THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 360, 19 March 1869, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(from our own correspondent.) Arrowtown, March 16. What with church affairs, Bishop Jenner, and the anticipated visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, therehasbeen plenty of late to engage public attention, so the lovers of gossip, scandal, or anything else you please find their bands pretty full just now In my opinion ic is a very great relief, especially in small communities, that when people find nothing particularly engaging in their own affairs somebody else should afford them employment. So now about the various interesting topics of conversation. The Church, (that is the Episcopaleau Church,) everything c nnectedtherewith, seems to be in a flourishing condition, the Parsonage which is being erected at Queenstown, will be finished in a few days, and a most comfortable and commodious residence the Rev. It. Coffey will find it, thanks to the liberality of some few public spirited individuals, and to the close proximity of Messrs. Robertson and Co.’s saw mills. At Arrowtown, by means of a “tea-fight” and an “auction-bazaar” the handsome sum of £7O, good and lawful British money, was raised for the purchase of a buggy and harnessfor Mr. Coffey, and I can vouch that the necessary trap and appendages have been sent for from Dunedin. At Queenstown on Wednesday last there was another tea-light on behalf of the church. This was to augment the building fund, and the ladies fought so well, that £ZO odd was paid as the price of peace and quietness by the sterner sex, gunpowder tea was effective this time. Bishop Jenner as you all know, got rather roughly handled by the antiritualists, who, by the bye, seem to be a strong party here. lam told that those nominated for the Diocesan Synod have been pledged to vote against; his lordship. Two of the Lay Repre- ■ sentatives actually and fearlessly undertake a journey to Dunedin to place their veto on incense burning or any other practices smacking a Popish savor. The visit of the Duke to the Wakatip will of course be one of the events permanently recorded in the history of this district and faithfullyheld in remembrance by every man, woman, and child, born or to be born, there is no doubt about it, but that he will meat with a handsome reception. Every precaution will be taken so that no vulgar M.P.C.’s or any body else shall bore H.R.H. after the Lord Burghley fashion. I was told as a profound secret only last night, that a strong stockade is being erected on* one of the small islands in the middle of the lake, and should certain mia-re-preseutatives of what is denominated as popular opinion, only' show their noses in Queenstown, they will be kidnapped instants,, and deported by night to the said stockade on the said little island in the middle of the said Lake Wakatip, there to be fed on “burgoo” or something not quite so savory until His Royal Highness has left the district.

The Hospital Committee have been bestirring themselves a bit of late to lick things into something like ‘‘ship shape,” there appears to have been great difficulties with the servants, and what with so much continual changing the internal managenent has suffered in the domestic department. Instead of two servants as heretofore, we are to have three, a mailed couple and a single man, with these a higher state of efficiency will be maintained, without ineieasing the expenses, while at the same time the comfort of the patients and Surgeon Superintendent will be infinitely promoted. The flour mill, that is, the “ Wakatip Flour Mill,” which was to have been built, but wasn’t, is finally defunct. The anticipated support was not accorded, consequently the shareholders have wisely determined to wind up the affair. Messrs. Robertson and Hallenstein have resolved to grist for the public on terms equitable to all parties; so, if such really turns out to be the case, there is no necessity for a second mill ; nor will there be such unless the immigration department favors us with a flood of new chums. In my opinion a mill established somewhere in the Dunstan district would answer the purp se of this district better than a second one here Ihe farmers may just as well bringdown wheat as flour; and, as they can purchase supplies cheaper in your market, the interchange of commodities will be beneficial to both parties.

In mining matters there is a considerable deal doing, taking into account tho amount of gold ; obtained, and the number of people engaged in getting it, the miners as a body weie fever doing eo well The Arrow dig-

trict is better than it has been for the last three years past and is still improving. Some of the slu’eing claims up the river are turning out handsomely, nine and ten pounds per week being by no means uncommon, while by tunneling into the “tei races ” from twenty to 1 hirty pounds per week is being made by shareholders. The long deserted Arrow Flat promises once again to become a scene of busy labor. A company is being formed to rescue some of the auriferous treasures immured there by the floods which ha'' e swept down the river since the greao flood in 1863. It is proposed to cut up a tail race from the Criterion Co,s dam, which is to be removed, this will lower the bed of the river some eight or ten feet, and cause a verv largo area of ground to become workable. The farmers have had a most ble season, late sown crops have be«r light, but taking the district as a whole, no o e ought to grumble, the flour "hould be excellent in quality ; the long dry summer, together with the fact, that the wheat has been all got in, in excellent order, must cause it to be quite equal to Adelaide or Victorian. Oat crops have been good though light in the straw, but this cereal has ..ot been sown in such lar<m quantities as was the case last yeiTr. The breadth of land under potatoes is very small, by no means in excess of local wants. The Shotover ridge will be proceeded with Mr. Aldrich has sent up sawyers, who proceed at once to the head of the Lake to prepare the timber, and I am informed that material is now on its way up to commence building operations with.