THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 54, 4 November 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.)

At last! After many months of severe toil, fluctuating hopes and vexatious disappointments, the miners on the Township Flat are gladdened with a fair prospect of their best wishes being soon realised. Gold has been struck in comparatively shallow sinking, and the prospect obtained justifies the expectation that the Flat will afford remunerative employment to the majority of claimholders, and probably a pile to the lucky few. Bergen's party, whose claim is situate near the former site of the Shamrock hotel, obtained from otf the false bottom, in about eight feet sinking, a prospect of six dwts. to the dish, consisting of one 3 dwt. nugget, and the rest fine gold : and it is the general opinion that in a few days still richer finds will be repoited, as the claimholders are all now engaged in working their own ground, having completed the tail race, which is found to effectually drain their claims. The great dam across the mouth of the gorge has also been considerably strengthened, and without the recurrence of very heavy floods, all parties may now depend with some confidence in being able to win the reward of their patient industry without further let or hindrance.

The discovery of gold so much sooner than was anticipated has already increased the market value of shares in claims one hundred per cent, and has given a fresh stimulus to trade and general prospects ; the Arrowites already indulging in bright dreams of stirring times and well filled coffers. From the gorge up the river, miners are everywhere displaying the utmost activity, and nearly every available patch of ground is occupied. Above the falls, the Perseverance Co. are carrying out some extensive operations, on their beach and river claim, willi a very fair prospect of success, although the locality has hitherto been left almost untried by prospectors. At Bracken's gully, great general success still results from sluicing operations, the average yield of gold in 110 way diminishing. The Arrow Sluicing and Alining Co. are about to benefit the community with a desideratum which has been long felt requisite. For a trifling weekly subscription from the inhabitants, they are prepared to grant a plentiful and never failing supply of water, kept free from all impurities, and easy of access to all parties. For this purpose they have constructed a branch race, about sixty chains long, running from the main race on the upper terrace, by which a stream of water will be brought into three fenced reservoirs at the rear of the sites on the south side of the High-street. The advantages of this scheme can be hardly overrated. Apart from the daily and hourly convenience arising therefrom, the perpetual dread of destruction of property by fire will lose one half its terror now we can depend on the close contiguity of water to oppose it with; no s.ight consideration amongst a community where local habitations are mainly built of pine sticks and flimsy calico. The Township Committee have given the idea their cordial approval and support, and many of the inhabitants have already paid their first quarterly subscription. The Inspector of Police for this district has deemed it expedient to accede to the request of the inhabitants of the Arrow for police protection during the hours of night. I have not heard, however, that the number of men stationed here is to be increased in consequence of this arrangement. If the present staff have to perforin night as well as day duty, they may justly consider that they are as hard worked as any portion of the foice in the Province.