Local News and Notes.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 September 1863, Page 4

Local News and Notes.

We have to apologise to our subscribers for the present limited extent of our news columns, owing to the sudden and large encroachment on our space by advertisements. It has been out of our power to remedy this delect by increasing the s>ize of our journal, in consequence of the limited supply ot paper on hand, tne fearful state of the roads having delayed our supplies of tins necessary article to a serious extent. Many of the drays have been more than two months on the journey ; but " from information received," their speedy arrival may now be looked for, wnen we shall immediately accede to the universal demand for " more news." Several other changes are aiso contemplated, which will, we hope, render our journal worthy of increased patronage.

In the Invercargill Times of the 11th, the following paragraph appeared, by which it would stem that Southland has nut altogether abandoned the notion of a gold eld being discovered within her borders:—"it was said yesterday that gold had been discovered 111 the Moonlight Kanges, some forty-live miles from town, and in this Province. A prospecting party had for some time been examining that part of the country, and rumor, gives out that they are on their way to town to claim the reward. It is to be hoped that this is not a mare's nest."

The much vexed ferry-monopoly question seems at last to be assuming a guise that may render Mr. Hill more open to reason than he has hitherto been. At present he seems rather inclined to stand upon the strict letter of his rights and to deny the power of the Superintendent to alter the prices except by proclamation. If the Government wire to retaliate upon him, it might peruaps be found that he had no right to assume the occupation of the ferries at all, as up to the present time he has not provided proper boats, nor ha 3 his lease been signed. At the Teviot, however, the question has been tested before Mr. Warden Ko bins oil, who has discovered a flaw in the Ordinance, which may make Mr. Hill more desirous of relinquishing a contract which he should never have had, and which remains a lasting memento of the incapacity and pur-blindness of the Government. The clause reads thus—" Every person who shall cross, or who shall cause any cattle to cross,*or who shall convey, or cause to be conveyed for hire, any cattle, cart, or vehicle, or goods across any river, &c,, &:c." The prohibition, therefore, does not extend to illegally ferrying passengers across. The remedy lies against the passengers, not the ferryman. It would be perfectly impossible for the lessee to proceed against many ol the passengers individually; hence we may expect that unauthorised ferrying will become a very general practice. A lull rep >rt of this •mportant case is published in anotner column. The rush at the Deep Creek, though at present characterised as a " shicer," seems to possess some reasonable claim to be considered as something better, as we have heard of several small parcels of gold having been purchased. Yesterday we were informed that a nugget of 16 dwts. had been sold to a gold-buyer at Arthur's Point; and we should not be surprised if there were soon a revulsion of feeling on the part of the miners in respect to this place. We have been shown a piece of copper ore, whico we learn was obtained in the neighborhood of Moke Creek, and which exceeds any we have yet seen in richness. From the rugged nature of the locality whence this specimen was taken, we should entertain doubts as to the practicability of working the mine profitably; and at all events the difficulty of communication will act as a serious drawback and tax oil the holders of the mine. Mr. Tom Faweett has arrived from Dunedin with his new company, and announces his first appearance for Monday next. To judge from the names of the aitistes he has engaged, we should imagine the people of this district will have no reason to co n plain on the score <.f amusement; and to the professionals themselves v.e may remark, that their arrival lias fined a vacuum hitherto keenly le.t. A Jong and tuecessful campaign no doubt awaits them. From all we hear, Lake Wakntip will soon boast of a Steam Xuvigation Company. V\ e also understand that t ie o j ct. of me association is to devclope more lui.y the various resources <f this rising district, m a compr. h nsive, s\st lniitical manner. A meeting of the promoters will be held in a few days, when, no

doubt, all particulars will be made known. Properly formed, such a company will have a powerful effect, and should command general support. We shall watch with interest any action taken in this matter, or in the formation of a Marine and Fire Insurance Company. As the prosperity of the Lake couniry extends its intiuence beyond its own natural boundaries, and also influences to some extent the trade of both Otago and Southland, movements of the kind we have just indicted ought to be favorably received. It will be observed by reference to an advertisement in another column that the Roman Catholic Chapel, Queenstown, is announced to be opened by Sunday next, the 20th instant.