QUEENSTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 154, 22 October 1872, Page 6

QUEENSTOWN.

(' From our own Correspondent. ) October 21, 1872. Cons : derable interest is manifested here in the reports received from the Roper and .Queensland. A few' miners leave by each steamer,’but the uhcertlunty ag to the real '•value of the new diggings has checked anything like a general exodus 'so far, though numbers of people- in the district are making preparations to leave after Christmas, if the accounts received should prove at all satisfactory.

Our representative in the General Assembly, Mr B. Hallenstein, has just returned from Wellington. 1 think the .electors are quite satisfied that he is by far the best member that has been seat from the Lakes, and the 'energy he has shown in matters relating to our district has procured us several established benefits. Last Saturday five men arrived from Martin's Bay. They give a very poor account of the state of the settlers there so far as provisions are concerned. The stock of flour had run out, and most of the families had removed to a place called Mussel Beach, where they were subsisting on mussels and stray fish, and anxiously looking out for the arrival of the promised steamer. Last year the case was just the same, and the Government then promised a steamer should call at intervals of not less than three months. How that promise has been kept, the settlors know to their cost. Business is dull, as usual, except amongst mechanics, who are now fully employed on the large hotels in course of erection for Messrs Gichardt and Powell! Both these fine buildings are to be completed by Christinas. Considerable annoyance has been felt in the town through the loss of several valuable dogs. So ue person or persons have laid poison, and as they have not given notice of their intention to do so, it will go hard with them if discovered. In mining matters there is not much shr. The Shotover is very high, and consequently the river-bed claims are not workable. At Macetown, I hear, several parties are doing very well.