Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 33, 22 August 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

Numerous rumors were current yesterday concerning some fabulous yield of gold said to have been brought into town ; which, like a snowball, increased the further it rolled, till at last it reminded us of the Daily Times 1 nuggets just before the departure of a Victoriau mail. We were unable, however, to obtain any authentic information concerning it, and are inclined to consider it merely a canard. Mining affairs generally are looking more cheerful. At the Arrow, tne Enterprise, Hit or Miss Company, and Hogan's party are hard at work. The weather continues beautifully fine and the river is still falling. A meeting of Queenstown subscribers is announced to take place on Monday evening at Bracken's Hotel, to elect gentlemen to represent them on the Permanent Committee. The sum of £3Bl 9s. 3d. has been subscribed in this township alone, and we are informed that the total amount collected in the district will exceed £9OO. On Thursday next it is announced that Mr. R. Harris will sell by auction at Maori Point the olaimsof the unfortunates who perished at the Sandhills by a landslip during the late flood. Another addition to the public buildings of Queenstown is about being made, which has long been a desideratum to a large number of our j population, and the establishment of which they I will no doubt hail with considerable gratification I —viz., the new Roman Catholic Church, which i will be situated close to the Church of England, in Camp-street. From the well-known character borne by the professors of this religion for generosity towards their ministers and churches, throughout the world, we have no hesitation in predicting that the new edifice will prove no disgrace to this township, and will be the means of doing a large amount of good. On Thursday night, at the Theatre Royal, Messrs. Fawcett gave a benefit for the Wakatip District Hospital, which commendable object was cordially responded to, as the well-filled house sufficiently showed. The first piece of the programme was Planche's comedy entitled •* Only a Clod,'" Mr. Tom Fawcett as Harry Thorncote rendering the character in his usual good style. Mr. S. Fawcett as Babbleton appeared to the very letter in the character, and sustained effectively the part he undertook. Miss Kate Grant as Grace Thorncote represented the English farmer's wife —need we say, gracefully so. "The Swiss Cottage" followed, and we are sure was never better played since its production on these boards. The evening's amusement concluded with the screaming farce, entitled "Out to Nurse." Mr. Tom Fawcett as Nursey Groundsel, and Mr. S. Fawcett as Bobbins, keeping the audience in a constant roar of laughter throughout. Miss Kate Grant as Susy acquitted herself admirably, ns was evinced by the repeated applause given her. We have not particularized the minor characters, but we may say, en passant, they were well rendered, as far as their scope would allow. We are unable at present to state the amount realised by the benefit, but we believe it to be a very handsome sum. It is with extreme sorrow that we have to announce a legislative dead lock—there is a strike among the members of the Provincial Council, and the attempts made to form an Executive have resulted in failure! Mr. Dick has declined the honor of attempting the job, and Mr. Cargill has failed in his endeavor to do so—like a bad workman, quarrelling with his tools. After a great flourish of trumpets the amount of work got through as yet by that august body has been a " barney" about their eating and drinking. To enliven some of the powers that be, Capt. Baldwin, on the 17th inst., gave notice of motion for Thursday :—" That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, praying that he will be pleased to lay upon the table of the House any correspondence which may have passed between the Secretary of Goldfields and the Government respecting the removal of Mr. Commissioner Wood and Mr. Gold-Receiver Duncan from the Wakatip Goldfield," so that we may shortly hear some interesting disclosures. The late disastrous occurrences in this district and the Dunstan, together with the general and natural depression in mining and business matters on the goldfields of Otago have not only served to u adorn a tale," as quoted by the Victorian journals, but have also " pointed a moral," which they have certainly made the most of. It is astonishing the amount of affectionate paternal admonition to the mining community which has permeated their reports of our calamities—the mild warnings—the gentle remonstrances! We have been filled with wonder as to the source whence springs all this milk of human kindness, and are inclined to think that it is their fear of the superior attractions of our goldfields to those of the Victorian mines. However, we shall not quarrel with them on this head ; though, to be consistent, they should not have exposed their own troubles. By the Melbourne journals lately to haud, we find that it* we have suffered loss both of property and life by the destructive elements, they are also sufferers. Mining is almost at a standstill, and what with floods and gales the largest fields are almost unproductive. We have no doubt, therefore, tnat the persons interested will receive at their proper value the arguments and dismal forebodings of our

Victorian contemporaries ; and always remembering that a certain gentleman is not of so sable a hue as limners have represented him, they will not be frightened to encounter the " hardships and perils" so plentiful here, and so scarce in Victoria.

We extract the following paragraph from the* Argus of the 7th inst., for the purpose of reviving the drooping spirits of our residents, by proving to them —through such a reluctant witness as that paper is to the mineral wealth of New Zealand—th ?■ confidence possessed by the Victorian miners in the diggings of Otago:— " The puddling machines at Majorca have been kept fully employed; me ny of the miners there being anxious to work out their claims as quickly as they can, to be ready for an early start to New Zealand. The yield generally continues up to a fair average, but the large returns seem to be fewer as the great bulk of the washdirt comes to be put through the machines." The deputation sent from the Dunstan to Dunedin anent the Hill monopoly obtained an audience with the Superintendent on the 11th inst., and laid before him the facts of the case, with a view to rescinding the present contract. His Honor said even if it were possible he could scarcely promise to rescind the contract. Mr. Hill's tender was by far the highest, and so long as he fulfilled its conditions, the Government were bound to act fairly and honestly with him. As to the rates of ferryage, he would by some means secure that they should be placed on an equitable footing. His impression was that at all the points of the Molyneux named, it was desirable that there should be punts either worked by the Government officers or by a contractor; and that if under such precautions as could be taken against accident, a man could be safely crossed for 6d. it was much better than that the service should be left open to all comers, at the risk of life and property. The deputation might rest assured that, so far as it could be done by the Government, the grievance pointed out should be redressed.