MEMS FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 247, 27 April 1866, Page 2

MEMS FROM THE LAKE DISTRICT.

The proclamation in the Gazette of the 28th March respecting the conditions under which agricultural and mining leases will be granted in future, have caused universal dissatisfaction throughout the district. The arrangements in both cases are so bad that it is difficult to imagine they have emanated from two different quarters — the Provincial and G-eneral Grovernments. The proceedings of the former leave no room for astonishment at anything they may do, but Mr Stafford surely must have been ill-advised to meddle with mining matters in their most important development, and " make a hare" of himseif by displaying such perfect ignorance of the ways, manners, and customs of the mining world, as he stands committed to by the new Eegulations for Mining Leases. The Provincial Executive stand open to the suspicion of interfering with the new Agricultural Lease Regulations so as to check the settlement of land upon the goldfields. \ The " Plutus," " Jupiter," and "Who'd a thought it " companies held their first meetings under the mining Companies Act at Arrowtown, on Thursday last. Directors were appointed, rules adopted, | and a call in fourteen days decided upon in each case, so that work will be soon proceeded with. The prospectors of the Grerman Reef have taken up a lease of their ground ; and are, it is said, mightily savage that they did not do so at first, before they were hemmed in on each side by parties who looked a little further ahead. It has "leaked out that the Germans have obtained gold at the rate of 4< oz. to the ton, from stone they have tested. The news from Skippers continues most favorable, and the enormous extent of the reef country is now an ! ascertained fact. Various prospecting parties have come in during the week with sufficient evidence to justify the taking up of leases, and several have accordingly been applied for. A splendid sample of stone has been sent down from the Mount Autumn Company's ground, which is considereg now a most valuable property. A portion of the machinery for the Scandinavian Company, has been landed at Invercargill ; and as there seems some chance at last of the track to the reefs being completed, will without a long delay be on the ground. A meet^ ing of the Criterion Company, at the Arrow, was held on Tnesday for the purpose of considering the advisability of increasing the capital ; a large number of shareholders were present, and it was eventually decided, that it was not desirable at present, to alter, in any way the constitution of the company. The tender of Mr Turner for the erection of the new jetty at Queenstown,- has been accepted at £538, and the work will immediately be proceeded with ; the site fixed upon is the end of Ballarat-street. The Main Trunk Road by the Kawarau is as far off completion as ever, nothing having been done at the Nevis cliffs for the last two months. The suspension of the work is a most, serious drawback to the development of the district, and. the present Secretary, of Public Works is entirely -in fault in the matter. Considerable activity has been employed in indue-, ing qualified persons . to send in applications for registration as electors. The consequence is that upwards of 270 names appear in the published list of claimants to be placed upon the roll for Hampden, of which 150 odd hail from the Arrow district— so that this portion of the,. . country bids fair to retain its political pre-eminence.— Daily Times Correspot^dent, 20th April. *' '