THE LAKE DIGGINGS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 45, 14 April 1863, Page 2

THE LAKE DIGGINGS.

(fKOM OTjK SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Queenstown, Lake Wakatip, 6th April, 1863. The weather, which has heen remarkably fine for some time past, broke up on Friday with a sudden storm of wind and rain ; the wind appearing to blow from every point of the compass at once, and lashing the smiling ripples of the Lake into wild waves, fierce and white enough for the stormy Atlantic itself. By this ordeal the respective qualities of the steam boats which have recently commenced business on the Wakatip have been tested, and the result proves that the Invercargill boat, named after the Lake, is the only one fit for- her work when the elements are determined to oppose her. The Expert and Victoria left St. John's for this place on Friday morning last about nine o'clock^ but were both soon obliged to return from stress of weather. The Victoria is an undecked, unsafe boat, and when crowded with sixty passengers, in such a sea as was rolling then, gave spectators a good idea of the pleasant horror experienced by those who witness M. Blondin's wonderful but dangerous performances. She is now laid up for the purpose, I believe, of being decked and rendered altogether more trustworthy and comfortable. The Expert is safer and better built, but not at all fit for heavy weather. The Wakatip made her usual trip down from here in the morning, and at about eight o'clock p.m., started again from St. John's to return to Queenstown, with from fifty to sixty passengers. Towards eleven o'clock she was overtaken by the storm and the captain very wisely put back, knowing the boat had not sufficient power; a fault, however, which will soon be remedied, as I hear the proprietors propose putting in another cylinder, which will give her about twenty horse-power. On Saturday morning she again left the foot of the Lake in company with the Expert and Victoria, and arrived here after a four hour's passage, having succeeded in gaining the good opinion of a public which was only too ready to ridicule and condemn her before her qualities were known. The rush to the .Nokomai, which caused some sensation here last week, is dying a natural death, and the ever-restless diggers returning to their slighted claims " sadder and wiser men," finding that sure and moderate gain, obtained with little trouble and some degree of comfort, is better than a "pile" in perspective with hard work and no comfort at all. I believe most of them wiJl nowsettle down quietly for the winter and devote their spare time to ' the preparations which are so much needed by those accustomed to a milder

climate. The prospecting claim grant! some ten days ago to Austin, Ghamberli and party turned out three ounces to{ bucket from the bottom of a circa shaft four feet in diameter. A p specting claim had "originally be granted there, and this same shaft fc been sunk to within four feetTfcf |j bottom by Hill and party some |j| previous to the discovery of tlie Walcii goldfield. The flat is very wetj ia| moist, damp, and most unpleasant ch acter closely resembling the well-knq ! Woolshed Creek, in Victoria. ;]?( combined partiea of twenty men ?hj tried to sink a Bmall paddock' liel< the prospecting claim, but liave 'bj obliged to give it up in despairf account of the water, which they, foti it impossible to keep under, though q stantly bailing at the rate of fifty gal| per minute-. One thing the late rj has clearly proved— that the. Nokoz will never make a paying goldfield ui worked with combined labor under frontage system. Experienced mia say there is no doubt that the gol< there in considerable . quantities, those who set about obtaining it 1 require some capital, and, a thoroi knowledge of how to carry out'; work. ; There was rather a heavy flood in' Shotover on Friday night, but the rj rises so very quickly that with the sn on the mountains, a few hours' rain is su cient to render it quite impassable. •; ' holders of beach claims have joined cutting a race to turn the course of/' Shotover River, in order to drain stream, and thus avoid the long dela waiting for the return of dry weathei There has been another discovery Moa bones up the Dart River, ii small cave or deep hollow of a ro The man who found them, supposed large bone which he brought in was skull, mistaking the sockets of the: bones for the eyes. The specimen < sists of the termination, of the do vertebrae, which, in that species of b includes, 1 believe, the whole of pelvis. There were two joints of back bone adhering to it when fou and several smaller bones scattered abefl so if the man returns for them, asfl intends, the collection may prove! valuable acquisition to those intereß in such matters. ■ King Cobb and Co. have ad asserted their sovereign rights, fl shewn the utter inability of ■ new country to do without them wfl energy, perseverance, and capital H required. They have taken the confl for the conveyance of the weekly esfl between St. John's and Dunedin, cH bining also a bi-weekly coach for B conveyance of mails and passenjjHl which will be a great convenience toll dwellers in this part of the world. II first escort under the new arrangenU started from the foot of the LakeH Friday with nearly twelve thousll ounces of gold. -~H An inquest was held by the BesiiH Magistrate at Arthur's Point on TH day, 31st March, on the body of a wM named John Rogers, who was kilL?^| the caving in of the earth in a paclH where he was working ; verdict, " .AH dental death." The number of sufl deaths which have occurred lateljH this district render the appointment ll caroner quite necessary, and the autial ties in Dunedin have been communicflfl with on the subject. ■■ A local bi-weekly newspaper is anfl to come into existence here under M appellation of the Lake Wakatip iflfl The prospectus states that "theplH mount care of the proprietors will ml render it especially useful and iiH pensable to the mining communitjlß faithfully and diligently collecting IB publishing all facts bearing upon ■■ interest." It also states that " arralfl ments will be made to publish spfll editions, giving a comprehensive abmfl of English and American news on aim! of the English mail, irrespective on! ordinary issues of this journal ; andKfl nothing shall be left undone whichEl impart additional interest or advaiCfl to the subscribers." IB The snow has made its first apm ance on the hills overlooking the ft this morning. The wind is bloa keenly and bitterly from the south; , rain also falling in. a heavy, ceasf , determined manner. Evidently M( Nature is warning her children tha , beautiful New Zealand summer is pa j away, and stern old winter commei „ his dreary reign. K