Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1865.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 270, 29 November 1865, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1865.

Few of our readers are, perhaps, watching as sharply as they should do, a discussion at present proceeding in the Otago Provincial Council upon the Land Question. It is most important, however, that every man who purposes residing in Otago should narrowly and keenly watch the proceedings of Council. Trivial as those debates may seem to many fresh from the Australian colonies, they are, nevertheless, far from being so. They affect the future of a young country, whose rudeness in the absence of roads, and other wants disgust many; but a country, nevertheless, containing such valuable and permanent resources that it must eventually become a great and prosperous one, and the abode of an immense population. Perhaps we thould sav it would become so if arbitrary laws did not intervene to defeat the intentions of a kind Providence. Under such circumstances, we cannot too seriously regret the apathy displayed by the general public on the Goldfields in such a momentous matter as the Land Question. Where are the public meetings ? Where the petitions that should be pouring into the Council ? The reasonable conclusion is that the public are not true to themselves. They are either too unconcerned or too indifferent to protest, and to guard their own interests, and we will use the word deliberately—for their own honor. They have evidently lulled themselves into the belief that when once they have elected a representative their whole and entire duty has been performed. If this is not the cause of the prevailing apathy we would ask what else is ? They may express disgust because oi poli-

tical and unblushing tergiversation ; and we can to some extent account for the cynic and disheartening feeling abroad, and honestly attribute much of it to this cause. But if one or two representatives choose to act the part of political Judus' that is no reason why the mass of the electors should be desponding, and especially at this moment, when their honor, duty, and interests demand that they should make their voices heard. We have before shown the course of action we should prefer seen taken upon this important Land Question. The former reso lutious, as all know, have been sent back by the General Assembly for reconsideration, because it was supposed that they were unpopular with the people and did not represent their views. Yet the people are neglecting the opportunity they asked for and are strangely dumb before their shearers. That this latter word is not a figurative one, we shall on the present occasion adduce only one proof. Mr Mac.vndrew proposes the sale (freehold) of 2,000 acre blocks of first-class pastoral country at an upset price of 10s an acre. Who does not know which is meant by first-class pastoral country at 10s an acre and in 2,000 acre blocks ? Was there ever anything more monstrous ? But his proposition does not end here. Agricultural lands are proposed to be raised to 30s an acre and put up in 320 acre blocks. In conclusion, when it was objected that auriferous lands might be sold in the large 2,000 acre blocks, Mr Dillon Bell, on behalf of his party, remarked:— " There were certain peculiarities in Otago. There was a large portion of country unfitted for agriculture. The mica-schist formation on the goldfields could not be cultivated. It was objected that by selling the land, those who were mining would be driven away. But supposing the owners were to say, let us keep the gold. It did not signify whether the land was parted with or let so long as there was permanency in the land law—for a rental equal to the value of the land could not be obtained without permanency. The wages paid by pastoral tenants was half a million, and everything that interfered with the growth of wool, would prevent that sum being circulated " We hope before we return to the subject to see some movement and some definite action amongst the people, whose inheritance and right is it stake, as well as their iuterests as a mining community.

An unpleasant rumor is current in Queenstown, to the effect that the Zephyr schooner' which ltft Hobson's Bay on the Ist instaut, bound from Melbourne to Invercargill is lofet. It has caused some anxiety, as the plant of the Arrow Criterion Quartz Company, and also that of Southberg and Company, Skipper's, were on board, besides merchandise belonging to one of onr leading firms. We believe all the above cargo is insured. Nevertheless, should the rumor prove true, the loss will be really a misfortune for this district, as the delays and expenses attending the procuration of quartz-reefing machinery are very considerable. Without machinery the district must languish—without roads to convey it to its destination it would be useless—but many obstacles, in the latter respect, can be overcome. The less of plant is perhaps the most disheartening feature that would be presented in the path of enterprise, which is already too much encumbered with obstacles. .

We have been informed s by a gentleman just returned from the Wanaka Lake, and upon whose authority we can rely for some facts connected with Fyke's track. He states he was informed by the manager of Mr Wilkin's station there that a party of four miners had lately returned from the West Coast by this track. The party stated the road wretched, and that they had continually to be cutting their way through. They swear vengeance against Mr Pyke for misleading them. Another informant a tradesman of this town—oonfirms the above and states that several parties made the mouth of the river but found themselves no better off than when they first started. They spoke dis* couragingly of the prospects of a goldfield direction.

The Hospital, under the charge of Dr Douglas? is progressing satisfactorily. The number of patients is nine men and two females. Nearly all the cases are of a serious nature. Contributions of newspapers and books, for the patients use are solicited. Newspapers from Great Britain and the Colonies have a great charm to many. We hear that Mr Simpson, R.M , Maori Point, leaves the district this week for his former jurisdiction at Mount Benger, and that the duties of the Upper Shotover portion of the district, including Skipper's, will bj added to Mr Beetham's division of Queenstown. The saving effected we hope to see expended in such reproductive works as roads. Theproßpectus of the Middle Island Association has been published in the Canterbury papers. Mr Wilkin is the chairman. The objects of the association most clearly asserted are Separation and the protection of the land revenues of the Province.

From the correspondents of the ' Nelson Examiner ' and Canterbury * Press' we take the following " Instances of mining success at Bruce Bay are given as follows: —Nixon and party washed out 73 ounces, and Hughes and party 25 ounces in a week; Bracken, 2 ounces per day; Hunt, with one cradle, 2to 2| ounces ; and several others from to ozs per diem. This was at Hunt's rush. * * * On the beach near the mouth of the Grey the miners are doing well, and a large amount of gold will doubtless be procured. One of the best appliances so far known, I believe, for this class of digging, is a cradle (double the size of the ordinary one now in use) furnished with a copperplate, ' to be kept perfectly clean by the use of nitric acid,' which plate when coated with mercury will attract the minutest particle of gold dust,"

The Canterbury • Press' says:—" There is one great diffcjlty in ascertaining or influencing public opinion in New Zealand, owing to the fact that the newspapers of one Province circulate so partialiy in another. This is a fact which may be used by our Separation friends, it will not much help them, for we believe that Canterbury opinions are studied far more in the North Island than in Dunedin. There happens at pre sent to be no newspaper in Dunedin which advocates the cause of the late Government; statements therefore go forth to the Otago community wholly contrary to fact and uncontradicted Amongst the publications of this chaaacter, there was a speech delivered the other day by Mr Macandrew, which, as might of course be expected from such a qaarter, is more unscrupulous in its departures from truth than any other publication which we have seen."

We take from the Canterbury 4 Press" the following, remarking that a speculator imported once some of these afoirs into Victoria, and if needs be that Christchurch must have an escort they will be found laid up in a store there:—" It is a matter of frequent and anxious discussion whether it will be possible to establish a gold escort from Hokitika •to Christchurch. The great difficulty seems to be in the insecurity in conveying the treasure through the forest, where no escort how ever strong could defend itself against a party concealed behind the trees on the roadside. A simple plan has been suggested as a remedy for this difficulty. If a small redoubt, large enough ,to hold two men with the gold, were erected on an ordinary American wagon, the sides being made of iron, and both sides and bottom loopholed for musketry, it will be found that the weight of such a structure would be quite within what sucßT a wagon Would carty* It would be within a ton in weight. Two men could thus be seated withiu a bullet proof chain, ber. If the wagon were attacked, the horses miiiht be shot and the driver, but the robbers © could be shot from the loopholes the moment they showed themseives outside the bush. They could not approach the wagon without almost certain death. The saving to the Government would be very great, for the two men inside, and a driver, or a driver and guard, would be all the esport necessary; the whole nf the rest of the escort, and what is of equal importance, their horses, would be saved. We give the idta to the Government and to the public for what it is worth, not without thinking that if the plan bj carefully considered, there may be found in it the solution of a very difficult question." The 'Dunstan Times' says:—."Mr Warden Stratford has unmistakeably evinced his determination not to grant the divergence of water from any creek where it presence is required to extract the gold from the ground through which by nature it finds its way. At the same time it might not be out of place to hint the advisability of the Warden's visiting places where races are intended to be cut, and have occular demonstration that such races do not interfere with existing rights. The Canterbury 'Press'indignantly writes:— " The final and declared object of the Government was not to lay its hands upon the territorial revenues of the provinces. Not one syllable has ever escaped any member of the Government which could be remotely interpreted into such a proposal. What are we to say of a man who tells his constituents such direct and unscrupulous falsehoods ? The territorial revenues would not have been impounded. Mr Weld's estimates showed that the ordinary expenditure would be met by the anticipated revenues."

The old established firm of Cargill and Co exists only for the purposes of liquidation. The business will henceforth be carried on under the style of Cargill and M'Lean, the last-named gentleman being the late manager of the Bank of New Zealand. We take the following accounts from the * Evening Star' The area of the pastoral lands in occupation in Otago is 6,394,100 acres; from which at present the Province derives the munificent income of £4,840 10s 9d. The quantity of land under pastoral leases falling in during the next eleven years, is as follows: — Year Acres 1866 6,000 1868 838,460 1869 43,520 1870 237,320 1871 266,000 1872 2,675,580 1873 682,060 1874 1,760,920 1875 - - - - 68,120 1876 233,000