THE ARNOLD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 76, 2 June 1866, Page 3

THE ARNOLD.

Maori Gully, May 23

Tnere has been a complete stagnation in mining and business matters here for the last three or four weeks, in consequence of the continued fine weather ; it was really mortifying to behold, after months of the most persevering labor, some five or six of our finest "flumes without even a tom-head of water in them. Now. I am happy to say, we had two glorious days rain, and all is once more bustle and activity. It only goes to prove that we want our supply from some never-failing source. The fact is that many of the races depend in a great measure upon surface water, and many of the creeks contain only a limited quantity of water, except during very wet weather. The Lake Brunner Race will greatly obviate this difficulty in the course of time. The Cock Race has just been completed. This, I consider, about the largest race in. the district, being about six miles in length. Their flume is the highest in the immediate neighborhood of the "township, and likely to prove a remunerative speculation for the shareholders. As a matter of course a grand christening will celebrate the event, which I believe is to take place next Saturday. Notwithstanding the animadversions which have occurred about the Little Grey being a payable gold-field, one instance has come under my immediate notice, which I consider if; right to place before your readers. A party, wliose names I am at perfect liberty to mention, after being absent from this gully some months returned last week on some business matters. One of them informed me that they were working between two and three miles on the other side of the Saddle ; that they had worked 103 days, and after paying for provisions, tools, travelling expenses, &c, had cleared 100?. per man. The truth of this I can vouch for, as my informant is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed men in the gnlly. This may be out of my province speaking of another district ; but after the popular clamor which ra»ed a short time back at G-reymouth, it is as°well that these facts should come before the pnblic. My informant also adds that it is almost impossible to arrive at a just estimate of the population, owing to the country being so scrubby and broken up into innumerable little gullies. Provisions, he thinks, will be had rnuch | cheaper via the Buller River. — G. B. Argtis'