THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 533, 5 July 1872, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Arrowtown, July 2. The weather has again set in very severe, the frost being almost as hard as ever. The loss to the miners mus be considerable, as fully one half of them are compelled to idleness, while the other cannot proceed very energetically. On Saturday evening last there was a a soiree at the Library Hall, for the purpose of discharging the liabilities, some '221. upon the harmonium lately purchased for the Church of England. Mr. H. J, Cope occupied the chair, and officiated as master of the ceremonies. The entertainment consisted of singing and music, some of the amateurs acquitting themselves in a manner second only to professionals. The great feature of the concert was the debut of a rather small sized lad, of about twelve or thirteen years old named Evans, the son of a miner working on the Arrow Flat. This youngsgentleman far excelled anything that I have seen or heard for a length of time ; he first gave two serio comic songs which drew down storms of applause, in a later portion of the entertainment he sung “Oh Father, dear Father, come homo,” with so much feeling that it actually rivited people’s attention, and was deservedly applauded. If this'young gentleman was only sent to Melbourne, and given a years training, he would doubtless come out a star. After the concert tea, coffee, ami cakes were handed round, when dancing wound up the evening. The new To vn-hall at Queenstown was opened, on Thursday evening last, with a concert, which passed off 'admirably, the large building being crowded. On Friday there was a Ball, but the attendance on this occasion was not so large, the weather not being sufficiently propitious to entice people from a distance. I have not visited the Hall since its opening, but when I do so will give you all particulars, as the subject will doubtless be interesting to the Clyde people. The Municipal elections are beginning to engage public attention. Messrs. M. J. Mallaghan, \V. Warren, and H. Mandcrs, . arc the gentleman spoken of as likely to contest the honor of the Queenstown Mayoral chair. The claims of Mr. Malaghan should certainly entitle him to the coveted honor, he being the senior councillor, and has tilled office ever since the formation of the municipality. Mr. Warren’s claims are second on the list, but as to those of Mr. Manders 1 can scarcely offer an opinion, he has certainly done a great deal for Queenstown, and Queenstown has done a good deal for him. As Mr. Manders run Mr. Hallenstein so closely for the Municipal Council he might possibly poll high for the Mayoralty. There is no doubt but that M r. Manders possesses the necessary talent.

but then comes the question, will he use it wisely and'well. The commission of inquiry into the noto. rious Chinese petition, anent the removal of Mr. Wardenßeetham, commenced its sittings yesterday at Queenstown. I really do not see the use of expending so much public money on such an enquiry ; had it have been desirable to remove the j Warden the European miners would have taken the matter in hand, they did not do so, nor did but few Chinese residents in the district see'the precious document. That it arose from bad feeling engendered at the late elections there is no puestion of a doubt. Petitions for the removal of Wardens in the Dunstan District were at one time' quite common, and the same might have taken place at the Arrow, only that the Govern, ment had done so already, and saved the disaffected the trouble. It a Warden does wrong his conduct will be quickly reported to the Government; but purely to gratify motives of personal spite or because an ’adverse decision is given against some cantankerous party or another, a petition for the removal of the officer for merely doing his duty is contemptible.