Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 15, 20 June 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

Up to the time of going to press the usual letter from our Arrow correspondent had not arrived.

We understand that Mr. M'Kean, the present postmaster at Queenstown, is about to be transferred to the Arrow—Mr. S. J. Dick, the official of that township, taking his place here. At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on the 15th instant, Albert Mullen, convicted of stealing gold from a miner at Queenstown, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, with hard labor.

The " Daily Telegraph" of Monday says : " A numerous and influential meeting was held at the Shamrock Hotel on the evening of the 13th, for the purpose of raising a subscription to defray the costs of Job Johnson's defence. A committee was appointed, and £32 were subscribed in the room. But little doubt is entertained that the whole sum required (£497), will be raised. It will be seen by an advertisement in another column, that tenders are called for, and will be received up to Saturday next for forming roads and pack-tracks in the neighborhood of Queenstown, Frankton, the Shotover, and Skipper's.

A well-contested spin of 100 yards took place on Wednesday at the Peninsula, in the presence of a large number of spectators, between two amateurs, resident in Queenstown—Mr J. Clements and Mr. G. Bond. The stakes were only £lO a-side, and it resulted in a victory by Mr. Clements over his less agile adversary.

On Tuesday an attempt was made to raise the s.s. Expert, at Kingston, which went down during the late severe gale. A pair of shears having been erected, she was raised to the water level, when owing to some defect in the arrangements, a contretemps occurred, and down went the unlucky boat, and rests in the same position as before on the beach, her stem being just visible out of the water. On Wednesday night, about 11 o'clock, the inhabitants of Rees-street were alarmed, by a fracas at the Lady of the Lake Hotel, in the occupation of the well-known Jessie M'Leod. It appears that a man named James Thompson made an attack upon the landlady, seizing her by the throat, and tearing away the pocket of her dress. Before he could proceed to further violence her cries brought Detective Callen to the spot, who arrested the man on the charge of robbing Miss M'Leod of £3O. After a desperate resistance, he was secured and taken to the camp, and on being brought before Vincent Pyke, Esq., was remanded till Monday next. There is now every chance of the Lake District being looked upon with a more favorable eye by the miner of small means, before scared away by the enormous cost of a bare subsistence. The reduction in the price of bread having been effected, meat seems now likely to follow its example. At Kingston it is already down to something like a reasonable price. Captain Howell's arrangements having been completed, a store has been opened, retailing meat at Is. per lb., and we understand that this example is about being followed in this township, the retailer drawing his supplies from the same source. We are glad to see anything occur that will place the necessaries of existence within the reach of the poor and the unfortunate, and so wish Captain Howell every success. At Tuapeka, last Saturday, there were nominated as candidates for the representation of the Goldfields- Messrs. Baldwin, Brodie, Moses, and Hughes. The poll for the Lake District will take place at Frankton to-day, when we doubt not fully half a dozen votes will be recorded. We trust that one of the first objects of the gentlemen elected will be to obtain the annihilation of the present ridiculous qualification for electors, and we would also venture to recommend the Government

not to do things by halves, but when the next election takes place perch the polling booth on the summit of the Devil's Staircase, so as to be more convenient for the miners of the Shotover, and the electors of the district generally than either Queenstown or Arthur's Point.