UP THE ARROW AND SHOTOVER RIVERS.

Lake County Press, Issue 82, 27 December 1872, Page 2

UP THE ARROW AND SHOTOVER RIVERS.

J.—ABBOWWWII 10 SKIPPERS CBEMC, VIA 12-MILE. Only those accustomed to the perils and discomforts which attended a journey from Arrowtown up the river beiore the commencement of the new Arrow Valley Track, can realise the satisfaction felt by the traveller iu going over the new track as far as completed. No portion of it rises higher than two hundred feet above the river—an advantage which cannut be over-estimated. The contractors were busily ergaged on the second section, in the neighborhood of the Rig Beach, and expect to complete their contract—which terminates at the Roaring Billy Creek— this seasou. It is intended to ask the Government to have it extended up the river to a point above the Eight-mile Creek, from whence a dray-track to the 12-Mile is already authorised, and in progress. Among the most noticeable workings on the way up, is the river claim of Woodhead and party, who are paddocking with the aid, in draining the ground, of a co\'ered tailrace and water-wheel. The sluicing claim of Murphy and party, just above the junction of New Chum Gully, who are driving a tunnel —-which is intended to form a sluicing tailrace—through the outside reef into a run of deep ground iu the terrace, and while this work progresses, are sluicing off the top drift at a higher level. This system of working rock bound terraces containing runs of deep ground will doubtless in future be extensively adopted. At the Big Beach the terrace claim of Dixon and party is yielding handsome returns. Some good gold has also been obtained lately by parties working in the terraces at the junction of Bracken's Gully ; a short distance belo* which Harrison and party are woi king the bed of the river by paddocking, and usiug a covered drainage taihace. From this point to the Eightmile Creek numerous parties of Europeans and Chinese are working much in the same manner. Above the Eightmile a party of Chinese are using a very large water-wheel iu draiuing their claim ; and a iit'.le above, the valley widens out into the extensive terraces in the neighborhood of the 12-Mile. Beale and party have a water r tee of about two sluice-heads employed in working this ground, where they have been some years engaged. They have uncovered a very large area, and have a fine tailrace of immense length tbr-ugh the reef. Their workings showed that the aurifeious drift is of im.ocn.se extent, and of a very payable nature. They have a fine garden aid cottage —it rnigbt almost be termed villa—in the neighborhood, and can, in this respect, claim»pre eminence over any other which came under my notice either on the Arrow or Shotover.

Macetown was the uext point on the route. Here tnit;ht be seen pack-horses loading fur the Mutatapu and gullies further up the river, to which places the tracks might be discovered winding away among the mountains. They may be described as strict:} primitive. Many of them might, by even a moderate expenditure on the vane dangerous portions, be made valuable in aiding in the task of prospecting a large ex. tent of new country, in which auriferous gullies nre known to exist. As the whole subject of tracks for opening up the back country of the Wakatip by means of a special grant from the General Government will be laid before your readers very shortly, and also brought uiuler the notice of the Legislature, it will not be dilated upon her.. Crossing the 12-Mile Creek,, the asceutof a spur of the great range between the Arrow and Shotover Rivera was commenced and continued until the summit was reached. Although the distance was considerable—perhaps about four miles—the route was a good oue, and not so steep as portions of most of the traeks lower down. The view from all points was one to impress itself indelibly upon the memory, and could be compared to vast billows tnrned into mountains of solid matter, and, surf-like, crested with snow. The Shotover side was especially interesting, from the numerous forests which varied the view, and the frowning rocky nature of the country. At this point of the journey the track divides—one branch to the north, towards the Shotover Branches; and another to the south, towards Maori Point and Skippers. Taking the south branch, the ridge of the mnge is followed, and itii truly a giddy height; the wind too ii severely felt in following the narrow path. Close by is what appears to be a quartz reef, judging from the quantity of that material which crops out of the mountain-top over a large area. Piece! are of course picked up and anxiously scanned for specimens, but without success. The indications, however, are such as to warrant the belief that a reef of immense size exists, and it will not •ay- much for the enterprise of the dis-

triot if p> adical "steps are not taken io ascertain its ralue, if it ban any. After a while the wind became so strbng an to make it desirable to leave the track on the ridge and take direct down the mountain side for the river, landing about the Sandhills, and proceeding towards Skippers Point. A track has just been surveyed by Mr Bew ß , the District Engineer, between the Sandhills and the Skippers track, and that gentleman would have extended his survey to the Shotover Branches hut as only £3OO is at his disposal for the whole of the Shotover tracks it would only be useless to make surveys which could not be carried into effect. Through the Arrow Miners' Association —instructed by the Skippers Com mittee—Mr tones, M.P.C.. has been couferred with on this subject, and has requested the Provincial Government at once to expend the £2OO. This amount will barely suffice to improve a few of the most dangerous portions of the track—as it would require £IOOO to make a track from Skippers to the Branches, and a sum of £SOO for a track between Skippers and Maori Point, including a bridge over Stoney Creek and one over the Shotover. During the winter heavy losses are incurred by the residents through accidents to horses engaged in packing, to say nothing of the misery resulting from the dangerous means of intercommunication —placing many under a kind of imprisonment. All this, too, in a portion of the district which has far outshone any other in its steady and large yields of gold. The terraces in the immediate neighborhood of Skippers, both in the extent and richness of their gold deposits, have—although as yet they are only partially developed—surpassed any alluvial deposits yet discovered in New Zealand ; and yet the tracks crossing the deep ravines which intersect these terraces are of the most dangerous description, even in summer. This state of affairs ought to be remedied before winter, and should his Honor the Superintendent visit the locality, as proposed, the local Committee will no doubt call his atteition to these important desiderata. They might, at any rate, ask that the small amount available for expenditure immediately, might be placed iu the hands of responsible residents, in order that the utmost possible ben. fit might be derived therefrom. At present the matter is in the hands of the \ Koad Engine* r, who, from the immense tract of country under his charge, and the enormous qu.in ity of surveys, estimates, and other important duties which he has to perform, cannot bt supposed to supervise closely the movements of the roadmen employed in tiieoe scattered localities. Be.-i !e>, these men are only allowed 7s per diem, a rate much oelo.v that paid by theclaitnh'ildi-m when they employ hind labor. It would be far better for a local Committee to mmage such a matter. Rehire leaving the subject of truck*, it may he mentioned—in reference to that between Skippers track and the Shotover Branches—that important gold discoveries have been made this summer above the junction, and the miners state that a large extmtof promising country exists, it is necessary therefore that it should be no longer excluded from communication with with the rest of the Province. The teirace claims referred to above demand more than a passing notice. Many mini r.-s have realized larye fortunes in them, and they continue to yield large quantities of gold. Pleasant Creek terrace is especially remarkable fir its vast extent and rich and steady yield. Nor is it yet nearly prospected, as the gold bearing wash contiuues in the furtlust drives yet made— in fact the claims can only be considered as fairly opened, for the amount of ground *• blocked out" is very small. We were informed that all the workings are timbered in the strongest and rao.-t scientific manner, and it is to be hoped that workings of a much more extensive and wholesale nature will be initiated. Work on this scale could be best carried out by large joint-stock companies. Should enlarged operations of the kind be started, the dividends would assuredly be of such a nature as to draw large amounts of capital for investment in this quarter, as a great amount of ground similar —at least in appearance—is to be found between Skippers and theKawarau. The river bed will also be explored more folly, as the New Channel Company are on the eve of completing their great undertaking. As sooti as they get into full work it is hoped that their success will cause every practicable portion of the river to be taken up by parties or companies of sufficienu capital to carry out the necessary heavy works required. Should this be the case, some of the richest mining claims in the colony may be fairly looked for as the result. Queenstown and the Arrow will feel the benefits which must accrue from the introduction of capital and its rapid reproduction, and the district generally would command an amount of attention from the Government in assisting its further development to which it has hitherto been a stranger.