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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 69, 26 December 1863, Page 4

The following amount of gold was taken down by the escort of Wednesday:— Queenstown - - 3392 ozs 15dwt. Arrrow - - - - 1711 „ 0 5103 ozs. 15dwt. We must apologise to our subscribers for the very meagre appearance of the present issue, the sole reason being the seductive influences of the present holiday season. We trust that we shall not have again to appeal for indulgence in this particular. On the score of amusement the votaries of pleasure in Queenstown cannot complain, if the promises made are at all borne out in the performance. Without mentioning the various charms of rowing, sailing, or riding, abundance of fun will be ready to regale those who like it —especially that accruing from the Old English Sports, which seem to be much in favor here. Both Rees and Beach-streets will be the arenas in which rival aspirants will endeavor to assert their superiority in wrestling, running, leaping, climbing greasy poles, bobbing for oranges, or other manly and ludicrous sports. In the evening a pantomime is announced at each the theatres—the 'Royal" and thy " Prince of Wales' —the arst named " Harlequin Funoso," and the second " Harlequin Shotover; or why won't the river go down ?"—and no doubt crammed houses will be secured. If the weather of yesterday may be taken as any criterion, a day's thorough jollification may be looked forward to.

Yesterday morning a fatal accident occurred Maori Point to a miner named William Morrison. It appears that the unfortunate man having rather too freely indulged in strong waters, laid down for a short time, and eventually got up and walked over a precipice of about 20 or 30 feet. He was found by a miner named Joseph Holiday, insensibe, aud carried to his cent. He survived about three-quarters of an hour. Dr Morton was in attendance. Strange to say, a similar accident has occurred at Pleasant Creek to a man named Fitzgerald, who was found greatly injured at the bot torn of a precipice. The production of the " Corsican Brothers" at the Theatre Royal may be characterised as a decided succes. Anyone who has witnessed this piece must be aware of the immense amount of trouble necessary for its proper production; and when, in addition, we consider the few facilities possessed by the Messrs Fawcett, we may well be surprised at the result, which indeed exceeded the expectations of all present. Whether on the score of acting, scenery, or general detail, we must conscientiously say that we have seldom seen it better performed—never on an up-country stage. We may remark en passant, that Mr Fawcett has striven hard for the amusement of the Queenstown public since his arrival here, and many may thank him for rendering the evenings less dreary and tedious than they were wont to be, and for whiling away many an hour of ennui or fatigue. He has done his best, and we are sorry to see his exertions so scantily appreciated and repaid as they should be. As the only really legitimate place of amusement in Queenstown, the theatre deserves to be more widely patronised. The usual Christmas Pantomime is announced for this evening, and we predict " Harlequin Furioso" will have a good run for it.

According to the Gazette, we have to announce the entrance into business of three additional auctioneers in this township —Messrs H. Manders, Luscombe, and H. A. Gordon, gentlemen doubtless well known to the majority of our readers. We are glad to notice such confidence in the stability and business requirements of Queenstown as this would seem to indicate. The following appears in the Invercargill Times of the 21st inst:— k< Amongst the arrivals by the City of Hobart, on Saturday, we were glad to see Madame Vitelli and Mr C. R. Thatcher. We are not aware whether it is Mr Thatcher's intention to accept any professional engagement here, but we believe that should he be induced to do so, the public will be greatly amused, As a comic poet and satirist, Mr Thaicher is unapproachable in the colonies. Madame Vitelli's accomplishments as a vocalist are too well known to require us to refer to them, aud we can only hope to have again the pleasure of hearing her in this part of the world."