THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 44, 30 September 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(from oub owx correspondent.) September 28. The weather continues very fine, but for the last two days we have had very high winds, blowing in gusts and carrying on their wings more dust than is agreeable, besides endangering the frail calico of our habitations. The uncertainty as to the site of the permanent location militates strongly against any outlay of capital in more substantial buildings, though if this question was once settled there is no doubt the enterprise and energy of the people of the Arrow would soon change the aspect of affairs, aid, emulating Queenstown, cause a fair township to arise in place of the present dilapidated Bartholomew Fair collection of booths.

The mining news from all quarters is more than satisfactory. Though no particular details have reached me I am aware of a very considerable quantity of gold having lately come in, a very small proportion of which will find its way to record in the escort returns. Sluicing is being vigorously carried out in almost every direction, and daily with increased success. Large fortunes will not probably be made by it, but remarkably comfortable incomes will be realised, all these Alftima to my knowledge yielding a fair payable weekly average. There was an error in the report of the gold taken from the First Tunnel near the township in /our last issue. The nugget found on Thursday weighed 15 ozs. 17 dwts., and about 45 ozs. besides were takm from the claim in the course of the week.

The public works are still being vigorously pushed forward on the Flat. The tail-race has

been very considerably deepened, and it is now in the process of extension in two directions through Hhe Arrow township to the upper Flat. Another week or ten days will it is to be hoped see men at work in their claims, and that they will reap the reward of their patient and persevering toil. Several very important cases were settled at the Warden's Court on Friday last, before Lowther Broad, Esq. Georf,. and party sued Elliott and party for " smothering their ground." It appeared from the evidence that George had obtained from the Warden a right-of-way through Elliott's claim, and had proceeded to take this right-of-way by means of a tunnel from the beach to the bottom of a shaft some 40 feet deep. Part of the tunnel having fallen in, George preferred this complaint of " smothering," although it had of course fallen in on Elliott's ground. His Worship gave a verdict for defendant but without costs. In another case—Robinson v. Elliott —the complainant alleged that defendant's waterrace had broken away and injured complainant's claim. It appeared that Elliott's water-race ran along the terrace under the face of which Robinson was driving. The evidence for the complainant went to show that injury had been done to the drives by the influx of water from the race.

The defendants argued that as soon as they were informed of any damage accruing, thoy changed the course of their race further from complainant's ground, and that one day previous to the issuing of the summons in this case, Mr. Hickson, Commissioner, had been on the ground ; that the matter had been referred to him, and that they had strictly carried out his orders, by carefully confining the water in one body by means of boxes. The defendants further called Messrs. Colclough and French, gentlemen experienced in mining surveying, who deposed that they had inspected the drives in question, and found them in no way injured by water, but really dryer than could be expected at their depth from the surface.

His Worship, in giving his judgment, remarked that he considered £BO for damages exorbitant, but that as the complainants had fully proved the case, he should give them wages for seven days at 10s. a day, amounting in the whole to £ls, with costs.

Great dissatisfaction was felt by both parties at this decision. The complainants contending that having gained their case, they were entitled to £l a day, the current wages; and the defendants, thinking the verdict against the evidence, naturally exasperated that the cutting down the rate of wagfs to 10s. deprived them of their right of an appeal to the Supreme Court. Information has this day reached me from the Twelve-Mile; there has been a great access of population during the past week. The whole river is taken up down to the Eight Mile; many parties are engaged turning the river, and sluicing operations are being carried on with vigor. A discovery has been made some eight miles above the Twelve Mile, of ground evidently worked by a large party for some time. Snow is still lying there, and evidently has been permanent during the winter. The diggers are, however, non est, though experienced persons are of opinion that the symptoms of work are decisive as to the ground having been payable Mr Millett, the Deputy Surveyor, long looked f r, has come at last, and is now proceeding with his survey of the Twelve Mile track. It must be hoped that no unnecessary delay may now take place, and that within a reasonable time a r oad may be formed to this important part of the district, which may render travelling practicable and packing reasonable.

Tuesday, September 29. The gusty disagreeable weather of yesterday culminated towards evening in a violent gale, which blew with terrific force for some hours, generally in squalls from the North-West. The only buildings, however, which suffered were two at opposite ends of the township, pretty opposite, too, in every way—the Baptist Chapel and the Golden Age Hotel; the former is entirely stripped of the calico, the latter only partially so.

I regret to say that the Arrow rose during the night very suddenly, and came down in such considerable volume as to burst the walls of the flood race, submerge the flat, and entirely destroy the public works which have occupied 100 men for the last fortnight; hardly a vestige remains of the tail race, which was on the point of completion ; and the river has pretty well taken its old channel, leaving the ground much as it was after the great flood. Great sympathy is universally felt for the miners who have all their work to do over again, disheartened as they must be by so many failures; but " never say die" must be the motto of New Zealand diggers ; and we may now with confidence look to more settled weather, having had our equinoctial blow, and more than our share of spring showers. No information yet from up the River, but it is to be feared that at many points great damage must have been suffered.