THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 424, 3 June 1870, Page 3

THE LAKES.

(from our OWN CORRESPONDF NT. (Queenstown, May 30. Tflie opening ef the Shotover Bridge, on 'the Queens Birthday’ is of course the chief topic of conversation, and I ni”st acknowledge thatthe affair was a great success 'The weather was not all that could have been desired, but itwas an improvement upon what we had experienced for some few days previous. Old Sol now and then deigned to shine down upon the scene, but he was quickly obscured by dense brasses of wind driven clouds. Rude Boreas —and he was very rude to the fair sex—reigned supreme and several times swept the tables of the nicely laid out luncheon, and completely tired out the patience of the attendants, who were compelled to let the public help themselves after the best manner they could. The barrels of beer of ‘Course defied the winds, and sturdily held out until emptied of their contents, for which there was a lively demand. The hunting in the - hope of flags looked glorious and seemed quite to enjoy airing themselves in the breeze; and, cou d they only have spoken would have told how happy they were and how much better it was to be fluttering in the wind, than stowed away in a hag or in hj une out of the way corner in Queenstown A fter a brief address by Mr. Simpson, the District Engineer, and a well-timed speech, illustrating some incidents of the early days •of the Wakatip, by Mr. Warden Reetbam. Mrs. Beetham was presented by Mr. Cope the Secretary to the Celebration Commitee with the orthodox bottle of Champagne, handsomely decorated with rosettes, and the Lady naming the structure of the lower "Shotover Brdge, let go the bottle, which ■swung direetto the place of immolation and burst amidst the cheers of the multitude, followed by more cheers for the sponsor of the bridge and for Mr Beetham. Mr. Hallenstein, the. Mayor of Queenstown, made a most congratulatory address, which was received! with uproarious cheering. Eating and drinking was resumed, and the company, as night drew on, gradually left for their respective homes. A handsomely laid out dinner at Eichardt,s, and a ball, wound up the festivities of the day. Photographs of the bridge were taken by Messrs Richardson and Tyree of Queenstown, and by Mr. R. Barlow of Clyde. Gold mining matters are pretty prosperous, and taking all things into Consideration the gold producing interest was never in a better eondition. I may say that we are experiencing the reaction which you down country people have felt the benefits of some three years since. The Dredge on the upper Shotover is paying handsomely, and another is to he built forthwith. Next Vinter I have no doubt hut that this wondrously rich river will be made, spite of its floods and rapids to yield Up a large percentage of its deeply hidden treasures. Farming operations are being briskly prosecuted. Ploughing and sowing for next seasons crop is visible in all directions. Prices continue as before for wheat, but •oats show an upward tendency; few care to sell even at 3s fid per bushel.The miller and his men have risen the price of gristing to Is. 3d. per bushel, and will only grist in 'si" "'ll quantities for farmers, consequently %.llators in wheat for the purpose of ■srting it into flour are out of the marand the farmers, until the new mill at Lake Hayes gets into operation, must submit to an arbitrary price for this article of grain. No fluctuation in the market value of wheat can effect them. 4s. 6d. per bushel is the inexorable law of the Medes and Persians—l mean the miller and his men. No wonder, in the face of this, that the farmers all joined hands together and petitioned against the opening of Boyes, Brothers run. Tha Miller and his Men should never talk of the extension of agriculture after this. Of course I will allow that everybody has a perfect right to do as they like with their own, and if a man owns a mill he can shut it up or grind for himself only if he pleases. That is one of the glories of a free country. But people in a free country don’t seem to like the few to have things all their own way. Consequently they kick when there is not an equal distribution of plums in the pudding For my part I like the old Cornish maxim * Live and let live.”