QUEENSTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 690, 9 July 1875, Page 3

QUEENSTOWN.

(FROM OUR OWN COBRKSrONDENr.) Jack Frost has set in upon ua m earnest, and the days though fine arc I followed by nights of tho severest cold. Hard frost is the thing required now to give tho river workers a turn ; tor, notwithstanding it is well nigh thirteen years since gold was first obtained Su tho Shotovcr, there is plenty left behind yet, in fact, it is more than possible that'only'a small proportion has 'boon recovered. Accounts from'Hkippers are of tho most cheering character, but, owing to tho prevalence of severe weather, nothing in tho shape of crushing operations will ho attempted for some few weeks to come. Tho Phoenix tributors are engaged repairing their fluming, which conveys tho water to the turbine wheel, as well as breaking out stone. Arthur’s Point Gold Mining Co. still hangs fire. Why such a promising undertaking as tunnelling the Race Course Terrace to find the lead of the 'Shotover—which was evidently lost here--is not pushed briskly a-head, I am at a loss to learn. There really exists no such promising speculation at present in the Lakes district. The gold in this case has never been extracted ; it only wants finding. They manage these things, somehow or another, much bettor at the Arrow. A young man named James Carolin was killed a few days since while working in his claim at the Sandhills, Upper Shotover, by the caving in of the shaft. His mate did all he could to]extricate_liirn, and succeeded once in uncovering the poor fellow’s head, but a second fall followed, and ho was buried up. His funeral was attended by a largo number df’persons from all parts of the Shotover. The chief excitement is the petition asking the Government to give effect to tho recommendations of the Goldfields Commission, 1870, referring’to the removal of Wardens and other officials at stated intervals. It is the general impression that our goldfields’ officers have been stationed here too long, rio other such officers having been twelve yearsjiu one place ; while circumstances point to the fact that an infusion of new blood and new ideas is badly wanted to skirt the district a-going again. The petition is receiving numerous signatures all over the district. The effect of the discoveries in the reefs at Skippers has had the effect of considerably improving the value of property in Queenstown. A small section, having an almost valueless building thereon, and only eighteen feet frontage to Rees street, was sold the other day by Messrs D. Powell and Co., for the large sum of Ll5O. The owner of the property was Mr J. B. Bradshaw ; the purchaser is Mr J. E. Haines. The meeting of the Town Council last week was a pretty quiet one. Why the Mayor does not pay rent for the islands, and the appointment of a solicitor were the chief subjects dealt with, but no satisfactory solution was arrived at in respect to either case. MrH. J. Finn was the gentleman of the long robe proposed for the office of legal adviser to the Corporation. The Town Clerk, as a matter of course, came in for a wigging It appears that this gentleman had iailed to pay into the Bank some monies received, which it was his business so to do within the prescribed twenty-four hours. Stroug and forcible resolutions were accordingly passed to prevent such a neglect of duty on the part of the Town Clerk for the future. Our Town Clerk, like the costermonger’s donkey, comes iu for more kicks than half-pence from the hands of his master—or, more correctly speaking, masters, as both Mayor and Councillors have a common dig at the sides of their underpaid executive officer. It must be an unthankful billet to be Town Clerk of Queenstown. M r Henry Manders, M. P. C., has arrived amongst his constituents, and brings with him a present of seven pheasants from the Dunedin Acclimatisation Society. The poor unfortunate birds instead of being turned loose in some suitable place are kept caged up in a back yard in Ballarat street, where they hang down both their beautiful plumage as well as their heads at such unwonted treatment. It is reported that the pheasants are undergoing a species of train-ing-should they outlive it—not to spread their wings or point their heads after the fashion of the black swans, in the direction of the Arrow, the moment they regain their liberty. The “ immorality of kilts ” still occupies the columns of our local organ. It is quite time this stupid altercation was knocked on the head, as the kilts have already been developed into petticoats. The usual monthly meeting of the Wakatip Hospital Committee took place on Saturday last, at the Hospital, Franktou. The President (Mr Warden Beetham) occupied the chair. The business transacted was unimportant. Of course there followed the usual delight of Committees, squabbling over mere trifles, the chief subject matter for dispute being that some one had made a purchase of an old kitchen range for the use of the Hospital, instead of buying a new one. Rather an eccentric proceeding this, when tho carriage of the new or old article to the Wakatip would amount to precisely the same. The financial statement was fairly satisfactory, and when the matter of subscriptions was under discussion, tho President pointed out significantly to the fact that none should refuse to subscribe to the Hospital tho modest sum of LI per annum, especially when it was considered that each person so subscribing possessed the right—not in the shape of a favor—of being admitted into the Hospital, at the small charge of 10s per week. I think the Dunstan Committee might take example from this very liberal provision. There arc a good many patients in the institution at present, and some very bad and almost hopeless cases. A very clever cure of a hare lip has just been effected by Dr Douglas, upon the person of a Chinaman. It was a very bad case, tho split being right up to the nose, which exposed John’s set of ivories with such distinctness that he looked more like

a shark ready for a bite, than on inoffensive child of the Flowery Laud. The cure is most perfect, the wanting piece of flesh being completely supplied by the skilled cutting and contriving of Dr Douglas. John ought to consider himself a very lucky fellow. 1 like the appearance of the Wakatip Hospital much better than that of yours at Clyde. Everything is really very comfortable, and the patients satislied and well cared for.

It is said that the mandamus granted by the Supremo Court to Mr J. W. Robertson, making it compulsory for the Corporation to levy a special rate for payment of the arbitration award re the One-Mile Creek water supply, will shortly arrive. As the rate will probably require to bo something between 3s Cd and 4s in the pound, it will bo rather waim for the ratepayers. It will certainly prove the most popular topic of conversation during the coming municipal elections. Many persons will wish that they lived outside of the Corporation boundary rather than within it.