LAKE WAKATIP.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 310, 6 February 1875, Page 3

LAKE WAKATIP.

(From oar own correspondent, j I trust, Mr. Editor, that your thoughtful readers will hot confound the Lakes District, of which I write, with the portion of country known as the Lakes when spoken of in connection'with the representation by/ members in the Provincial Council. , The • district of whioh I write (under the name of the Lakes) is a block of country around Lakes Wakatip, Hayes, and Wanaka, embracing the Arrow and Shbtover districts, and comprising a block of about 60 miles square ; whilst the; district known as the Lakes in Provincial representation, and marked on Wise's excellent little map of the Province of Otago, as. such, extends over the whole width of the Province from north to south on the western frontier, and over about two degrees of longitude from east to west, —representing all the coast line from the mouth of the Awarua river (on the Canterbury boundary) to very near Riverton on the south, or about one third of the coast line of the entire Province-?—a coast line, by the way, which contains some of the grandest scenery which is to be seen in perhaps the world j and if those persons, who honor the Lakes with a visit as tourists, were given a number of the pamphlet by R. P. Whitworth, viz., "Voyage from Dunedin to Maj-tin's Bay, and Return," I feel sure they would not leave the Lakes (which they are said to be doing) underdone. However, I merely wish to state that it is not this immense and magnificent country which is meant by the heading of this correspondence, but the surroundings of the Wakatip Uoldflelds, and the inhabitants of those portions of the district. Well, then, speaking of this portion with all its resources its gold, coal, pasturage, agriculture, and varied industries, and a population of over 4000 souls (one half being young children and Chinamen) I have to say that it is not only dull, but it is languid in the extreme, and presents a picture .which the settlers und residents in the Mount Ida district would do well to study. 'Xis a case to which they are liable as well as we are. We have plenty of farmers and graziers, butchers, baker*, publicans and sinners—or camp officials, which means near enough—plenty of packers, schools, and two or three churches: these a*e all. here, but where is the money?. " that is the question." I might attempt to answer'the question, but space or time will not permit me to go into it in detail, but I may say that a report of the amount, under head of land revenue, licenses, fees, aud,,duties, will account for aome very considerable sums. The sums taken away by the men who have left the district would far out-balance every other item; and the knowledge and pluck they have taken with them is worth more than all. I am certain that many men, who are now elsewhere, have left this place because they were driven out of it by the extreme pressure they have been made to feel by being submitted to such frightful • taxation, and such severe commercial charges. These are the things which depopulate' our Goldfields and spoil markets. The Goldfield is like a Mint —it means, cash for goods or produce; but, if the gold is not being got, you have to exchange your produce in,kind or shape. We have three classes of men in this district:— (Ist) One class produces nothing but cash (sioj —miners; (i!nd) one class who produce for market or export; (3rd) one class who live by imports. The two latter classesmerchants and fanners—in this district number four to one digger;"so cash is tight. Of course this is a natural consequence of getting " on the loose," as it certainly did when it strayed to the Palmer. I fear I have so overtaxed you with generalities that I have not space for any gossip. I may say that the Arrow is about to lose an able advocate, in the person of Mr. S. N. Brown, of the 'Observer,' who leaves shortly to take charge of hiß new property, the 'Cromwell Argus.' As editor of the 'Arrow Observer,' Mr. Brown has worked well for the place*; and, as a man and a citizen, his absence will be felt and regretted by a large number of friends, who wish him well in his new venture. -• ■ Harvest is scarcely commenced yot—the season being the latest-ever experienced in this district.