The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Jan. 28, 1865.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 183, 28 January 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Saturday, Jan. 28, 1865.

In consequence of a press of matter we withhold our usual leading article. A public meeting is called for to-night, at Brown's Commercial Hall, to receive a report, and to arrange for holding sports on St. Patrick's Day. Mr Prosser's letter was received too late, but will appear in our next if he wishes it, although, %s already two letters appear in the present issue on the same subject, we think it quite unnecessary. ' •

Letters by the English mail arrived last evening, but no newspapers. It was rumored, however, that Lincoln was again elected president. Muller was hung. Our Maori Point correspondent's letter arrived too late for publication. He mentions the arrival of some of the machinery for the Scandinavian reef, which is continuing to turn out very rich stone. The miners are signing a petition for the establishment of a Mining Board, as the present regulations are very obstructive. Our Arrow correspondence also arrived too late. The Wakatip Jockey Club held a meeting last evening, and transacted some important business. They have resolved to give 500/. in prizes, for the two days' racing, on the 16th and 17th March. The turf is said to be in splendid order. An application for a crown grant was ordered to be made to the Superintendent, so as to be able to fence in the ground. An offer of 50?. for the Grand Stand was refused, as also another of 100?. for five booths. The treasurer reported a large sum in hand. Messrs Bradshaw, W. Clements, Bridges, Richmond and Cochrane were elected as stewards. The Race Ball takes place on the 17th March, and it was resolved to carry out the same, regardless of expense. Mr Rces is judge; Mr Powell, starter; Mr Pinkerton, clerk of the course ; Mr Horn, clerk of the scales; Mr Bracken, treasurer; and Mr Manders, secretary.

Another large fire has taken place in Dunedin, being the third within ten days. It broke out at a quarter past 2 on Tuesday morning last. The origin of it was unknown at the time. The inmates of the Exchange Hotel, Princes-street, escaped with difficulty. The " Daily Times" reports the following premises as destroyed:— Bank of Otago, Exchange Hotel (Sheehan's), Paris and London Restaurant, John Fargie, merchant, James Robertson, grocer, Wilkinson and Dixon, Medical Hall. (At the rear, Butement Brothers, Cordial Manufacturers; Stephen and Laing, Gommission Agents; and Mackay and Co., printers.) Stanford and Co., kerosene and sewing machine depot; J. Mackay, bookseller and stationer; Fergusson and Mitchell, engravers and printers ; Gillies and Street, auctioneers and land and estate agents; Evans, XeDnelly and Co., land agents. The old Presbyterian chapel was also burnt down. The loss is large, but full particulars are not to hand. The Bank of Otago is covered by policies amounting to £SOOO. Other buildings were insured. No lives were known to be lost.

The ' Otago Mail' of the 21st inst., says that a report was current through the city that a respectable citizen had bsen ingeniously swindled out of 500?. by an individual on the strength of the arrival of 3000 sheep, which were represented to be on their way from Melbourne. Immediately on receipt of the money, the gentleman (?) absconded by the Albion for Melbourne.