THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 628, 1 May 1874, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(from our correspondent.) Arrowtown, April 23. Stack burning has become ipiito a feature in this district lately. Un Friday evening last four stacks of wheat, the property of Mr 'William Sjcoles, of Miller's Flat were lired by some miscreant, whoso peculiar penchant it mast lie to reduce by burning all the stacks in the district. 1& is vciy true that wheat is unsaleable at present, but that is no reason why some demomdcally inclined individual should take upon himself the duty of setting peoples’stacks on lire-it is (juitc bad enough for the poor farmers to be without a market for their produce, without tinding’he results of their past year's labor wantoidy ami purposely destroyed by lire. Mr Scholes’ loss is fortunately, in some, part, covered by insurance, so far us the grain is concerned, but, the loss he will sustain by not being able to feed Ids stock (and he is a large holder) this winter will be irreparable. No owner id grain in stacks feels himself safe ; the rush to insure has been excessive these last few' days, but ala s, for the unfortunate cockatoos, the insurance Oliices refuse to take any more risks upon grain in the straw, and to keep watch is the only alternative to keep safe. If the present inceudiarsnr is persevered in there will bo an end to all farming as no one will plant. As it is the area of wheat will bo very small, not more than one fourth of last year will be sown, probably, a larger breadth of oats may bo put in, but even tins is problematical, iluiliously low prices for grain and incendiary fires lias given the death blow to farming in the W akatip. at least fora short time to come.

A eery serious accident, which resulted fatally three days afterwards, occurred on the Frankton road on Wednesday evening last to the person of Mr Thomas Mallaghau, of the firm of Samian and Mallaghau, Brewers, and brother to Mr Michael John Mallaghan, the Mayor of Queenstown. 11 appears that the deceased had been out delivering some casks of beer at the Shotovcr and Fraukton, and while returning to Queenstown, seated on a hand nr his spring dray, the horse bolted, and when crossing a drain in the road, the shock threw the deceased out of the cart, which passed over .him, breaking four of his ribs, besides inflicting other internal injuries, to which the deceased succuuibThose of your Victorian readers who knew the Messrs Mallaghan, will I am sure feel deeply grieved at this unfortunate ac tidciit.

An inquest was held at the Court house, Arrowtowm, on the 22nd ultimo,to inquire into the origin of the lire at the Arrow junction which took place cn the Saturday night previously. The Jury returned the following verdict “ Thatno evidence of the origin of the said fire doth appear to the Jury.” The following was also attached as a rider:—“ That although tho Jury find nothing in the evidence to show how the fire occurred, yet through the frequent occurrence of stack-yard fires, and the utter absence of all proof of this, or the other late fires being casual and accidental, the Jury feel morally certain these fires have been wilfully caused, and hop e the General and -Provincial Governments will take immediate stops, by large rewards or otherwise, lo ensure safety of farm .n.ij