THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 6, 20 May 1863, Page 3

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) May 16th, 1863. The Shotover has been unusually dull this week, and very little work has been going on. The recent rains have again caused the river to rise, greatly to the annoyance and injury of the miners located here, many of whom are waiting anxiously the falling of the water to turn its course into the different flood races which have been constructed for that purpose. Nothing speaks plainer for the good faith generally held in the richness of the river bed, than the heavy operations which are being carried on to divert the water % from its natural course. The cutting at Arthur's Point immediately below the gorge is particularly deserving of notice as it is undoubtedly the most extensive work of the kind on this goldfield. The labour has been carried on by the united efforts of some sixty men, shareholders in the river claims, and has occupied over three months in its completion. It is now ready to receive the stream, and two attempts were made to wing-dam the river during the past week, for the purpose of turning the channel, but proved futile by reason of the floods. The work consists of a cutting of nearly ,half-a-mile in length, by a bed width of twenty feet, and that through ■olid slate rock that requires every inch to be blasted. The wall towards the present coarse of the river is about three feet thick and built of stone throughout. lam informed that had the same work been carried out by hired labour that three thousand pounds would not have covered the cost. The owners haYe received protection for a width of fifty feet from the river wall. M'Kennar's cutting, about a mile further down the river, is the next worthy of remark, and though the same difficulties did not present themselves in its construction as in the upper race, it yet cost a great amount of time and labour: the same disappointments occurred in letting in the water; nothing therefore can be done till the floods subside. Some 16 men have been employed in its construction for upwards of two months. In addition to these works, I may mention the head race of Adams and party, (about 14 men), who have already spent a thousand pounds in rock cutting and box flaming; they have also constructed a substantial wooden bridge in place of the old one which was washed away. Three other races, of from three to four miles each in length, have been formed on the slope of the Arrow Ranges, each having an excellent supply of water from the sources that supply Hayes' Creek.

The excellent patches of timber which so characterised this place are fast yielding to the stroke of the axe, and I am afraid that the inhabitants will, ere long, be obliged to look further afield for a supply of this requisite to comfort and convenience. The general topic amongst the miners here is the insufficiency of the present Mining Regulations to meet the requirements of this, and other similar rivers, in this district. I understand the difficulty to be the impossibility of defining low water mark, which is mentioned as regulating the boundaries be. tween beach and river claims. The Warden, as is usually the case, has made both friends and enemies by his decisions. A Hibernian, in relating to me the result of some disputed case, said that the Warden must have a head as long as a pike (Pyke?), to be able to come to any just decision on the matter. Much dissatisfaction is shewing itself at Skipper's amongst the better disposed class of miners, at being so completely shut out from all civil protection. Another application is about to be made to the magistrate of the district, to sanction the establishment of a Vigilance Committee. There is no doubt much need of it, as many in the upper workings, secure in their distance from police interference do not hesitate to set both law and justice at defiance, and stick at nothing to obtain their ends.