THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 428, 1 July 1870, Page 3

THE LAKES.

(from our own correspondent. Queenstown, June 28.

As we have been visited with a severe flood. On the ranges at the head of Lake Wakatip and the Shotover it rained and snowed alternately for more than a week previous to Thursday last. Towards the afternoon o! that day the wind suddenly veered to the North-west, accompanied by a steady downfall of warm rain, which, lasted fully twenty-four hours. This, with the melting of the snow, brought down a heavy flood, and Lake Wakatip rose six feet between miduightj on Friday and noon on Saturday. The Shotover, at an early hour on the morning of the latter, was a raging torrent, the largo flat on tho northern extremity of the bridge being flooded to the depth of three feet. Immense quantities of wood came floating down, and great fears were entertain d for the safety of the bridge; but happily no casualty occurred, ana by Sunday merniug all danger had passed. A miner named G-ibhel lost his life on Friday night, at the Big - Beach, Shotover. He had gone out to save some tools from being washed away, and falling into a paddock excavated by some chiuaiuen, was unfortunately drowned. His mate very nearly suffered the same fate in bis endeavours to save him.

The dredging party at the Sand-hills have lost their ~ dredge”, which broke away from its moorings and became a total wreck, portions of it being picked up at Edward’s Punt. This is a most unfortunate affair, not only for the owners of the dredge, but for the district generally. The Arrow and Katvarau Rivers were also flooded, and, much damage was suffered by the miners working thereon. 1 hear that a party is up at the Lake, engaged in making a collection of Native trees and shrubs for your market. The variety and beauty of these native plants exceeds anything of Europeon origin, and, being evergreen, will be a rare ornament to some of your gardens. lu this neighbour hood they are now largely transplantedjand do remarkably well, especially if removed during June or July. The native currant trees, black or red, do remarkab y well w'hen transplanted. Many now growing in Queenstown are from twelve to fifteen feet high. The broadleaf puts the English laurel completely into the shade, while the Maupo, for symmetry of growth and beauty of foliage, has no rival in any other plant native or foreign. The fuschia and climatis also the veronica tribe, of which there are a large number, should succeed well at the Dunstan.