LAKE WAKATIP.

Dunstan Times, Issue 408, 11 February 1870, Page 3

LAKE WAKATIP.

As so many conflicting opinions exist respecting the length, breadth and depth of Lake Wakatip, that we have been at the trouble of obtaining the following information, which our readers may accept as reliable, South Arm, Queenstown to Kingston twenty two miles ; North Arm, Queenstown to Few’s Creek or Twelve Aide, six, and a half miles ; Queenstown to Simpson’s Creek or Twenty-five Mile, eighteen miles; Queenstown to the Greenstone Paver, twenty two miles and a half; Queenstown to Messrs Robertson’s Saw Mills, twenty seven miles ; Queenstown to Glenorchy, twenty eight miles, and to the extreme bead of tire Lake, fay twenty nine miles. Kawaran Arm ; Queenstown to Frankton, four miles. Total length, fifty five miles. The greatest width of the Lake is from th« Greenstone River, taking right across the Islands to opposite shore, three miles and a half. The Kingston Arm may be taken at two miles and threo quarters, and the Kawarau Arm, three quarters of a mile.. The average width of the Lake will therefore he two miles and three quarters. The greatest

depth is on the Kingston Arm, when opposite the 'Remarkables, soundings were not reached until two hundred and forty two fathoms of line had been run out, this will give four hundred and forty five feet below the level of the sea. At the Saw Mills, the depth is sixty two fathoms, gradually shoaling off to the head. The total area of water may he set down at seventy live thousand acres.

Along the shores of the Wakatip, a population of some two hundred Europeans and about the same number of Chinese find employment, the latter of course being engaged exclusively in mining. At the Twelve Mile, persons are engaged in farming, mining and stock keeping. A brick making’eatablishment has also just started into existence here, and there is plenty of limestone and freestone, the latter is rather too hard for ordinary building purposes, but is admirably adapted for grave- stones, grindstones or ornamental carvings, where durability and a smooth white surface is desired. At the Twenty live mile, there are miners, farmers, and stock keepers. At Glenorchy there exists the same, here there are two stores, and close to the beach is the head station of the Messrs Butement, Brothers. There are also diggings at the Dart and Rees Pavers, but at some little distance from the Lake, the land being swampy for at least eight miles inland, and during heavy Hoods entirely covered with water. There is some fine agricultural country on the Koes River, also on the Dart, and around the slopes of Mount Alfred aud theTnargin of the Diamond Lake ; this country,is not occupied as yet, the land being in the hands of the squatters. From the Greenstone River, along the western side of the Lake, the hills are covered with dense forests, which stretch down to the waters edge, while Mounts Alfred and Earnslaugh are capable of supplying, sufficient timber for the whole of the goldfields for generations to come, and from theueo-to Martin’s Bay, the same dense forest exists. The principal supplies of water to the Wakatip, are the Dart, Rees, Green-tone, and Kirtlehurn Rivers. The head of the Lake is said to be fast lilting up by the enormous quantity of debris broughtdown by the first named two rivers, which drain the great dividing range on its eastern watershed. At the extremity of the Kawarau Ann, whore the Lake fails into the Kawarau River, arc the Brunswick Flour Mills, the property of Messrs Robertson and Hal'enstein. A large Maori pah is supposed to have existed here in times long past, the remains of extensive earthworks may still be distinguished. In excavating the foundation for the mill, and below four feet of loam, several greenstone chisels and hatchets were found, also other small, but iir.escribablo implements of stone.

The new Settlements at Martin’s Bay and Preservation Inlet will add largely to the traffic of Lake Wakatip, and what with its immense and inexhaustible forests of timber, moisture of climate, and suitableness of soil for agricultural purposes, au extensive field for enterprising lahoris ouiy waiting to bo opened. It is a country, that as yet, we can only say, we know comparatively nothing.

Lake Hayes (a little Wnkatip) is two miles lung, by half a mile broad, it is so verity fathoms in the deepest part, its surface area of water is seven hundred and

MISCELL A X LOIS

One of the most dangerous tricks of which a horse is’guilty is that of fal'ing hack upon his rider. Several plans have been resorted to for the cure of this vice when it has become a confirmed one. Among them is that of leaping oft' the horse, and just as he has got himself balanced on his hind legs, sending him over backwards by a judicious “chuck" at the bridle, 'i ■his, however, requires great activity and presence of mind. Another plan, which has boon successfully tried, is that of striking the horse between the ears with the huttc f a heavy whip at the moment of rising ; the blow, if properly administered, bringing him to the ground partially stunned. This is said to prevent a horse from over trying the trick again. A safer plan, and one reported by an American paper to be equally efficacious, is to use a bottle of water for the purpose instead of a whip. This does not stun the horse, hut he is so much annoyed by the water running into his oars and eyes as to be cautious in future about making a biped of himself. Placards have been posted at Claphani containing the following piquant invitation to worshippers at “ Bethesda Chapel:”— “ Nod Wright, who before his conversion was convicted throe times of burglary, will deliver a Gospel address. Come and welcome!. No collection.

The value of the machinery employed at the quartz reefs at Bendigo, Victoria, at the end of 1869, is estimated at £370.000. During the latter half of the year thes reefs yielded at the rate of 5,000 oz. a week, the average return being dwts to the ton.