THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 646, 4 September 1874, Page 3

THE LAKES.

(from our correspondent.) Arrowtowu, An. 31st. Although the nights arc pretty cold, and sharp frosts prevail, the winter has evidently broken up. Except in exposed situations the miners have been enabled to resume work, and there appears an abundant supply of water. Farming operations once more look busy again so far as Bowing cats is concerned ; still it is almost distresing to see such a largo breadth of wheat land uncultivated, farmers declining to grow any more breadstuff.-) until there is a better market for wheat.

Municipal affairs appear to proceed more happily since the late elections. The new Mayor (Mr Alexander Imics) has proved to be “tho right man in the right place,” and the interests of the town are being'properly looked after. Like all other townships there appears to be a water supply difficulty. Up to within the last few months the aqueous fluid was obtainable at almost every citizen’s door; but since the Arrow River United MiningJjCompany has come into existence the water has been used for driving their ‘machinery, and people have been compelled to obtain their supplies as best they could. In the very early days of the Arrow I always undarsto od that a head cf water from ,Bush Creek was especially granted for tho use of the town, and this was brought in by a water-race belonging to Messrs Butcl Bros., who charged a small weekly sum to persons using it. They were very attentive people, and even had the water conducted in pipes to consumers’ residences. The race has changed hands, the now ownersavering the'townhas no right to tho water, and it is consequently turned off. How the citizens manage to put up with this I cannot tell, for although there may he no written record of the consignment, it is very certain that tho town did possess a water supply for a long series of years, and it would not he a matter of great difficulty to find out how the matter stands. Mr Warden Lnwther Broad is only at Nelson, and doubtless could give the desired information. Queenstown appears also to be in the middle of a water difficulty, and after a long fight with Mr J. W. Robertson, that gentleman makes a claim upon tho Town Council for his water rights and appurtenances for L 2385, this, considering tho abundance of the supply coupled with the fact that the wator has been brought into Queenstown at a very high level, and almost ready for the Corporation to lay on their pipes, the price asked is cheap when compared to similar demands at Cromwell and Clyde. The Queenstown Corporation have only just awoke to the value of water, and large as tho sum demanded by Mr Robertson may appear, it is quite possible they will have to pay it. Rather an amusing incident occurred last week in connexion with a Chinaman confined in the gaol hero for petty larceny. It appears that John had been sentenced to on* month's imprisonment with hard labor, but ho proved a most troublesome prisoner, while with respect to the hard work arrangement, he professed entire ignorance of the use of the tools necessary to perform it, and it was found more easy for the gaol authorities to perform the work themselves than to instruct the “ heathen chincc ” in the mysteries of the use of a wheelbarrow pick and shovel. After a fortnight had expired it was notified to “John” that his sentence bad been commuted, but to this arrangement he objected, and refused to leave the gaol until the expiration of his full term of imprisonment, and summaryproceedings were required to eject this prison loving Chinaman. The interior of the Arrow gaol is in a most wretched condition, not fit for a dwelling for pijp, its selection as a desirable Celestial residence ii a mystery.