THE LAKE COUNTRY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 26, 6 January 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE LAKE COUNTRY.

(FROM Otfß OWH CORRnSFOTDEXT.) Queenstown, 24th Dec, 1863. The escort, left here yesterday with 3992 ozs. 15 dwts. of gold, rather less* than the last amount, but this has been caused by the late flood on the Shotover, and the wild rush from there to the Nevia, which rush has turned out as I believed it would, viz. — a useless waste of time and money to a large number of miners. Very many have returned to Queenstown, and our streets are as a consequence crowded of an evening by the undaunted and persevering searcher after the precious metal. The fine weather and approaching Christmas festivities are no doubt the principal causes of the crowded state of our streets, for with the returned miners, large numbers have come to town and registered their claims until the river again recedes, and that they may thoroughly enjoy Christmas sports. These commenced last night by a grand bal masque, which, came off at Willis' rooms, Camp S reet, and was largely attended. The hotel-keepers have be*»n busily engaged in every direction in decorating their fronts with evergreens, and planting trees in the streets opposite to their various entrances. Butchers, bakers, confectioners, and other shopkeepers, have caught, the mania for decorations, and commenced ornamenting in all quarters, until the town presents quite a sylvan appearance. The abundant growth of evergreens on the sides of the mountains whu h skirt the town, and on the banks of the Lake (all easily approached), gives ample opportunities for such disrjla'y. At the Theatre Royal, a young tree, carefully and smoothly planed, lies ready to be greased, for those who enjoy the truly British sport of climbing the greasy pole. A is being rapidly organised for carrying out such sports as jumping in sacks, races, zxrcl other pames, On Bozjcing 33^y, for .the delectation of the good citizeus and visitors of Queenstown. The weather has, for the first time since July, really settled into that warm aod serene state which won for this district the title of " beautiful" amongst ail new arrivals from March to June last. Suow can be seen ouly in slight streaks in the crevices of the very highest points of the Remarkable Mountains- Ou the tops of the mount;. ins which skirt the west side of the Lake, no snow is visible, and from where I write (Camp Street), not a particle of snow cau now be seen on the mountains to the no-th of Queenstown — all is lovely, calm, and peaceful. CHRISTMAS DAY. The weather, as yesterday, is all that can be desired for this most glorious season. Two o'clock finds hundreds and hundreds of men, women, and children enjoying that welcome cheer offered by the Christmas dinner ; and to say there is not to be found that tf wished for bird,'' the goose, is, I believe, not strictly correct, for I have heard of a few knowing parties who had secured that luxury from Invercargill. Nevertheless, pork, new potatoes (3s per ib), duck, fowl, and green peas (3s per qua't), grown at our very doors were to be met with on all hands ; and who shall describe the huge plum puddings that steamed and gladdened the hearts of all bsholders as they were brought in and placed upon the spacious and crowded festive boards. Enough, that a most sumptuous feast was partaken of by, I trust, every person in Queenstown. After dinner, steamboat excursions became the order of the day, and the town being crowded with men, gave promise of an eventful morrow. BOXING CAY. The day was all that could be wished for. Mr. Johnston, of the . Royal Hotel, Mr. Brocker, of the hotel of that ilk, Mr. Carey, do., Mr. Cochrane, and several others, were very active throughout the day in collecting money, in distributing the prizes, and in otherwise arranging for the various games, which were so numerous that it became impossible to note them all ; but for almost every event there appeared to be three prizes varying in amounts from £1 10s to £o. The sports commenced with a foot race of one hundred yards from Gochrane's corner to the Royal Hotel, Beach-street, where the thoroughfare became almost blocked up with men, and the difficulty of clearing the ground for the race was very great ; untill a coil of rope was brought from' a neighboring store. After a little delay, a course was .cleared, and eight, men started. At three o'clock the great hurdle ra.ee in Rees-street attracted an immense number of spectators. A space •being cleared, and Tour sets of two hurdles in length, each being placed at suitable intervals, four competitors started, but only two reached the .crimson acarf at the end of the run ; the other two fell at the first leap. The "winners were much praised, as it was a great feat, the hurdles being unusually high. It was at this time your correspondent undertook to form an estimate of the number of men then present, and there were at least from 1400 to 1500 of the finest men of the Province spectators of this race, which, together with the numbers in the other streets, formed at least a body of 2000 men at one time in the streets of Queenstown. The next sport on the list was a race between some women for a silk dress, when two women

and one niari'dYessed in women's clothes' 1 smarted/ 'but I--am happy, to say ai member of the softer ,sex .won the i prize. Jumping in sacks and other I games followed, then a 'horse race on j the terrace for £10 came off, between j Mr' Webster's white pony and a pretty;| piebald of about the same size; the J piebald won. After this, several boat j races came offi the first prize being won by the crew of a new boat, the "Lily," against Bracken's boat, "the whaleboafc,'* and the banker's boat, one of the crew of the last broke his oar at an early period of the race, and consequently came in late, amid the deafening clamor of a thousand voices evidently amused at the mishap more than at the .defeat. Another and another boat race ; other sports ; theu a grand wind up at the different places for in-door amusements, closed this most gay' of Queenstown holidays. I dare' not guess at the amount of tbe largo sums taken by the j publicans on that day,- but I know one' that took L 225 in his house, which shows that prosperity is still the rule ! with the miners of the Shotover, and I that equal prosperity reigns in the . Wakatip diotrict generally. The old banks and rocks which bound the river must have been absolutely deserted for once, and I am happy to say that notwithstanding such a crowded state of the town, all passed off in the mO3t "happy and peaceable manner. Those who had money shouted for those who had none, and I certainly must say that I never saw a finer or more orderly and happy body of men assemble together in any part of the world that I have as yet visited.