Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 28, 5 August 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

A balance sheet of the money collected and expended for the purpose of turning the Shotover River at the Long Beach, has been handed to us, from which it appears that the total amornt received was £67 10s.; and the total expended, £65 19s. 6d., leaving a balance of £1 10s. 6d., which the miners have resolved to devote to the Hospital, and have left in our hands for that purpose. A dam, consisting of 490 bags, was formed, but the whole of it has since been carried away by the floods, and left these unfortunate men in the same position as before. It is in the highest degree crt ditable to the miners that they should forget their own severe hardships and disappointments, and as far as lay in their power, endeavor to assuage the misfortunes of those still more worthy of commiseration than themselves, being deprived of that greatest of all blessings—health. A meeting of members of the Church of England is called for to-morrow evening, for the purpose of forming a choir, the extension of accommodation in the church building, "and several other important matters." A select ball and supper is advertised to take place at Bracken's Hotel on Wednesday next, the 12th inst., under the management of Mr. J. Silberberg, who is doubtless well known to most of our readers as a caterer of no mean ability. Hardcastle, Esq., late secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Police, has been appointed Warden at the Arrow. The in the filling up of the vacancy caused by the removal of 11. Beetham, Esq., to Queenstown, has been most prejudicial to the interests of that most important township, and we must protest in the strongest terms against the little regard that is paid to their requirements in this respect. The formation of the streets of Queenstown has conferred a boon on the inhabitants that only those who may have been compelled to traverse them during the night, can properly realize. Beach-street used to be a perfect puddle after a few hours' rain, and a community that has so great a partiality for public meetings should surely provide some safe means of retreat for those returning from those edifying spectacles. The Government at last have awakened to the necessity of paying some attention to the large number of miners working on the Shotover, and have called for tenders for the conveyance of mails from Qu«enstow r n to Arthur's Point and Maori Point, twice weekly. We hail with unlimited satisfaction this step in the right direction, for till very lately the miners had no means of communication at all with the world beyond those rugged mountains; and though, with the establishment of Fox's Shotover Express, some facilities were afforded for the transmission of letters, &c., still no private enterpiise can profitably and efficiently carry out that first essential in a civilised community —a post-office ;it being besides unjust to the miners to force them to pay from a shilling to half-a-crown for a service enjoyed by other districts for two pence. "We regret that an error crept into our report of the names of those unfortunates who have perished during the late floods and landslips on the Shotover. Instead of reading " Wm. Bell," rc ad " Wm. Buchan and instead of " Thomas Cameron," read " Kenneth Cameron."

We observe that, according to a Government advertisement in the Diily Times, from the first of the present month, mails will be made up at the Post-office, Dunedin, every Tuesday and Saturday, for the Arrow, Frankton, and Queenstown, via the Dunstan, in addition to the mails now sent via Kingston—thus ensuring what has for some time been urgently required—a regular system of postal communication with the Dunstan.

We have been informed that Mr. Tom Fawcett and an efficient company, after their present series of entertainments at the Arrow, intend to pay Queenstown a visit; and for that purpose have engaged the concert room at the Koyal Hotel, which is now undergoing the necessary transformation to adapt it to the representation of dramatic pieces. From the high position Mr. Fawcett enjoys in his profession, we have no doubt he w ill fully meet the expectations of his numerous admirers, and receive a cordial welcome in this township.