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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 151, 8 October 1864, Page 3

ton on their way to the great rendezvous, at the appointed hour of two o'clock, at Fishers store, the Forks, where a spread of everything substantial, dainty and nice, was prepared by the proprietors of the race, in conjunction with Messrs Fisher and Miller, who all vied with each other in their efforts to make their guests perfectly happy and comfortable. It had been decided on to give the race the name by which it had hitherto been known—the Grand J unction Kace Company—but on the arrival of Mr Justin Aylmer, the Resident Magistrate and Warden of the Upper Shotover, the proprietors determined on doing Mr Aylmer the honor of conferring his name on the undertaking. That gentleman was received with loud and continuous cheers, and although almost a stranger in the district, it was evident that his unassuming gentlemanly manner had already mad 3 a deep impression on the minds of those he had come in contact with, and one must see and be amongst miners for a considerable time before he can fully appreciate and know when they really mean a hearty welcome. This was given to Mr Aylmer yesterday, and that gentleman will remember to the latest period of his life, this great and glorious occasion. Nothing like it has ever yet taken place on the Shotover, for the liberality of the proprietors was unbounded —provisions and wines were there actually by the ton. I believe it took nearly fourteen horses to convey the refreshments from Queenstown. I shall for the present pass over a description of the toils and sufferings this company have endured for the last fourteen months, in their stern task, and dwell upon the more cheerful theme of the celebration of their opening day. By the time appointed — two o'clock, p.m.—all were assembled, and the proprietors had determined on paying a graceful tribute to the Warden of the district by naming the race after him. Then was seen the tall form of that pioneer of Shotover ttavelleas, Mr J. B. Fox, ascending—No ! I must give it its proper name—climbing up the face of almost perpendicular rocks, to a height stupefying to behold, some thousand or two feet above the bed of the Shotover, and with a bottle of Champagne under arm he at last reached the spot where the water for the first time rushed from the race wildlv over the steep, and dashing the bottle into the race he gave a loud and hearty cheer. At the same instant, the Warden, surrounded by the owners of valuable claims from all parts of the river, and representatives of the wealth and commerce of Queenstown, christened the property the "Aylmer Race," amid deatening shoutß from every quarter. All present retired to the well spread tables, and there partook of the glorious cheer; and speechifying became the order of the day. All were happy, and never was a day of beautiful sunshine turned to better use, or a body of gentlemen made more cheerful than on this Thursday.

We learn from the Canterbury 4 Press' that a letter has been received from Mr Revell, stationed at the depot on the Grey. The letter is dated the 12th ult. Mr Revell reports the steamer Nelson had arrived on the previous day with fifty passengers and a small quantity of cargo, among which was a little flour. The latter article was gladly received, as the flour in the hands of private storekeepers had for some time been exhausted, and had it not been for the stores procured at the Government depot the diggers would have been exposed to severe privations. The diggers were reported as quiet and orderly; the majority of them were making £2 to £5 a day, but some were not doing more than miking tucker." About 40 had left the Greenstone for Tipo, and several arrivals overland went there direct, but no favorable accounts had since been received. On the 11th twenty diggers returned from thence to the Grey, reporting that they could make nothing more than tucker, and that no finds had been made sufficiently large to encourage them to remain, though the river, to be properly worked, would require to be flumed. On the Teremakau some claims had been already worked out. In conclusion, Mr Revell says that he cannot too strongly re. commend intending diggers to refrain from coming to the West Coast until some other payable fields have been discovered, and good stores established in the vicinity.

The 'Provincial Gazette' notifies the following new regulations in reference to the transmission of gold, bank notes, or specie by escort to and from Dunedin, and which were to come in force on the sth inst" 1. Gold, bank notes, or specie, for transmission by escort to Dunedin, must be deposited with the gold receiver of the district; and notes or specie for transmission up country, at the office of the chief gold receiver, Dunedin. 2. The gold receiver will enter on the receipt, which he will give to the depositor, and on the butt (which he will retain) the gross weight of the parcel to be transmitted; he will also require the signature of the depositor lo the butt of the receipt. 3. When gold is transmitted 1 for delivery,' the gold receiver's receipt B hould be sent, in all cases, to the consignee. 4. ' Immediately after the dispatch of each escor t for Dunedin, the gold receiver will send to the , qflfro of the chief gold receiver an invoice of parcels transmitted. The document must contain a precise transcript of the particulars inserted in the receipts having reference to that escort. 5. No delivery of any kind will be made without the surrender of the gold receiver's receipt. 6.

A uniform charge of three pence per ounce will d fe VUfle for gold forwarded to Dunedin under these 1 Arrangements; and for specie and bank r . r QftM oonveyed in. any direction, or for any distance/a charge of one-half per cent will be made. 7. The packages of gold will be delivered at the office of the chief gold receiver to tho agents or parties authorised to receive them; and notes or specie, transmitted by the escort, must undertake all risks of conveyance whatsoever {including L robbery and theft), as the Government will not, under any circumstance, be responsibe for loss.

QUEENSTOWN IMPROVEMENT* COMMITTEE. A meeting of the above body was held on the 4th inst, at Bracken's Commercial Hall. Present —Messrs Louttit (chair), Bracken, Prosser* Shepherd, Jones and Manders.

A printed draft of the new municipal bill proposed to be taken into consideration and made law by the Provincial Council at its next sitting, and which had been forwarded by the Provincial Secretary to the Committee for perusal and suggestions, was read and taken into consideration. Several suggestions were proposed and carried. Among others was one giving a vote at all municipal elections to owners and occupiers of freeholds and premises of the value of £lO, instead of £IOO, as proposed by the bill. An additional clause was discussed, and a resolution passed embodying the same, as follows " That all Crown lands within the town boundaries of the municipalities established under the Act be placed in the hands of the corporations for leasing purposes, and the rents derived therefrom to be devoted to municipal purposes."

PETITION FOR CIRCUIT COURT AND GAOL. The following is a copy of the Petition decided on by the Committee appointed at a public meeting held at Queenstown, on the 24th of last month, to draw up the same : To his Honor the Superintendent and the Honorable Members of the Provincial Council The humble Petition of the residents and inhabitants of the town of Queenstown and the Wakatip district, in the Province of Otago, New Zealand, Humbly sheweth— That at a public meeting of the residents of the Wakatip district, held at Queenstown aforesaid, it was resolved that this memorial praying for the establishment of a Circuit Court and Gaol delivery at the town of Queenstown in the Wakatip district should be presented. That your petitioners have been led from time to time to beliove that an application for a Circuit Sitting of the Supreme Court and the establishment of a Gaol would be granted them; and that they have sustained that belief in consequence of having received various communications on the subject, extracts whereof are hereto annexed.

That in the month of October, 1863, a Petition signed by many thousands of the inhabitants of the above district praying, amongst other things, that a Circuit Court and Gaol should be established at Queeustown aforesaid was presented to the General Assembly. That the prayer contained in the said Petition was promised to be carefully considered. That your Petitioners were led to believe by the correspondence above referred to that their request would have been complied with,'and they view with alarm a reply lately made by his Honor the Superintendent to a deputation from the Dunstan respecting a water right, that the Provincial Government, with the sanction of the General Government, intend to grant to the Dunstan the objects which your Petitioners have so long been contending for—viz., the establishment of the said Circuit Court and Gaol.

That your petitioners consider from the importance of tlie Wakatip district, as shown by the statistics hereto attached, that the said district is fairly entitled to have their prayer granted. That your Petitioners beg most respectfully to urge that the expenditure required would be inconsiderable, since the Resident Magistrate's Court-house, at present in use, would amply suffice for the requirements of a Circuit Court. That a Gaol could be built at Queenstown far cheaper than at any other inland town in the Province of Otago, and the cost of same could not possibly exceed the sum of £SOOO. That should the prayer of this Petition be granted, a considerable saving to the Provincial Government would accrue, as the present heavy expense incurred by the attendance of witnesses in criminal prosecutions, from the Wakatip district, would be saved.

Your petitioners then humbly pray that you will be pleased to take this Petition into consideration, and grant your petitioners a Circuit Court and Gaol delivery at Queenstown. We beg to remind those of our readers fond of such pleasant reunions, that a Tea meeting is to take place next Tuesday evening, at the Wesleyan Church. We are happy to see that the tables are to be presided over by several of the ladies of our most influential townsmen, irrespective of sect; and there is every promise of its being very successful. The new municipal bill mentioned in our report of the Improvement Committee meeting is too long to publish at length in its present form, but we may state that, should it become law, it will be a great boon to new townships, as it is extremely simple in construction and will be inexpensive in its operation. The business at the Police Court yesterday, before R. Beetham, Esq., was unimportant. Herbert Williamson, charged with stealing £4 in money, and sundry other articles, from the tent of W. Daniels, on the Moke Creek track, was discharged, the evidence against him being insufficient. Cassius v. Doherty—£7 10s. No appearance. Case dismissed. Clifton v. Jones —£6 18s. This case gave rise to a cross-action for £l9. Verdict for defendant, £1 7s. Peters v. Jones—£3. A setoff was also put in in this case. Verdict for plaintiff, £1 ss. The Perseverance Company, Stapleton's Beach, "have set a noble example in subscribing the sum of £27 to the funds of the Hospital.

Advice to the Diffident Persons who are nervous, and persons who wish to be thought smart, find a difficulty in getting out of a room. For their comfort Mr Punch has compiled a variety of light exits (to use the stage phrase), by the aid of which a member of either class may promote the comfort of the company by departing with grace and promptitude. Lvt him watch his opportunity, and then introduce any of the following little speeches:—" I was glad to see that her Majesty walked yesterday on the Slopes; and, talking of that, I must slope/ (exit). "Do you think it's going to rain ; I hope not ; but whether or no I must mizzle." (exit). " Your fire requires looking to, Mrs Brown, or it will be going out—as, indeed, I must be." (exit). " A beautiful geranium, indeed, Mrs Jones, and raised, I suppose, from a cutting—ha! ha! I must be cutting, too." (exit). " A very interesting auction at Christie's yesterday, and it was curious to see how the things were going—like me." (exit). "The concert was very brilliant. I never heard Miss Poole sing that song better, 0, dont you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt—and I must bolt." (exit). "It would have been a foolish match, my dear lady. She had nothing, and a squint, and he had nothing and his debts. It's off, and so am I." (exit). "Hastings is pleasant, but there is so much boat-building that, go where you will, you smell tar, which I must now say" (kisses fingers and exit). " Cowper said something in the House about the dirty state of the fountains, and said that he must look to the source, in fact, au reservoir" (exit). Angling has just begun at Hampton and the other Thames places, but I prefer sea-fishing, for there, when a fish bites, you are sure to hook it; as I beg to do" (exit). "Do not, my darling Arabella, walk out too early in the day, for you are delicate, and at that time the grass is covered v what I must now say—a dew" (exit). "Some Americanisms are exceedingly quaint and humorous. To say 4 I go,' is to say nothing, but anyone must laugh to hear a person say, ' I absquotulate'" (exit). (Ingenious variations and additions suggested, as the fashionable amusement of the reason.) —'Punch.'