THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 377, 9 July 1869, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Al! KOWTOWS', July 4. We Lave liacl some wry severe weather lately, and while I am writing the snow, in many places, is covering the ground on tue flats. The Shotover and the various other streams which feed the lake, as well us theMolyueux are very low, many of the smaller water-courses being actually frozen up altogether. 1 am of opinion, however, that we shall have a change to north west winds, which will, in all probability, bring a flood, the accumulation of snow on the ranges being very large. Mr. Gillies, the member of the Provincial Government deputed to enquire into the goldfields grievances, haa paid us a visit. He left on Friday last for the Dunstan, via Cardrona. Air. Gillies was not much pestered Line, there heingno land grievance to complain about, we have plenty of land available for occupation, our difii culty is t lie want of people to occupy it.

The growth of hops on a small sea e has been very successful, and efforts arc being made to encourage their giowth on a large one. Messrs. Halleustein and Co., with liberality, offer 2a. 6cl. per pound for the first five hundred pounds grown in the district. Considering t hat all the ingredients for making beer can be successfully grown, local enterprise should not hesitate ranch longer in starting a Brewery, or perhaps somebody at Clyde orCroinweT might le inclined to embark in Ibis much needed branch of industry.

To day, being the anniversary of American Independence, Host Scoles, of the Roval Oak Hotel, who, we will suppose, finds some difficulty in identifying Royalty with America Independence, gives a shooting match, in which some score or so of unfortunate pigeons are to be the victims. In the evening there will be still further celebrations in the shape of a free ball, which Mr. Scoles gives annually upon this occasion.

In mining matters there is nothin? particular to report. The yield of gold is very satisfactory, considering the small number of the population engaged in mining, in fact, mining for gold here, like everywhere else in Otago, is a highly remunerative branch of labor. Nothing has yet been done in the matter of dredging the river beds, but the Shofover, Arrow, Kawarau, and many of the beaches of the

Wakatip should present considerable inducement for this branch of mining enterprise, the Shotover more especi ally.

The building of the bridge across this river, at Forster’s Ferry, "is proceeding vigorously. The pile driving machine is constantly at work, and large supplies of the necessary limber are daily coming down the Lake. The usual monthly meeting of the "Wakatip Hospital Committee was held at the Hospital, Franktor, on Saturday last. The letters of “Argus,” which appeared in the Mail , of course came on for discussion, but nobody

came forward to prefer any charges whatever. “Argus” must he, thnrefore, a myth, or at least, no true man, •w under any circumstances. The Editor of the Wakatip Mail has bee: l , doubtless imposed on, his correspondentbeing induced to write from no other motives than those of personal aniiuosityagainst the officers of the hospital. must say that such, in fact, was plainly proved at the meeting. and the Committee did perfectly right in treating the whole affair with the contempt it so richly deserved