LAKE COUNTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 982, 11 February 1881, Page 2

LAKE COUNTY.

(FROM OUF. OWN COK RESPONDENT.) Tho hot weather which we hare experionced of late appears to have broken up. On Monday it blew very hard all day from the south-west; in the evening it rained heavily, and continued doing so until the next morning. The effect of tho rain has been to make things cool and pleasant again, while it will increase our water supply, which was getting very short. Harvesting is still progressing, and it is really wonderful what an enormous area of growing crops has fallen before tho reaping machines during the past week. Tho threshing mills have already started! On Monday afternoon the Messrs M‘Bride commenced to thresh their large crap as it stands in the stocks on the Shotover flat ; Mr R Pritchard, of the Arrow Flat, will start doing the same almost immediately. Threshing in the stock will be carried out wherever possible, and'rvhen the crops aro largo ones, as is the case both with the Messrs M'Bride and Pritchard, a considerable saving in expense'is effected. The Arrow Hospital Committee hold their usual annual meeting a few .days since, when the balance-sheet showed a credit to tho good of something like £30(1 dho Hospital has proved a very great success, people subscribing and donating to it most liberally. The recent applications for the cancellation of the Shotover Terraco Company leases, tunnolsi arid tail races have made a great stir. AII tho terrace has been marked _ over afresh ; besides there art! applications for dams and water races to bo constructed or cut hero, there, and everywhere; and by parties who, not .having any chance of getting the ground, have resolved to drown those out who may happen to do so. But tho movement has' boon seen through, and there are objections to this hydraulic movement from all quarters. One party, who owns a large sluicing claim on the terrace,’ together with ' extensive water rights, and'who works as a '‘ halter,” employing no labor whatever, has gone -hi tor no less than three differentapplications for mining areas and privileges so as to completely surround the old company’s workings On Monday tho applications, or at least some of them, for the cancellation came on for hearing before Mr Warden Keddcll, but they wore adjourned owing to the company not having any reg’stered office in Dunedin, and tho manager being now in gaol undergoing a sentence. Some of tho shareholdi i s have made application to wind up the company’s affairs, an order for which w. s granted by His Honor .fudge Ward at, tbo last sitting of the District Bout I, a f„,,w- *

i'once. The Shotovor Terrace Company lost all their water right# some time since •by ' cancellation for abandonment, and they have nothing left now in that shape, but, their right to bring in a. race from Skippers Creek, about which no eane person would think of attempting. Therefore there is nothing left to work the ground but its natural drainage, it must therefore ,be tunnelled, sluicing operations being impossible. There will! suppose be a little law over the distribution of this property, but it will avail nothing as people have sgt themselves to the task •of having ground properly wrought as pro vided by tlio Mining Regulations. There is not so muoh work for the people as formerly, and we cannot stand by and see ground monopolised and lying, while others have to look on wanting to earn the moans of subsistance, but arc prevented by others who will not-even work themselves. The f’hoonix Company at Sk'ppors, have sosolved to give their mine another trial, and will so.t in immediately to further test the north reef, the same asSuuthberg and Co., are getting out very good stone from tho •adjoining claiip. The Lake County Council have made a grant of 1,37 to Mr Tom Hall, in consideration of his making a road, as specified by himself, between the Gallant Tipperary Mine and the Mount A mum Company’s liattery. This is a graceful concession to assist the exertions of one of our oldest and most enterprising proprietors. The Gallant Tipperary looks very well, and should turn out a good property. The late dry weather is making the. water very short at Maectown, and it is questionable if the Homeward Bound will be able to run more than five head of stampers after this. The reef cut in the vise from the intermediate level looks first rate ; it is fully five feet wide, and shows gold throughout the whole width of the atone. The All Nations are pushing ahead with thoir tunnel. The Maryborough have commenced their tramways, but it is impossible to say, as yet, how they will get along.