ARROWTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 307, 29 September 1875, Page 6

ARROWTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) September 27, 1875. The Town Council has accepted the tender of Mr H. J. Cope, £9 93, for acting as valuator for the next assessment. The contractor for forming and gravelling portion of the main road has commenced. Mr Fergus, District Engineer, is now in the district, so that we may look for contracts being given out shortly; and as but little cultivation is going on this season, our farmers will compete actively for them. The Arrow United new Company have several men at work, on contract, cutting the long-projected flood race, which will be completed in about a fortnight, when pumping will be resumed. This work is certain to have a beneficial effect upon the company's prospects, as before the most of the surplus water flowing down Bush Creek found its way through the shingly formation, and had to be lifted by the pumps. I understand that Mr Elliott, the manager, has instructions

to proceed energetically with the works, and with favorable weather we may hope to see this claim very shortly raising gold. The Universal Company, adjoining, have six men at work forming head race, while others are engaged building the large waterwheel to drive the centrifugal pump. The calls in this company, which is a purely local one, are punctually met, and every confidence in its ultimate success is indulged in. Many of its shareholders are men who have endured severe losses, and made great sacrifices by holding on to their claim for years sooner than relinquish their chance in it, and it is satisfactory to find that others with capital have united Avith them to give this ground a thorough trial. If they succeed, it will cause the discovery of the course taken by the lead through our flats, in which case alluvial mining would again become an important interest with us. The company are about to procure boring-rods for the purpose of furthering the prospecting of their ground ; they would also be available for searching for the extension of the lead through the flat.

The Sons of Fortune Company are now in with their main drive 360 feet, and are driving in the old river-bed. The reef is getting softer, and the wash improving. In quartz mining operations are at present confined to the Crown Terrace Co., although many reefs have attracted attention lately, principally those in the Macetown district. Prospecting is not far advanced, owing to the season. That locality, however, will very shortly have a good overhauling, but until crushing machinery is available both at the Arrow and Macetown, it will be impossible to arrive at the value of the reefs already found and the numbers of others which are sure to be discovered. This view of the case is forcing itself upon those among us whose prosperity is dependent upon the progress of tha neighborhood, and it is to be hoped that efforts will be made to procure machinery, as the numerous reefs already known to contain gold are sufficient to warrant its erection at once.

From the Cardrona I learn that a case of some importance will be tried before the next District Court, that of T. Cotter v. Lafranchi, an appeal from the Warden's Court. Thirteen witnesses have been subpoenaed. Mr G. B. Bond is taking steps to prospect the special claim known as the Great Extended. He proposes to work it by means of a company similar to the Crown Terrace Q.M. Co.; and the project deserves support, as the Cardrona is the best defined lead of gold in the Province. It is certain that this claim will be no longer allowed to lie dormant, but will be tested, and may turn out fortunes to those enterprising enough to start it. Mr Bond and those interested with him have already incurred considerable expense in connection with the matter, so the claim should be put on a working footing and the gold brought to light as speedily as possible. We have Mr St. Vincent's company playing here to-night to a very fair house, and another company—Wheeler's—advertised to appear very shortly. Our population is smaller than it was last season, so T fear that our professional friends will not find such profitable results as in past times. We are, however, glad to see them, as a little novelty and amusement is cheering when everything is so dull. The Dramatic Club talk of postponing their performance of the Octoroon, on account of the visit of the two professional companies, as the place can scarcely stand so many entertainments within a few days. From the Shotover I have to report that the Phoenix Company have re-commenced crushing, and Mr Evans having returned from Dunedin will at once make arrangements for a fuller supply of water to the turi bine, so as to admit of 20 or 25 stamp-heads

getting to work,—a very desirable result in view of the large quantity of splendid stone ready for crushing. The Shotover Company have issued a new prospectus, and intend to go to work in a spirited manner, for which they richly deserve success. On the river, Stapleton's beach is now in the hands of M'Kay and party, who are about to erect a wheel, as it is thought that a large portion of the beach has never been worked. Colville and Scriver have been two years sluicing a paddock in a terrace below Maori Point, above the New Channel Co. They are going to wash up next week after this long run. The paddock looks well, as they found a good patch of gold which had been missed 'by the parties who tunnelled in the terrace. about five years ago, although one tunnel went very close to it. Messrs Clemens and Brewer, in a terrace opposite Maori Point, have struck a back lead, which is paying well.