiff had frequently been obliged to leave to procure goods. - Cross-examined by council for defendant:,, Oace or twice saw plaintiff fossicking with a pick and tin dish. Witness gave him a little wash-dirt, which formed a small heap, about sixty yards from the store. Witness lived about one hundred ya ds from the store. Plaintiff could not have been engaged in mining without the knowledge of witness. Louis Fabreo, a miner, deposed, Was living about ten yards from the store kept by plaintiff at Fraser's river. Never saw him engaged in mining. Always saw him in the store. There were very few goods in the store ; sometimes there were none, Cross-examined : Never saw him digging. Have seen him with a dish and pick. Mr, Bailey, for the plaintiil, addressed tho Bench, to the effect that his client was not engaged in mining operations, nor did he agree to look after the store in consideration of receiving his " tucker," but that he had discharged his duties faithfully. It was quite a eominon thing for employes on tho goldfiel Is, having nothing to do, to wash a dish of dirt now and then to see if it contained gold. This idea the Magistrate concurred in, remarking that nothing could be more disagreeable and trying than for a man to be in a store in an out of the way place, hours without a customer, and knowing that would come. ' The Bench allowed a set-off, and gave judgment for £2S Ss., with the costs of the Court. M'Morranv. Birnie.—Claim for£o 14s.' supplied. Summons not returned. Struck out. Petty v. M'Dougall.—Claim for for £2 3s. Judgment for the amount and lis. costs.