LAKE WAKATIP.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 311, 12 February 1875, Page 3

LAKE WAKATIP.

(From. our own correspondent.)

I trust, Mr. Editor, that your thoughtful readers will not confound the[Lakes-district, ol which 1 write, with the portion of country known as .the Lukes -when 7 spoken of" in connection with the representation by metnbtrs in the Provincial Council. The district of which I write (under the name of the Lakes) is a block of country around Lakes "Wakaiip, Hayes, and Wanaka,. embracing the Arrovr and Sliotover distne'-s, and comprising a block of about 50-miles square'-j whilst the district kuown as the Lukes in Proviiici.-d representation, and marked on W.ispV excellent little map of the Province of .Otag •, as such, extends, over the whole width ot the Province from nor:h to south on the western front:er, and over about two degrees of longitude frmn east to west r —representing ail the, coast Jiue from the mouth of the Awarua river (on the Canterbury boundary) to very near River" on the south, or about one third of the coast - line ot the entire Province—a coast liner, by the way, which contains some of rhe grandest" scenery which is to be seen in perhaps the world ; and if those persons, who honor the Lakes wiLli a visit as tourists, were giveii « number of the pamphlet by K. P.Whitwortb, viz., " Voyage from Dunedin to Martin's Bay, and Hetum," I feel sure they would not- leave the Lakes (which they ar-s said to be d-Mug) - underdone. However, 1 merely wish tc siate that it is not this immense and magnificent country which is meant by the heading of this correspondence, but the surroundings cf rhe ■Wakatip Uoldfields, and the inliubitauis of those pottions of the dwlr ct. '■

Weil, tiieu, speaking of 'his portion with all resources —its : «*oldj coal pasturage, agriculture, ami varii*d° nth it. tries', an.l a popu ati -n of over 4UGU souls (one ha : f being young children and Uiiinaineuj I bava to say that it i& not only cull, bat it L? languid in the. extreme, and presents a picture . which the settlers and residents in the Mount Ida district would do welt to study, "lis & case to which they are liable as weil as we hro. I We have plenty of farmers and graziers, butchers, baker?, publicans and sinners—or camp officials, which means near enough—plenty of packers,, schools, ana two or tbreo churches: these a e all "here, but where is the money V that, is the question." I might attempt to answer the question, but spac.e or time will not permit ine to go into it in detail, but 1 may say. that a report of the amount, under head of land revenue licenses, : fees, and : will account for some very considerable sums. The sums taken away by the men who have left the district would far out-balance everv other item; and the knowledge and pluck they have" taken with them is worth more thau all. I am certain that many men. -who are now elsewhere, have left this place because thev 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 Goldtiehl 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. W e have three classes of men in this district(Ist) One class produces nothing but cash (sicj miners; (2nd) one class who produce for market or export; (3rd) one claW who live by imports. The two latter merchants and farmers—in this district number fourto one digger: so cash is tight* ; Of course this is a natural consequence; tetting ,s on the loose," as it certainly di*when it strayed to the Palmer. - I fear so pvertaxed you with generalities that I have ;nol space for any gossip. ■ . I may say that,the Arrow is about to lose an able advocate, m the person of Mr. S. is'. Brown, of the ' Observer, ' who leaves shortly t(y take charge oi his new property, the 'Cromwell Argus.' As editor of- the 'Ar--row Observer,' Mr. Brown has worked well tor the place; au<i, ab a man and a- citizen his absence •wiiklje leit regretted by It . ot wish liIJH well iu bis ue'.v venture. .. V.r v"](;uv*.sl . •'p st-u&qu tat Cot cur c.vjiei i-i this district,:'-?;.J :