THE KAWARAU PUNTS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 350, 8 January 1869, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE KAWARAU PUNTS.

lu the “Daily Times” of the 31st ult. we find the following letter, addressed to the Editor. We always thought the tolls on the Kawarau punts dear enough ; but, judging from the subjoined letter, they are something excessive, and amount to a positive prohibition of traffic. The affair demands the immediate attention of the Provincial Government.

“Sir, —A contemporary, of a recent date, contains a notice that the * Duustan Times’ is attaching blame to the authorities for allowing punts to be held by private individuals. However, although considered ‘ semi-official,’ your contemporary vouchsafes no explanation why such is done. “ Allow me to bring under the notice of the public how it is imposed upon by the above practice. “Two punts across the two arms of the Kawarau, on the main road to the Lake, charge for the crossing and re-crossing of a team the exorbitant sum of £4 9 0

“Three tons of goods, at 2s. Gd.,

on two punts .. 0 15 0 “Eighteen bales of wool (return, at Is. crossing and recrossing on two punts .. 116 0 “ Seven horses, at Is., crossing and re-crossing on two punts 1 8 0 “ One waggon, 2s. 6d., crossing and re-crossing on two punts 0 10 0

£4 9 0

“An entire cessation of the traffic on that road will be the consequence if the authorities do not at once compel the proprietors to fix a more reasonable rate of charges.

“I am, &.,

“Outram, Dec. 30.’

The cruise of H.M. Ship “Galatea,” Commander H.R.H. Prince Alfred, appears to have reached Melbourne. The ' ‘Argus” publishes the following extract:—“ Some of the officers of the Galatea wished to run over to Ballarat and have a good look round the Goldf. 5 s before the Prince’s arrival there. A letter was written to the mayor, requesting him to be kind enough to obtain permission for them to see the various mine*, and have an intelligent guide < to meet them when they arrived at the railway station. The Mayor was sixty miles from home when the letter reached him, but telegraphed to say that he would meet them himself on their arrival on the following day. Sx of the officers accordingly went up, and found the mayors of both boroughs waiting to receive them and show them every attention. It was determined to visit some of the mines while the dinner was preparing; and as some slight return for their great kindness and attenthe worthy mayors were invited to dine with them. After some little consultation together, as to whether some official duties connected with the Prince’s reception could not be postponed to another day, they consented to accept tho invitation. The best dinner that the hotel could provide was there upon ordered, with abundance of iced champagne and the very best wines that could be had, in honor of the two guests. The dinner came off in due course, the first lieutenant taking the head of the table, with one mayor on his right band and the other on his left. “Mine host” had obeyed his instructions to the letter, and supplied a most sumptuous repast. Late at night our guests ordered the new Albert Hall to be lit up with gas, and drove the party party down to inspect it; after which another mine was visited, and all went down the shaft to explore the interior workings. It was nearly one o’clock in the morning before they returned to the hotel. Two of the officers had to leave by the six o’clock train the next morning, and left with the others all the money they could spare, in anticipation of a heavy reckoning for the previous nights entertainment. After breakfast the officers were-agaiij driven to different places by the mayors’, and back again to the hotel in time to settle the “ little account” before the train started for Melbourne. The landlord, when asked to furnish his bill, Observed that there was nothing to pay t that the mayors had left strict injunctions that no charge was to be made for anything; so that it turned out that*fiio officers were all the while the guests’of the kind-hearted mayors, instead - f being their entertainers.”