Arrow.

Bruce Herald, Volume X, Issue 958, 16 November 1877, Page 6

Arrow.

(From our own Correspondent.) The heavy falls of snow and rain which we have experienced lately have given more than a moderate security to culturiats that their crops will not be likely to suffer for lack of nurturing moisture. Some frosts which occurred nearly a fortnight back have, in a few cases, injured the bloasoma of the fruit trees, but with that exception it is not to be feared that the spring fall which wo have experienced 'will do any harm to any class of culturiats, whilst the miners are more than compensated for any small amount of inconvenience they may have sustained by the guarautee of a good supply of water, of which the fall eneures'them — a supply which is of vital importance to sluicers, tunnellers, quartzminers, and miners, efevery description. A lamentable accident occurred at Frankton Flat the week before last, whereby a settler named Grant lost his life. The accident, was through the bolting, or running away, of a team of harness horses. A hook of some chain of the gear 'caught the poor fellow's clothes, and he wa3 dragged a considerable distance along a hard road, and sustained such fearful injuries as caused his death. He leaves a widow and small family to mourn his sudden decease. Mr R. Arderson, iong the landlord of the Frankto'n Hotel, but who has of late been keeping the Prince of Wales Hotel in Qneenstb'wii, died rather suddenly^ short time ago. His old acquaintances, who are many in this Provincefwill hear of his death with deep regret. . : Our Arrow fair was n->t such a Buccess as could bedesired— or indeed as might be expected—for the attendance was meagre, and light in stock, whilst the business. transacted was of a very limited character. It is surprising that the farmers do not show more energy in. a matter which, would be so very great a convenience to them, as such period-ical-meetings for mutual improvement and practical estimation and valuation of many articles of live stock and produce, which their isolated positions hinder them in a great measure from obtaining otherwise. It is to be hoped they will do better next time ; but it certainly appears by the fate, of the Wakatipu Agricultural Society, taken in conjunction with the market experiment, as if the farmers of this district were very apathetic upon many points which vitally effect their interests. -•■ . The Macetown reefs are making considerable progress with the advance of spring. The Homeward Bound have just produced a nice cake of gold said to be over lOOozs, but I have not a dependable statement of either the weight of gold ; nor the quantity of stone yat ; and all hands agree that the claim would prove very payable if a good plant was erected, and of sufficient power to crush economically. The affairs of this company, ■which is the real pioneer of the place, prove most incoutestably that good machinery is the great want of Macetown. ' . The new Machine' Company is organised, and the site and water rights secured, plant ordered, and expected to bs in work about New Year ; and if the machine is -of good worki, as the name of the makers (Kincaid and M'Queen) would seem to ensure, no! step could be taken here which would do more to further the real interests of the place, for. prospectors could, work confidently with enough security for .the bona fide .trial 'of. their respective finds, and if good, they might work on to certainty • if their prospects proved unsatisfactory, their trial would enable them to pas 3 on. to other finds without hesitation.; . • Two half shares, in the All Nations claim .have changed hands at .£520 each, clear of . all expense- There were seven shares in the company, so the halves were, of course, fourteenths. ; ,It is not known how much the said expenses come to, bnt,-.as;th.e new plant is an item, they must be considerable. • The property is now thrown in to. a company tinder the Act of 1872, 28,000 shares of £L each fully paid up. The contentious spirit of the Law Courts has kept, some good claims back this. spring, but it is to.be hoped this litigious fever will cool. - ....■•-..-•. . ; Had a public crushing company started in Macetown when the third reef- wa3 opened, the place' would now be supporting twice its population, and dividends being declared would be putting money into circulation instead of specimens. It may be very nice to see good specimens, but the circulating coin is of a much more healthy tendency.