The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Dec. 13,1865. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS. POLITICAL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 274, 13 December 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Dec. 13,1865. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS. POLITICAL.

Colonial politics are very puzzling at present aud wavering in the balance. Such is the position or obscurity of affairs that men are rather waiting and looking out for what is to come forth than attempting to lead. It oiuhl not to be inferred from this that there is any general trimming of sails to catch popular breezes. It is not so, but what between Colonial polit'cs and Provincial polities—their relations one to another—and the want of knowledge of the actions that have guided legislators in the General Assembly of the Colony, the electors generally are groping in the dark. A few men understand, or, more correctly, we should say, few men believe they understand the position of the Colony, with its numerous ramifications of native wars, Imperial liabilities, land questions, self reliant policies, duties of the two islands one to the other, the Separation movement, and a host of other questions, though apparently of small importance to a settled country, yet all important to a new community building up a foundation for the future. We shall not attempt to pilot our distant readers through this maze; it is only necessary in this Summary to a\lude to one or two prominent facts to accouut for so singular a silence just on the eve of the elections. Among the principal causes then, so far as Otago is concerned, is a want of public spirit engc ndered through the depletion caused by a rush of the population to the West Coast goldfieids, which forbids that active popular buz or action so ne.cessary to the assistance of the active politician. Many representatives are also tired of their labors, and wait for other men to relieve them, others do not desire to endure the turmoil affecting a contest against the principles of Separation, "which is gaining ground with the masses, and another numerous class wish to avoid giving' any pledges under the present unknown state of matters. So much political and financial concealment under an apparent mask of openness has been lately developed that many members of the General Assembly are really unaware of the actual state of affairs and parties. The electors are, of course, further in the dark than ever; they feel the burden of taxation without finding anyone who can offer a solution or a general redress, and there is besides no one large policy put forth to attract their attention. The consequence is that they are findng themselves drawn into such a quandary that the more they struggle to extricate themselves the worse they seem to be off. All these circumstances lead to that wavering in the balance which we have already spoken of. This suspense however cannot last, a 9 the elections will very shortly take place for the Colonial Parliament. The Province of Canterbury is an exception to the rule; political feeling is there strong, but only arising fiom the fact of several leading members and supporters of the Weld Ministry, including the late Premier himself, being resident colonists of that favored portion of New Zealand. The action raised there resolves itself not into a consideration of measures but into a support of Mr Weld. In fact men not measures are the key notes there. The question of Separation has been mooted there, but it is making but slow grounds, as no definite plan has yet been urged. In the other portions of the colony men are waiting, and, under such circumstances, no one can predict what kind of an Assembly we shall have whether Mr Stafford will succeed in forming a Ministry or whether the party who dub themselves as the self reliant ones will again come into power. We have alluded several times to the Separation Question. The feeling amongst

the community is favorable to a division of the colony, in either a financial or political sense; but opinion leads more to a separation of the first kind than to a total disunion of the two islands. Without, however, any reference to the decision against them by the Imperial authorities, it is hard to say into what shape the question will yet resolve itself. One section of politicians asssert: — "The time will come when the North, free from ruinous wars, will overtake the South in the race of civilisation: when a true commuI nity of interests will arise between them then the cry of * Union' will probably be as loudly raised as that of ' Separation' now is. We desire to cast off no obligations, to evade no existing responsibilities ; all we ask is for the future to let the North alone, interfere no more in its affairs, but to direct our energies, our intelligence, our labor, and our wealth to the true purpose of Colonisation in the Middle Island." To this somewhat grand, but vague sentiment, another section oppose practical questions, and say:—" There is a deficit of £37,193 on the Northern Island, which must be ttill further largely increased. That without paying one farthing for Military Defence, the income of the Northern Island barely pays for its expenditure. The charge for Military Defence is in excess of any funds which the Northern Island possesses. Now, where is this money to come from ? This is the whole question ; and this the Separation writers and speakers will not answer. Till they have told us this (says the Canterbury 'Press') all other calculations are utterly beside the mark. We have been asking them this plain simple question for weeks; and they will not answer it. Who is to pay for affording the European population of the North protection against the Natives?" We have devoted this much attention to the subject because its prominence deserves a greater amount of consideration than our space admits; but we shall have to touch once more upon it under the head of Provincial.

Mr Stafford is said to be hard at work, and he must really have no light duty to perform, seeing that he presides over four departments, and has to work out the reduced Estimates and effect a saving in the Colonial expenditure of £107,000 in Native affairs and a reduction on the Weld appropriations of over £72,000. Whether he can successfully and satisfactorily accomplish the work of retrenchment he has undertaken, almost single handed, is very doubtful; but he certainly deserves high praise from the colonists for attempting the task, and coming forward at an hour of need to relieve the South from oppressive financial burdens. The Colonial forces have again been, with the assistance of the friendly natives, very successful in capturing pahs and prisoners. Most of these latter have been allowed their freedom in consequence of their number s being dangerous to the forces by their treachery, upon taking an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty. We are afraid this will be a mere nominal affair with the majority of the released, who are sullenly keeping quiet and probably watching the turn of affairs. Mr Stafford is, notwithstanding these important captures, quietly carrying out his policy of leaving the natives alone as much as possible, and probably the number of natives that have boen lately executed for foul murders and the many more under sentence of death, will have a go:;d effect upon them.

PROVINCIAL. The Council has continued its sittings since our last Summary, but it has specially dealt with resolutions, and has now commenced to work upon them and frame measures thereupon. One of the most important series of resolutions were those that municipal institutions should be granted to outlying districts upon a petition of fifty householders living within an area of eight miles, and who shall receive an endowment from the State and a grant inaid of the revenues collected by them. These resolutions were accepted after much debate, but a great deal of ignorance was displayed in the discussion. One member thought it would be hard for a man living five miles away to pay rates for tlu lighting of a town—a matter never intended—and throughout there was a strongly displayed feeling that the up-country districts were not capable of self-government. This very childish error was much trotted forth, and the Dunedin members, especially Mr Moss, the Provincial Treasurer, arrogated to themselves a vast amount of knowledge, which to us on the spot seems folly of the rankest kind. This evident intention to still continue the system of plundering the upcountry districts will end, if persisted in, in throwing them upon the sympathies of the General Government for relief, and will tend to promote a closer connection of the islands, and a desire to abolish Provincial Councils. These latter are becoming really obstructive, and consider only the interests of the capital of the Province they sit in. Even Mr Haughton, one of the goldfields

members, of his special district, Queenstown, said he knew a money-grant was asked for to enable the municipality prayed for there to commence operations with. A land endowment was certainly asked for but not to commence operations with. A town whose sale of town lands has given the Government £5,000, whose licence fees have amounted to many more thousands, and a town wh'.ch, besides contributing more than £IOO,OOO to the general revenue, has also made improvements, roads, and taxed itself to the extent of thousands for local purposes, might have been spared the taunt deliberately given by the member for the goldfields. One of these days these resolutions may come into force; but we think it will be necessary for the upcountry districts to combine together, and go in for relief, after this degrading debate in the Provincial Council, to the General Assembly. It is patent that the Provincial Governments look only upon up-country districts as a source of revenue, and this must be the result in the end. While the people look favorably upon the one hand to Separation as a relief from the Maori war, they seek, on the other hand, a relief from the grasping, selfish policy of Provincial authorities. This leads us to dwell for a moment upon the Separation question in Otago. Here the question has engaged much attention, and the Council have entertained a string of Resolutions upon the subject from a Select Committee, which llesolutions still remain a subject of discussion. It is a compromise, and while proceeding from a stronghold of Separation like Duuedin, it yet lays down laws for the guidance of matters in the North Island. If these Resolutions pass in their present form they will open up many debateable points; for it is not likely a province like Taranaki will brook Otago's dictation of terms which shall submerge it (Taianaki) into the province of Auckland. Many members, however, are voting for a financial Separation, and are agreeable td take upon the Middle Island the whole of the £3,000,000 loan. The Land question is occasioning considerable discussion, and the public are awaiting with some anxiety the result of the deliberations of the Provincial Council. The Resolutions, as far as approved, are favorable to the squatters and speculators, and, with the exception of leasing agricultural goldfields allotments, are unfavorable to the settlement of a large body of people upon the soil. The discussion has shown that the people themselves have been virtually unrepresented. We need not, therefore, pursue this reactionary legislation further than to note that speculators now have a firm hold granted to them; and that the rent of 2s 6d per acre, &c, for Goldfields allotments is the only satisfactory feature. A number of other measures have also engaged the attention of the Council, but they are of little interest to anyone not intending to settle in Otago, seeing they are mostly of a transient character.

GENERAL. A very interesting return has been published of |the force tta Colony maintains for war purposes, exclusive of any aid lent by the Imperial Government. From it we find that there are ten stations, that the number of Military Settlers, Bush Rangers, Defence Force, Mounted Volunteers, Volunteers, and' Native allies, amounts to 2,894; tfcat in the Commissariat Department there are 1,329, which includes those paid by the Imperial and Colonial Governments, besides those who are off pay but resident in the Waikato district; and that 1,008 women and children are receiving rations in the Waikato and Tauranga districts. A subscription list in aid of a Mrs Maloney and family has received considerable support in the district. Mr Maloney died through the results of an accident at the Big Beach of a rather peculiar nature. The hillside upon which he and another man was working suddenly slipped away, and carried him with the debris into the Shotover. The poor fellow was got out of the river and conveyed to the Hospital, where he died a few days after. The manner in which the inhabitants of the district responded to this call upon their benevolence deserves the greatest praise. The mjnth has been singularly festive. Mr W. L. Simpson, R.M., Upper Shotover, was entertained to a public dinner at Fisher's Hotel, Skipper's Creek, previous to his departure from the district. The affair was a most successful one. Mr Milne of the Bank of Otago, prior to his leaving the district, was met by a numerous party at Powell's Family Hotel to bid him farewell over a dejeuner worthy of the establishment. Miss Langford, hostess of the Wakatip Hotel, had a very pleasant dinner party on the occasion of her birthday and anniversary of the opening of the hotel. Several of the leading inhabitants were present and a pleasant evening was passed. The Ancient Order of Foresters held their anniversary opening of the Queenstown lodge on the 7th inst, in the shape of a ball and supper. The hall attached to Mr Burn's Victoria Hotel was very tastefully decorated, and the supper was laid out in the lodge-room in a manner reflecting much credit upon the caterer Mr M'Dougall. The whole affair was a great success, and the attendance both excellent and fashionable. A first-class indication of another rich copper vein has been discovered at the Twelve-mile (Lake) by Small and party, There is not the slightest doubt but that there are several very valuable copper lodes in the district, which only require capital.an 4

good roads to make them splendidly remunerative and of immense advantage to the stability of the Province. The Moke Creek Copper Ore Mining Co., under the management of Mr Bradshaw, have succeeded in cutting through some excellent veins. The works have been stopped during the last few days and are waiting for further orders from Dunedin. An abundance of rich ore can be obtained from the veins and blocks already cut.

MINING. The past month has been one of the most chequered known in the district for the severity of the season, which has almost put a stop to mining operations. Considering that the mining population of the Queenstown and Arrow are under a thousand working miners, and that the average escort returns have been 800 ounces of gold per week, it is a satisfactory proof of the richness of the district ; especially as about one-third of the miners are employed upon works at present non-productive. The following are some of the reports published by us since our last Summary: — In our issue of 18th ult, we reported :~ The week has been remarkable, like its predecessor, for high state of the rivers and creeks, owing to the melting of the snow under hot sultry winds, also to some rather heavy showers that have come down at night time. The streams have scarcely been known to keep so high since this goldfield was opened, and the probability is that, except at the Big Beach, Shotover, very little river or creek workings will be possible for the next month or so, as the heavy fall on the 15th has again covered the ranges with snow, which is now melting away. Most of the holders of river claims are taking out protective certificates. This brings to light one pleasing fact; that the miners still have confidence in the various river workings of the district, and especially in those of the Shotover. The sluicing interest is very prosperous, and it is much to be regretted that this class of mining has not been more generally followed up. Several claims that had to suspend operations, owing to injury that would otherwise be inflicted on river clainholders beneath them, are now in full work, and giving excellent yields. Amongst, the most conspicuous of these are the Wire Rope Company, near Maori Point, whose dividends—now that three weeks' sluicing has opened up a good face to the work—bid fair to reach a pound weight of gold per week per share. Law and party, near the same terrace, with a small stream of water, are making returns of a very handsome kind, and have three years' work before them, on one lead of gold about sixty feet wide. At all the terraces, up to Skipper's, work is more or less pursued by the tunnelling system; but the day cannot be far distant when capital and co-operation upon sound principles will be the means of bringing in water more abundantly in order to sluice away these miles of auriferous terraces. Had the same been in California they would have been the scene of an energetic and thriving population. At Skipper's the Mountain Kace Company leads the way, and Giogan and party further on, have opened up a rich gully. The prosperity of this branch of mining is, however, sufficiently great to allow the miners to hold on to their gold, or to wash up only at long intervals. < ; The quartz reefing interest is in much the same position as before. Every day, however, corroborates the opinion entertained of the great value of the reefs at Skipper's; but little or nothing can be done to develope them until crushing machinery is brought on the ground—and this is a matter almost of impossibility until the track is made more passable. Messrs Wright and Millett are now surveying a more suitable line, but the sum granted by the Government —£200—is quite inadequate to make the track absolutely demanded to develope the numerous reefs. In our issue of 29th ult, we reported : Some excellent gold, of a fine grain and good quality, has recently come in from the Moonlight district—a locality supposed by some to be almost deserted. There cannot be a doubt that, with passable bridle tracks, this north-western region will yet become extremely valuable, as reduction in the cost of living follows. What folly would it be to offer special inducements to an alien and inferior race of people to come and mine in such a region—only one of many in the Province—which will doubtless for many years amply reward the exertions of Europeans. Johnston, of Tucker Beach, is about using the copper-plates silvered. This claim is yielding steadily, and along these terraces there is an immense quantity of ground requiring only water and systematic working to give large yields. A correspondent writing from the Twelvemile, Arrow, says:—" Mining affairs here are in a healthy state and assume an appearance of permanence and stability. Burr and Co's tramway tunnel claim is now in full working order, and the ingenious method they adopt in working reflects great credit upon the proprietors. The claim was christened to-day by the name of the * Enterprise/ The ceremony came off with great eclat, winding up with an excellent spread at Host Hayward's. This claim is situated on a terrace 60 feet above the Arrow river. The main tunnel being driven 300 or 400 feet from the northern side of the terrace, it there meets Rudd and Fisher's main tunnel, which if

taken iu about an equal distance from the southern side of the same ledge. Thus is proved a payable lead of gold through the hill. The claim known as the Italian's is paying splendidly, and is still further corroborative evidence of this. Most of the sluicing parties here are doing well, and have plenty of water." In our issue of 2nd instant we reported:— We are glad to be able to report that the few parties at the Bucklerburn (Head of the Lake) are doing exceedingly well, and obtaining very coarse gold. Cotter and party, Arrow Flat, have commenced sinking, and have gone down about 14 feet. They have stroug hopes to overcome the difficulties of water. Our correspondent, writing from Maori Point, under date Ist December, says:— The various sluicing parties are doicg very well. The Never-Budge are washing up this week, and expect to get sixty ounces as the result of their labor. The Wire Kope have also washed up with good results. Quinn and party are doing very well; they have been working for the last twelve months with but a poor remuneration, but their energy and perseverance is about to be rewarded. I regret to have to report that a miner named John Bray met with a rather serious accident on Friday last whilst working on the night shift in his claim, by a Urge piece of rock falling upon him. Mr Goodwin kindly placed his horse at the disposal of the mates of the poor fellow, and he was conveyed to the hospital on Sunday last. In Skipper's Creek matters are improving; the various sluicing parties having plenty of water for their operations. Grogau and party are doing very well. They showed me some very coarse gold they picked off the bare rock. On Wednesday they will be washing up, and anticipate good dividends. They divided a pouud weight per man for four days work a short time ago. Brookes and party are bringing in a race from the Soaring Meg; they have their levels taken, and will commence to cut the race next week. At Sk.pper's Point Moore and party are fluming a race over the creek ; they having their plant aud fixings ready will get the hose next week aud commence cuttiug the race to their claim. The other parties at the Point seem very satisfied. Everything at the reefs is going on smoothly. Jones and party (Scandinavian) will retort this week and expect a large cake of gold. The Prince of Wales are putting in a main drive, and have struck an overlayer of quartz containing gold. The other companies, who have been, protected by the Warden, are resuming work. Southberg and party's tiumiug is nearly completed, and their tramway is being laid down. They are ready for their machinery. The British and American company's bed for their machinery is laid down and ready, the blasting for the rock being done, and the framing for ftumin<* the Water is now brought to its destination. The machinery is expected in Queenstown shortly, when no time will be lost to convey it to the, works. A correspondent writing from the Twelvemile (Arrdw), under date 7th December, says: — 44 The miners here are now fully employed and seem satisfied with their returns. Already miners are returning from the West Coast/and give the most disheartening accounts of it. Nearly all agree that the gold there is confined to a few small districts, and 44 tucker" is not to be made outside them. "A source of wealth, now to this locality, is likely to be discovered in the shape of a quartz reef. We are informed on good authority that the Skipper's reef bears directly for"the Twelve-mile gully. A prospecting party will shortly be formed and set out in search thereof." During the pass week affairs have continued to improve. The Scandinavian Quartz reef Company sold a cake of gold weighing 118 ounces, the produce of 30 tons of quartz.