THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 620, 6 March 1874, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(from our correspondent.) Arrowtown, March 2. The contest for the Mayoralty of Ar■owtown is at last settled, Mr. (loldston icing returned by one vote over bis •pponent, Mr R. Pritchard. The eon'est uas shown that loth gentlmen stand pretty equal in public estimation, as at tho previous pdl the voting was even, while now only one vote decides the contest. On Friday is the lumimitiin for Councillors and Auditors, and from v,hit I can learn a pretty sharp contest is anticipated. The Arrow will most assuredly be benefitted by a Municipality, and it is seemingly strange that the residents here have suffered them elves to remain so many years without this leergnised foim of local fell' government. The town has made considerable progress of laic, especially in business matters, which have been pushed ahead with much determination. Mince ■the opening un of a passable track to tho Sbotover, a considerable deal of the trade, which used to go to Queenstown and Invercargill, has been done hero, and while the , present keen competition between at orekeepers exists, there can bonodnubt but that a still further share of busii ess from that direction will find its way in this direction, more especially whin tho bridge at Arthur's Point is comp’eted, which will be seme [time during May or June next.

Tho harvest is all pretty well gathered in, the stacking of the grain only wanting completion ;so far'rs the yield g<cs it is all that could he desire I ,and farmers have can eto be thankful. Oats in quantity are worth three shillings per bushel, but I do n ot[lhink this price will hold as there i s no demand except for local wants, prices here 1) eiug’chitfly ruled by your market, w Inch appears to he al undantly supplied. Barley will realise about fire shillings, several engagements to ’ sell this season's crop at that price have been entered into a month since. What is unsnleable at any price, the stocks of flour on hand, are said to be amply sufficient for the next twelve months to come, however, the latter part of the year will doubtless bring about s change, wnen the large supplies now on hand will be come reduced, and means must be taken to nph nish tin m, This overabundance will not be likely to occur again as far ir.crn arc dcteimined to considerably restrict their operations next season, which, if adhered to, will keep win at nt something like a paying figure. Thepotatoe crop is a good one, hut the quantity grown is small, so many lots having been allow ed to waste last season for want of a m aikct; cheap broad also lessens the consumption of this useful vegetable, miners not caring to be bothered with cooking them when bread :s procurable at seven pence and eight pence the four pound lorf.

In mining matters there is nothing worth noting, a large proportion of the diggers being engaged harvesting, which, as a rule, has I con more remunerative

than mining, while, also, it proves an agreeable change from the mi notony of the pick and shovel, or hydraulic hose.

The chiefs of our Mining Associa'ion appear anything hut a happy family, they are not only engaged in a wordy warfare, but a newspaper one ; no two ap ear to agroc upon a single p. hit. I think that unlu ;s this body is speedily ro-i rganii-cd, it will continue to lose public coniideme, as the representative of a.i important branch of bolus'rv.