THE HEAD OF THE LAKE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 106, 4 May 1864, Page 5

THE HEAD OF THE LAKE.

We have been furnished with the following notes of the recent trip of the " Expert" to the Head of the Lake. Want of space has prevented its publication before. The cloudless sky and gentle breeze that favored us on our departure from Queenstown lasted till after we had passed the Twelvemile, at which time the wind began to freshen. We only stayed here for a few moments, so that I was unable to observe the workings, but the same ceaseless activity that characterise the miners whenever they have good reason to work, was here plainly observable. We reached the Twenty-five Mile at 4 p.m., thus making the trip from Queenstown in a little over two hours. We remained there a sufficient length of time to obtain refreshment, and again boarded our noble little craft and bore away for the Bucklerburn. But now the wind had risen considerably, and the heavens began to assume a sombre garb. Nevertheless, all on board seemed to enjoy themselves amazingly; but alas ! suddenly a faint voice was heard—" Oh! I must go below, I feel so sick." First female retired, with pale face, followed soon after by second ditto; gentlemen began to feel qualmish, a shower of rain fell, darkness set in. The prospect was now rather gloomy, when suddenly we pulled up at the saw-mills, and landed a part of our passengers. We then steamed across the Lake to the jetty at the mouth of Rees' River, and here a slight and somewhat laughable adventure occurred. One of our ... Queenstownites was stepping on to the jetty, when his foot slipped and into the Lake he went; but apparently disliking solitude, he as he fell, very affectionately grasped an up-the-lake citizen, treating him also to a plunge bath. All was bustle for a moment, but the water was shallow, the bathers shook themselves, and made off quickly for a change of raiment. The following morning (Sunday) a large number of diggers assembled, and Father Duhig, who accompanied us, held divine service. This gentleman, by his affable manner to all without distinction, has gained the esteem and goodwill of all who know him. I had much conversation with the diggers of the Bucklerburn, and I am sorry that the i rain prevented me going further up the creek than I did. I made every inquiry respecting the diggings there, and I did not hear a murmur from any one. I have no hesitation in i saying they are doing well. They have water races running for miles, there are three wheels, and mining operations of no little I importance. The country around the Buck- j lerburn is auriferous to a great extent — indeed, I do not consider the place opened up yet. I believe it will become one of the best I and most permanent diggings in the country. I It is a great pity that the absence of regular communication between Queenstown and the workings up the Lake should have been the case, as it has tended to isolate those at present working there, and prevented any further j addition to their numbers. To many miners | the upper part of the Lake is totally unknown, j though to all it presents attractions second to j none in the district. The diggers here held a meeting, and passed resolutions supporting the movement respecting a Supreme Court j and gaol at Queenstown. j At two o'clock the steamer's whistle warned | us that it was time to depart, and after a general and hearty adieu, we started; and when at some distance, our friends on shore gave us three hearty cheers, to which we responded with such goodwill that made the old rocks echo again. The view of the head ! of the Lake as the steamer moved gradually | away, was very grand. To the right hand the Rees pours its waters into the Lake, and i on the opposite side is the Dart, backed by a j stupendous range of mountains, their summits of snow becoming undistinguishable among j the clouds, upon whose domain they encroach. Further to my flows the Bucklerburn —destined ere long to become the seat of great mining and commercial interests. To j the left is the finest piece of bush I have! seen in the Province. It is all heavy timber, I and stretches from the Greenstone River to j the Dart —I am told, fourteen miles in length j In the midst of it, and on the shores of the | Lake, are the sawmills. We steamed alongj ' at a rattling pace till we came to the group of islands; our captain cruised for a time j around them, and then put in for firewood. After a short delay, we found ourselves once more under way, and soon reached the 25-1 mile, where I landed and bid adieu to the ', "Expert." [ In the morning I paid a visit to the workings, which stretch along a creek for three or four miles. I found the diggers here in good spirits, and doing very well. Some of them I knew told me they " had no occasion to , grunt." The gold is coarse, the creek small, , and turned by raws fur a considerable dis- , tance. The ranges on each side are rugged j, and precipitous. From this creek several, to j

ray knowledge, have lately gone with their pockets well lined—so well that if they take j heed and act with discretion, they may bid , farewell to labor. The residents, both here j and at the Bucklerburn, complained bitterly at the total absence of postal communication. They held a public meeting, aud pledged ; themselves to support the movement for ob--1 taining the establishment qf a Supreme Court at Queenstown. I reached the 25-mile Hotel at sundown, 1 and passed a pleasant evening in company with the worthy host, Mr. Allan. The next morning I found myself in a dilemma about my return to Queenstown. There was no boat to be had, and in answer to my inquiries learned that there was no track to the 12m'le—that it was a mass of fern and scrub, from two to seven feet in height, and that it would take a man a whole day to do it. As I had most important business that required my presence in Queenstown the following day, I was compelled to risk it, and accordingly started, Mr. Allan accompanying me for about a mile. Shortly after I bade him farewell it began to rain, so that in a few minutes I was drenched to the skin. I did not like to turn back, and so forced my way through the fern for five hours, when the cramp seized me in the legs, and thus further impeded my efforts. I began to despair of reaching the 12-mile that night. I made my way to the edge of the Lake, walking for a few yards here and there on the beach. Then I pas-ed from rock to rock, and some times waded in the Lake round some rugged point, or climbing them when I could not otherwise progress. Once, I fell from the rocks a height of ten feet into the Lake, and this did not improve my condition, though I was not made any wetter. But I need not dwell on this pitiable subject: suffice it to say that I had almost sunk clown and resigned myself to my fate, when, reaching the summit of another point jutting into the Lake, I obtained a good view for some distance, and saw, or thought I saw, a boat. This lent me new vigor, and I beat my way through the | scrub, climbed, and waded, till, as I apI proached, my conjecture became conviction. , I soon reached the boat, and then saw behind ' the rocks a man, to whom I explained my forlorn condition, and who promptly relieved my necessities as far as he could. I dried my I clothing and obtained some refreshment, of ! which I stood in sore need, and then sailed for i : Queenstown, reaching here at 12 o'clock that i j night, having been exposed to the rain for j thirteen hours. | ♦ i

On the 2nd of May we completed the first year lof our existence. We remember well the doubts that were thrown upon our sanity in undertaking the establishment of a newspaper in a place that j I could only exist for a few months at furthest. A year has rolled on arid we are still living. That year has been a period of changes; to some ex- I tent it has been the era of adventurers. They j are gradually dying out and the trade of the ! district is therefore said to be done. The j goldfields were comprised in the Shot- ' over and the river would soon be j worked out. The Lake diggings were a myth ; the Moke and Moonlight Creeks, moonshine; the Arrow was nowhere. How changed is this picture. How many who hold sluicing claims pray that the Shotover river claims might cease, and yet contention about elaims on it ever increases. The Lake diggings are only rising in j importance. Forty-two pounds weight of gold was only last week obtained in J this district by a small party, and | yet no sensation is produced. The Arrow still flourishes, and its ramifications of gold-bearing districts are still increasing. Other districts, rich in resources have been discovered. Mineral wealth, such as copper, iron, limestone, &c, has j been added to our resources. Our goldfields only ! scratched at, our intrinsic resources unknown, we enter upon the second year of our existence. What greets us ? Cries that the district is done, j that in two months. Quecnstown, " Oh! where, ' and oh ! where ?" Long life to the croakers, they are of use and so are crows ; even lot thi in flourish, and we are glad to see that they stimulate energy. The same cries that ushe red in our existence attend us upon entering our second year's life. It is not our fault if it shall not be yet more vigorous and strong. Postal communication up the Lake is greatly required. The Twelve-Mile has a post-office, but none of the other places, at which a daily in- j creating population is springing up. We never | desire to press upen any department the ncccs- ' sity of the establishment of unnecessary offices, !, or to add to responsibilities that already i lu calling the attention of the post-office au- ! thorities to this subject, we do so with the satisfaction that our remarks are justified, and ! ■ we are sure that our enquiry will establish the . truth of what we say. Me recommend the sub- s sidising of one cf the steamer* for peri-jdical < calls, as the Lake traffic is increasing aud would j increase if stated times were made.