ARROW.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1081, 24 January 1879, Page 6

ARROW.

(From our own Correspondent.) The Christmas festal season is past, and work in the field, the mine, and the mill has been Resumed with a vigour worthy of the season ; but of the past festivities it must be acknowledged that the outdoor portion of the programme was a general failure through, the excessive wet, which lasted from Boxing-day up till the last of the year almost without intermisaiori,^ being sometimes a little lighter than others, but never truly fine, and turning pnta ; thorough spoilsport of a season. '.The Arrow race meeting was not stopped, though it was very much marred by the inclement weather •;<, and all that could be boasted was, that. the Committee succeeded lhigeitirigall thelifents off, a consummation' which rathor surprised tban.delighted: 'the visi^^, for too- much- cold-water had been t^^^nron eveixthing to permit of much delight being, expej'ienced. Seventeen Christmases have been seen by the Eiiropean settlers %$' and its 'surrounding .districts jSince „ they^ jfirst caught sigiht of ; the^ T wfters of the Wakatip cistern "^irom" the ' slopes of the Gentle A^nnie^br the saddle; of the Card^hsiiand wonderful indeed^ is ithe transformatibn ; ,wh;icli has taken place 'in the cbmp'aia- ' tivjely .-■ short ; space ; ;; ojF ! time which Kas elapsed 1 the l 'first one, wh ether we' consider the ; number^6f comfortable ' hdirie^ steads and Valuable 'farm's, ! pf ; sh'ee][> r arid; cattle,' 6f command wool/, of cotbmerce, 'or; of ihe> evei? Ificreasin^^pbpttiatiori, as attested by every departmerftf eSpfeijially ; the schW^ tdlYn I of ji lke 'district? TBdse 1 whb haye'Uny hekrfifeli^ syinpafhjj 'withf %ue prcigr^S 1 'and^prbsperity^ of 'the rplafee^can:. not feel othetwise tfia'n; gratified %t We unini^takeaMe gi^ris of prospe'rii^ meet them at every turn. There [ '60-.

jnot be a doubt that the prosperity jof this district commenced with the introduction of the agricultural lease system ; but then this portion of the country poured its wealth into all' other countries, by the simple meant of inviting their inhabitants to come and take the easiest got wealth away with them to London or Hong Kong. But no sooner was the )and occupied than a population sprang up which bids fair to fill the place, so that there will be no need in another quarter of. a century to invite people to come here lor any purpose whatever. Emigration will be the rule, immigration must become the, exception. , • r r ! It is pleasing to note that the parent industry ofthe pjace-^mining-^has taken on and. weara an aspect of permanency I whicK gives reason to hope for a good, i profitable, and permanent occupation of otherwise profitless i country. There is not a range of 'mountains i from Cromwell to Glenorchy— l might almost say Mar-tin'sßay-i- which does not contain aurriferous quartz; and it is but a question of time and means; to try their value. It is but reasonable to hope that the educational system with which Otago is favored wil) ebabie her rising generation of citizens to cope with the 1 natural difficulties of the situation, so as to turn some at ljeast of her vast resources to account. Of the Macetowja reefs, I cani only say that the Tipperary Company haye over 400 tons of stone at grass, and they are putting it through the P. C. Companies mill, and it is thought the stone will go about an ounce to ,, the ton. If so, the claim is a sure pile, for the stone is from 4ffc. to 20ft. wide, with tunnels driven at two levels seventy feet apart, so that an ) immense, block^ can be , " stouped " out, enough to keep the battery going all the season . B ets ha ve been offered , that the company will get a cake pf lOOOozs. this •year.- " : ■' ' ; - ' ' ; ' '"'" ' ' ' ' '/' ' ' '\' : The All Nations Compapy : will be ; ready shortly to f get some stone .crushed, and it is a -pleasure' to be able to. report that they haVe at present excellent prospects. It is expected that the "Victor Emauuel Companies' Tributors will put through about 200 tons, and the Homeward Bound are ready with their hew machine, ?nd plenty df stone, so' that it is fair to hope that somewhere about 20000z3. of gold may be obtained before, winter again puts a stop to crushing operations. In filling the extraordinary vacancies in the Lake County,' Messrs M'Cra'ckeh and Jenkins were returned— -the latter gentleman by a majority of 1.