THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 387, 17 September 1869, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(from our own correspondent.) Aiirowtown, Sept. 14.

Spring appears now to have set in, in earnest, the clays are delightfully warm and sunshiny, and ad nature seems to rejoice in the welcome change. The crops of wheat aie advancing very rapidly, but on account of the low prices I very much question if there is such a large amount grown as was the case last year. The works at the Shotover bridge are proceeding very slowly, owing, it is said, to the difficulty experienced in driving the piles, a coating of conglomerate requiring to bo pierced alter the first eight feet of gravel. The completion of this bridge is sadly needed, every season the fording place gets worse and worse, from the increasing accumulation of debris from the sluicing claims up the river. Arrowtown now enjoys the luxury of a water supply laid on by pipes to the back premises and gardens of the inhabitants. Messrs. Butel, Brothers,

the owners of the town race and the Arrow Saw Mi Is, have made wooden pipes, conveying the water from their race to each dwelling. A constant supply from about a half-inch bore being constantly kept up. Largo pipes conduct the water in two places under the main road to the rear of the buildings on the east side of the main street, where it is similarly distributed as before described. This is one of the most ingenious, effectual and least expensive works 1 have ever seen on the goldfields, and the cost to each consumer is only one shilling per week. You talk down the country of whal has been done by your Mayors and Corporations, Messrs Bute!, Brothers, put them all into the shade, however putting joking on one side, a vast deal of useful info might be acquired from an inspßion of the Arrow water works. In my o "union Clyde, Cromwell, and Alexandra might be supplied in precisely the same manner, and to have a permanent stream of water run nr g into your water butts, is something to be desired. There exists quite a mania for making gardens; the low prices for timber is being very gci erally availed of, and the improved general appearance of the place is daily be coming more and more perceptible. John Chinaman is hero in great force, and appears to be pretty successful in his mining operations. A Celestial storekeeper is about establishing himself in the Township, but has not been able to obtain premises as yet; it is to be hoped for the peace of the inhabitants, that he will, and when he does start business prosecute his operations a i - either the extreme ends of the Town.

Queenstown is also receiving large additions to its population in the shape of Chinese, who have great difficulty to procure house accomodation numbers are arriving a'most daily, whence they depart iu detachments, some up the Lake, and others up the Shotover.

The Presbyterian Church Committee have just accepted Messrs Forsyth and M’Donald’s contract for 355?. to build them a church, divine service being at present conducted in one belonging to the Wesleyan body. The improvements and additions to the Church ot England are now nearly complete, and 1 must say that the building will be a credit to tlie place. The Rev". Mr. Coffey* get- on capitally amongst us ; be preaches each Sunday at, Queenstown and the Arrow, bolding a third service alternatively at Arthur’s Point, and Twelve Yile, A rrow.

In mining masters, there is nothing of importance to i ote, everything seems pursuing the usual quiet ai d evc-u tenor of its wry. the yield of gold keeping up to it", accustomed average. The reefs at SI ippeis will no doubt soon cause a bit of excitement. a deal of really good s'one is laying ready for crushing, awaiting the approach of warm weather to enable the crushing mac.dues to resume operations.