THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 536, 26 July 1872, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(MOM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) , Arrowtown, July 23. The late favorable change in the weather although so beneficial to the sluicing parties and agriculturists generally, has proved very disastrous to those working the river beds. On the Shotoverand Arrow rivers, a large number of claims had been taken up, and results were very promising, the miners have been driven away by the floods to seek a living the best manner they can- This comes very hard at this season of the year, when there is so little employment, numbers of them are working for tucker, clearing ground for the farmers until more favorable weather. The Toads of course are execrable, especially those in course of repair, the large heaps of earth placed to form the roadway are converted into gluey mud, aud vehicles can only be can dragged through it at an immense cost of horseflesh. The of mud to be encountered, is well nigh a bar to travellers even on horseback. The only persons who can find satisfaction at the present state of things must be the road engineers and road makers, who now have their favorite element, “mud” to their hearts’ content. I must tell you that stone is religiously ;'eschcwed here in the making of roads as well as other places. The election for the Mayoralty of Queenstown came off yesterday, and never was there such a keen contest for the seat, Mr. Mallaghan only beating Mr. Warren by six; votes, every voter wasjceaselessly canvassed by the supporters of either party, while voters even came forty miles to record the : r votes, At the declaration of the Poll, both candidates addressed the electors, Mr. Warren displayed a little bad taste in saying that he had been “sold ” by leading citizens—it could not alter* the result, and 1 must o;ily attribute the indiscretion to the excitement of the moment. The newly elected Mayor was loudly cheered, and “ shouted ” liberally at the various Hotels that supported his cause. Shortly after all was over, the local brass band, at the instance of Mr. Mallaghan paraded the town, enlivening it with some well executed airs.