THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 538, 9 August 1872, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(from our correspondent.) Amnvtown, Au o u.t 7. The excitement of the last few days has been the advent of Murray’s Circus, which gave three representations here and five at Queenstown, and from what I can learn, their trip to the Lakes district has proved exceedingly satisfactory. The juvenile portion of the community enjoyed the treat amazingly, while many of their seniors did likewise. It was a considerable venture for Mr. Murray to bring such a largo troupe up here, and it is consoling to find that it financially successful. Mining matters have boon pretty brisk since the break up of the frost, everywhere there is plenty of water, but a little hard weather with accompanying snow storms is necessary for a supply during the summer months. A mild winter with little snow on the ranges is desirable at the time, but it must bo borne in mind that the densely clad white capped mountains are our storehouses of water for the summer months. Quartz mining in the neighborhood of Skipper’s promises to look up, the Scandi navian line looks better than it has done for years past, also the reefs on the Sbotovcr river. The great drawback to quat tz mining here is the length of time required to develop ajelaim what could be accomplished in Victoria in three months would take three years here. The difficulty of transporting machinery is something considerable, the requisite skilled labor is hard to obtain for reasons that there is so little employment for it, then there is the long, dull winter, when everything is frozen up, so that, with one thing and another, the mining managi r enjoys no bed of roses. There is little doubt but that the upper Shotover will prove a good field for quartz mining some day, but we must wait with patience for something good to be struck to give the necessary impetus. The old steamer Wakatip has at last been raised to the surface and brought safely to shore, but in my opinion, here ends one difficulty and begins another. What is to be done with her, and can she be made to pay? In the first place, the repairs needed will be something considerable, and she will require new and more powerful engines. In olden times she used frequently be two days on the trip between Queenstown and Kingston, but that would not do now', she must be able to compete with the Antrim and Jane Williams steamers, which but about the Wakatip Lake pretty smartly, do not find full employment either. The goods, traffic, and the trade in posts, rails, and firewood is but limited in extent, and no additional boats can increase it. Water carriage must necessarily be confined to the Wakatip alone, it cannot be extended. In matters pertaining to agriculture, there is great dollncss. Except wheat, produce is positively all but unsaleable. Oats can be purchased at 2s. and 2s. 3d. per bushel, with no customers at these prlcn ; potatoes, 51. per ton, ditto., there has been a great over production lately, and were it not that your district takes our flour, things would go very hard with the farmers. The roads and tracks are execrable so that even if there was a demand, but little produce could be brought to market. The advent offspring will doubtless put things right again. For ploughing and other operations necessary for cropping laud or planting out gardens, the season is most favorable and rll that could be desired.