Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 24, 22 July 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

Owing to the lengthy nature of the reports of the two meetings on the deputation question, we have been compelled to hold over our Arrow correspondent's letter.

i The Head of the Lake is attracting considerable attention, owing to the prevalence here of rumours of a highly exciting nature, but which, in the absence of confirmation we will not repeat. That some have a high opinion of that locality is sufficiently proved by the fact that . another steamer is advertised as on the berth—- ! the Victoria, which, with the Alexandra, ought to be able to render the Head of the Lake of I easy access to the miners and others desirous of speculating on that gold field. The last-named steamer is permanently laid on, and is answering admirably—all concurring in passing a high encomium on the boat, and those in charge of i her, and her enterprising owners.

1 The miners at Arthur's Point are all actively engaged again either in making barrows, cutting i races, opening their old claims, or in cradling the heaps of new ground deposited near the edge of the river by the late floods. Parties have again commenced operations in clearing out 1 Arthur's Race. Two boats now ply for hire I near the site of the late bridge, and horses cross with safety at the usual ford. The weather for ' the last few days has been all that couW be dej sired, but no signs yet appear of commencing the | long-promised new road between Arthur's Point ! and Queenstown.

At the Long Beach, on Saturday, the melancholy duty of burying the two bodies on which an inquest was held on Friday, was performed by the miners, storekeepers, and residents there. About two hundred persons attended in procession, four abreast. Constable Fleming and two other police officers attended, and saw the last duty to these unfortunate men performed to the end of the ceremony. We hear of no more bodies having been found, although it is known that some are yet missing. The opinion of the auriferous nature of most of the ground in this district, has now received an additional proof. We were shown the other day about four pennyweights of heavy, waterworn gold, obtained from a gully between this township and Frankton. Of course, allowances must be made for the reticence so characteristic of the New Zealand miner, and the party who exhibited the sample did not prove an exception to the rule—he declining to state the facts very fully. However, there are scores of gullies and other places in close vicinity to Queenstown, of a most *' likelv" appearance; and we can only wonder that trial has not been made to test their auriferous nature long since. Certainly, in Victoria they would soon be rushed by eager prospector?.

A foot-race is fixed to come off between Collins and Artingstall, on Monday, 10th August, at the Arrow, for £SO a-side; Collins giving two yards.