THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 419, 29 April 1870, Page 3

THE LAKES.

(from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) QtJEENSTOWN, April 26. That abominable nuisance the Shotover crossing will soon be among the things of the past. About the 10th May next it is proposed to open the bridge with a grand public demonstration, to take part in which His Honor the Superintendent, the Secretary for Land and Works, and the Mayors and Councillors of Clyde, Cromwell, Alexandra, and Lawrence have been invited. Subscriptions, to giv« due effect to the auspicious event, are flowing in freely, and it is though that at least £IOO will be obtained. Should the weather prove fine, of which there is little doubt this time of the year, Messrs. J. W. Robertson and Company will place the steamer Antrim at the disposal of down country visitors for a short excursion up the Lake. This, after the pleasures of the ball to be held at Queenstown, wM bring the festivities to an agreablo close. Messrs. Robertson and Hallenstein, of the Brunswick Flour Mills, have commenced grinding this seasons crop, and consequently the farmers are actively engaged in thrashing operations. The yield of grain is not quite so heavy as last year, but the quality is far superior, owing to the dryness of the season The price is 4s. 6d. per bushel delivered at mill, which, considering the low value of flour, is a satisfactory one, and should be remunerative to growers. Many crops for be.it oeas.n are already in the ground, and a large breadth of land will be sown before the end of the month. Dairying operations arebcingconsiderably extended, and paddocks of clover and ryegrass will soon lie as common here as at the Taieri. The farmer.3 are making large purchases o f cattle, and the late sales of Mr. Powell have been well attended, and good prices realised ; some first class stock, thoroughly quiet and in milk, with calves at foot, realised from £l2 to £l3 per headstores and steera realised £5. A small mob Of hacks and packers brought from £lB to £23. The opening Up of the country between the head of Lake Wakatip and Martin's Bay is engaging considerable attention, and each weekly trip of the steamer takes up a goodly number of prospectors ; among the batch that left on Thursday last, was the well known William Fox and mate, who is to search the country for gold in a systematic manner, for which purpose the sum of £4O was subscribed by the inhabitants of Queenstown. I