THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 17 June 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(fXOK OTJB OWN COBBBBPONDENT.) June 15,1863. The hard frost of this week has enabled the miners on the Arrow River to repair to a —* extent the devastations of the last This week they may expect a fair return for their work, unless the weather breaks up again, which is much to be deprecated,

but I fear is by no means improbable, from the aspect of the sky at sunset last evening. I can corroborate my former statement as to the feet of many doing exceedingly well on the river, having ascertained that in one claim about 100 yards or so up the gorge, 70, 80, and 65 ozs., have been taken out of a single paddock, with 16 feet sinking only. I have no doubt other parties near are doing equally as well. The first terrace will soon be properly worked, and as fer as can be judged, successfully. Patrick Flannery and party are about to construct a race from the Bush Creek; it will commence about a mile and a half above the township, and skirt the hill to the terrace; the construction will not present any great difficulty, though the expense of the kst 100 yards or so will be considerable.

Little has been done on the flat this week. Many parties having given up all efforts to free their claims from the water, those who have continued working, have done so under treat disadvantages, as of course the paddocks they sunk acted as drains to the neglected holes. Nothing but a good pull all together can keep the water under, and this the majority are too apathetic to undertake. A meeting was held on Saturday morning to devise some plan for overcoming the difficulty, when it was proposed, I believe, to jump all claims not properly worked. Ido not think any decision was come to, but great dissatisfaction prevails in the township as to the prospects of these domestic diggings. There is a cheerful aide after all to the matter, for some claims are undoubtedly turning out very well: from Hogan's, for instance, 19 ozs. were taken on Wednesday, and so on during the week, and from another claim close to the street very rough gold has been obtained from the false bottom, while the prospectors and adjacent parties have nothing to complain of One party are still working at the top of the flat close to the creek, and I hear have done well the last two days. I fear the bottom is very deep, as a shaft sunk 42 feet has failed to reach it, and is deserted by the prospectors. A fine young fellow was nearly killed up the river yesterday. He was standing on a large stone at the top of a paddock, some 14 feet deep, when the edge gave way, and he was precipitated to the bottom, followed by the stone, which fortunately fell clear of him. He escaped with a simple fracture of the leg, which no doubt the surgical skill in the township will soon put to rights for him. The Arrowians are indeed inveterate lovers of sport Some 200 were attracted to the course on Saturday to witness a foot-race between two boys, representing the upper and lower towns—Michael O'Neill of the Golden Age, and Tom Mace of the Victoria. The race was well contested, and carried on with all due formalities, the competitors appearing in the professional buff and cincture, with their colors. Mike gave Tom four yards, and did not succeed in recovering this advantage, as the latter won by about a yard. A gpod many notes changed hands on the occasion.

A foot-race is fixed for Wednesday, the 24th instant, between Telford and Collins for £IOO a-side, on the three events—loo yards, 200 yards, and a quarter mile. Betting at present is pretty even—if anything, slightly in favor of Collins. In the coming event between Collins and Artingstall, 12 to 10 on the latter is freely offered. The Rev. Mr. Palmer, representative of Mr. Harding, preached last evening in the Concert Room at the Golden Age Hotel, to an attentive audience. It is indeed time that some effort was made to rouse men's minds to a sense of their religious duties, and to engender a somewhat more healthy tone of morals and conversation.

Mr, Bees Tinted this township on Friday, and held an indignation meeting with the rival butchers, which resulted in no particular satisfaction to the worthy squatter; who eventually went off fulminating threats of immediate summoning, which I understand he has carried out. No doubt Mr. Bees is entitled to compensation from the Government for the injury to his run from the goldfields, but at the same time let us have free trade—at all events with the necessaries of life.

Education is all the nee now a days. I hardly know what its fervent supporters would say to the state of it on the goldfields. The schoolmaster is indeed very much abroad, when such notices as the following are to be seen affixed in the most public places :

" One Pound Reward—Lost a chek for 90£ ninty pounds on the Bank of new zeland whoever will Bring the same to the Goldin Age Will recive the a bove Reward."

It is to be hoped this gentleman may find his money, and expend part of it on Lindley Murray and a copy book. Again:— " Pleas if Robert C , inquire for James H—, I live a bought a mile from this township one the rode to Frankatown."

Could not something be done in communities like ours, on the system of the Mechanics' Institutes at home, to afford instruction in the evenings for those who wish it, and some sensible evening recreation for men after their days work, instead of the perpetual " shouting," gambling, and rowdyism, which at present disgrace our townships