THE LAKES.

Evening Star, Issue 3018, 21 October 1872, Page 2

THE LAKES.

The JJunstan Times' correspondent, writing under date the 15th inst., says : The Fort Darwin fever is raging in the out-lying districts, and numbers in those isolated localities will believe nothing else but that it is all gold, requiringmothing but picking up. Some of the “ cockatoos ’ have taken the infection, have sold out, and departed. Of this class a number might leave with advantage, they being far in excess of pub'ic requirements, and of no benefit to anybody but the storekeepers, who buy of them cheaply and sell to them dearly in return tilings as tea, sugar, and slop clothing, and except a cockatoo can exist on these articles he is not wanted here. Our large storekeepers have, with one exception, all turnel farmers on an extensive scale, and fully stock the market before their customers can sell an article. They thus dictate their own price for produce, and they must accept, or leave it for the rats and mice to cat. Should the Darwin really turn out a profitable field, the district will stand a good chance of being mainly left to the storekeepers and Chinese. There is, however, plenty of gold in the district. The Shotover and Arrow claims have never been equalled, and capital and men will develop it more. It appears to me that if some of our small farmers would turn their attention to gold mining instead of growing oats at less than 2s a bushel, they would be much better paid. They might graze a few’ sheep, fatten cattle, and mine as well, keeping their in good heart, instead of laying it down in sorrel the inevitable result of over cropping.