QUEENSTOWN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 264, 20 February 1873, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

{Frnm o» Occasional Correspqndent).

The past month has not been without its memorable even,ts in the annals of the district ; foremoßt amongst 'which, £may mention, the visit of Sir .Gieorge B^wen, w,ho^expressed himself gratified at the. reception, he received at the hands of our civic authorities ; and delighted at- the romantic appearance of our mpuntainous scenery, i" which," he says, "is not surpassed in. Europe ; " and predicts for the district a fame equal to that enjoyed by Switzerland. Next came the races, which, however, did not come off with the usual eclat attendant upon such meetings. The failure has been laid to the mismanagement of the stewards, although the insufficient attendance was undoubtedly owing to the harvesting operations (which were then in "full swing") necessitating the employment of a number of

men who otherwise would have put in an appearance. Mining affairs are not so brisk at present, owing to the number of diggers, who, attracted by the handsome wages given by the farmers, are engaged at the harvest. The celebrated claims of Grace & Party and Eager & Party, have been thrown into a company with a nominal capital of £50,000. Mr. W. J. Barry, whose name so often appears in your paper, has astonished the good people of Queenstown, by reporting that he has discovered a valuable coal mine within three miles of tiiß tovmv The general ©pmunai \s, that the supposed coal mine exists only in the fertile imagiuation of Mr. Barry, and bears a striking resemblance to the twenty thousand pounds he received for hir supposed interest in some land in New South Wales. The town presents a -lively appearance, owing to the stone buildings in course of erection. Mr. Warren, the spirited proprietor of the " Mail/ and Mr. Atkins, the well-known butcher, ha,ve accepted tenders for the construction, of their new two-storey- stone buildings. The first named gentleman's building, which will be erected on a vacant section, adjoining the new Town Hall, will, in connexion with Messrs. Powell's and Eichardt's new Hotels, b&the means of giving Ballarat-> street quite an imposing appearance. The principal part of the crops are noT«r cut, and the majority of the farmers are busy thrashing and stacking. Son>e o.f the crops are really excellent, especially in the Arrow district, One paddock of fifty acres ' on the farm of Mr. Eoche, Lake Hayes, yielded 6,0 bushels to the acre. I must no,w conclude by apologising ! to my lady readers for. not having any stirring events, such as a breach of promise case or an elopement in high life, though we haye the hero and heroine of the first mentioned affair living ix\ our. midst.