LAKE COUNTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 985, 4 March 1881, Page 2

LAKE COUNTY.

(prom our own correspondent ) For the most part the harvest may now bo said to be gathered in, as except in a very few places where the situation is high or the land is exceptionally wet and Cold there is nothing left standing. 'I he wca'her for all sorts of out of door labor has been most favorable, and everything in the shape of stacking work lias experienced no interruptions whatever, at d we should have little or no spoilt grain this season. The th eshing mills, of which there are three wo king by steam in the Countv, have been busily employed for the last three weeks, and they will thus continue while the weather is favo able, all large groweis of grain pr< frrring to tlue.-h in the stock whenever p ssible. The fruit crop has been a very prolific < nc, and largo quantities of the p odnee of cur orchards have been sent to Invercargill, where it has found a ready and protuahle market. One ol the oldest of Arrowtown lesiden’s has passed away from us during the last few days, after a short illness, although at the same time death was not nncxpec'ed. The deceased was Mr George Ann Id Barker, for many years bailiff to the U M. and Warden’s Court ; afterwards hj. fulfills I the duties of clerk to the same, subsequently to entering into bi>siiie*s as a mining agent. Mr Barker, being a number of the Volunteer Corps, was of Course laid an ler the turf wiih all the “ pomp and cite imstance of glorious war " His gallant cotnpiniona-iii arms cam ■ from all quarters in fill mditary • bio and tucker,” while the Baud of the Company was of course the letling feature amongst the sorrowful raouru rs. Volunteer vifficeis, such as Captain ibis, Lieutenant that, and Sub-Lieutenant au aiai so loomed grandly as i hey paraded at the head of their c* mploies or delacbm ms, in all the splendour of gaudy attire—silver lace, and dangling swords and <quipm ms The attendance of n m combatants or civilians was of course also very large, no such a crowd being assemble i in Arrowtown for ilia pnrp .se of expressing their extreme s uruw at the burial of poor mortal clay beneath the roil in the public cemeteiy before. It is usual to write that ihe proceedings were of a moumlul or melanchoiy character in cases of this sort, but 1 must leave that matter to the intelligence of the reader, who will uo doubt be able to judge for hj maelt of the nature and results ot such an affair amongst a small golelflelelscommunity. In mining matters there is not a great deni to record just now, the scarcity of water greatly lelarding all operat ons of this description At Mao town there is nothing in the shape of new discoveries. The Delia..ce and Ladje F. yia continue to get out very fair stone, and the Premier is evidently improving sufficient to justify the assump.iou that they are on the right track for the reef. The Tipperary aud Gladstone will soon wash up, also the Howeward bound, all three of which companies should .turn ou{ respect■able cakes, aa their mill* have been running since the beginning of live year, save aud except the Homeward, which baa experienced several delays scaioely to be provided against in mining operations. The long continuance Of lino weather has hail a most beneficial effect in the shape of reducing carnage stoics and maUniai to

llacqtown,. The little drays, at first introduced for the conveyance of machinery, are now taking up goods by the mountain track and delivering th ra at the low rate of £2 per ton, and this should be a great help to the several mining companies where much timber is used. An outlay of a couple of thousand pounds noon the mountain truck wonld make it fairly passable for o dinary thre»-horse teams drawing drays, and which would fairly supply what is wanted until such times as the value of the quartz loins at Vlace‘own are bettor uml'Tstonl. f in’enl sen ling von for publication next week th" fist of a series of letters on quart* mium t at th" Shot, over, which locally I have been visiting lateiy. I fancy the sub] -c.‘ matter would prove verv investing to miners, ns at. the flhotover the (nines have hj en opene-l for a number of rears, and a very large amount of ground his he n explored. Whi’ens the rosu'ts of the several mines ate from r« liable data, T think, then, the publication will prove highly in‘erea - lng..