ARROWTOWN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 316, 1 December 1875, Page 6

ARROWTOWN.

(from our own correspondent.) November 29, 1875. I referred in a previous letter to the many claims put forward at this season of the year by churches and charitable and educational bodies for financial aid. These amount in the aggregate to a considerable sum, and represent a great deal of voluntary taxation on the part of a small community like this, which is more keenly felt fills year than heretofore, owing to the sluggish movements of the circulating medium. We have three churches, two schools, the hospital, public library, Templars' building fund, and minor matters seeking aid ; and for all these objects money will be forthcoming, as we claim to hold a good place in such achievements, which we will strive to maintain, whether the Twelve-mile reefs and our big alluvial companies tap our buried treasures freely or no. I informed you of the sudden radiance which has fallen over the prospects of the Sons of Fortune Co., and have just been shown by the manager one and a half ounces of heavy nuggetty gold washed out in two days from the main drive. The ground has every appearance of being richly payable, but as only from the main drive can gold be obtained until a sufficient area is passed to admit of blocking-out, and as expenses in plant, rolling stock, ventilating, etc., have now to

bo incurred, it will Bhow excellent results if sufficient gold is obtained to pay for all this from a single drive, and this the manager is confident will be done. 1 may state that the mine will be ventilated by a pipe into which air will be forced by a body of water which is allowed to escape by a valve after forcing in the air. As this company has over a mile of the river-bed to work, all new ground, its prospects are excellent for a permanent investment.

The flood which recently swept down our streams has somewhat damaged the new works of the Arrow United Co., but it is very cheering to note that before it happened the machinery was gaining over the water more rapidly than ever it did before, showing the great utility of the new flood-race in taking off surface drainage, and thus relieving the pumps. As fine weather may now, after months of broken and stormy times, be looked for, this company and the Universal, which will soon start pumping, will be more likely than ever before to succeed. At the Twelve-Mile, the late severe snowstorms have stopped all prospecting, but the erection of the small battery for Barclay's reef is in progress, and Ansell's party, No. 1 west, are sinking another shaft on the reef. Nothing else is being done in the locality, as all the higher peaks are buried in snow. The terraces of the Arrow River below the Twelve-Mile are being gradually taken up, and some good claims are being developed, while there is room for many more, as this neighborhood was passed over in the early days, owing to its inaccessibility ; but now the Arrow Valley track passes through it, and it is becoming a favorite resort for our miners.

The Arrow Valley track sustained very little damage from the late flood, owing to the protective works made two years ago by Mr Powell, the assistant engineer. At that time, a great deal of damage had been done by a flood, and steps were then taken to protect the track at dangerous points. Owing to this foresight, a large expense has been saved to the Government on the recent flood.

On Wednesday last, Mr J. B. Neal, one of the Phoenix tributers, was swept off his horse during the flood in Skipper's Creek, and escaped with difficulty. His wife and child were with him at the time, on their way to the reefs. The tributers will soon have another cleaning-up, as work is being carried on without a hitch up to the present. A new claim is about to be opened on the same reef, about three miles nearer the Sliotover. Cold is seen in the surface stone. Messrs Neal and Co. are the prospectors. Southberg is still constructing his tramway from the Otago claim to the machine. It seems that it is pretty certain that a cricket match will be played at Christmas at Invercargill by an eleven from the Wakatip against a local eleven.- I cannot say that our team has a great show, as players here are so scattered that they cannot meet to practise often.

The Rev. Mr Stewart, a young clergyman, preached on Sunday last in the Presbyterian church here, who is stated to be a very powerful preacher, and likely to do much good. His talent is said to be surprising in so young a man.

A delegate meeting of Templars from the various lodges was held on Saturday, to take steps to have the Wakatip created into an independent district. At present your district and ours are combined, and as a District Deputy can only reside in one of them, great inconvenience results. Other matters in relation to the Order were discussed.

The newly-formed Volunteer corps received its first drilling from Captain Macklin on Saturday last, and the men shaped very well, while great interest was manifested, and a good muster rolled up. A Cadet corps is likely to be formed. At Arthur's Point, only two claims continue'prospecting, and these have united to put in one tunnel. They have every evidence of an old river channel, but have not struck gold yet. They are at present trying the main bottom, but cannot see any wash in the deep ground, so it is thought that the gold will be either in yet deeper and wet ground, or at a high level on a false bottom.

In election matters everything is quiet. Mr Manders will contest, and should command extensive support on account of past services and known ability. Mr Macassey is at the present his only probable opponent, but others may arise. Centralisation with local self-government will be the best card to play here. Your district seems likely to have many candidates, so if we are short you might spare us a few. A deputy-returning officer last week had to fill up a return showing the condition of his ballot-boxes, etc., and under the heading, " Have you any other articles belonging to the Government?" wrote, " Two empty ink-bottles and a sheet of inferior blotting-paper."