ARROWTOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 794, 6 July 1877, Page 3

ARROWTOWN.

(FROM OUR CoKRESPONDKXT.) The chief excitement of the week has been the sale of Dooley’s coal pit, on the Kawnran Flat, about midway between the Arrow and Nevis Bluffs, and distant ten miles from Arrowtown. The price realised was LI 150—a very good figure for the property. Some say it would have fetched Ll5O or L2OO more had the auctioneer, Mr J. 0. M •Ardoll, given more time. But I really think that, if any bidders regretted not purchasing, it was their own faults, ns two rival auctioneers Were present at the sale. The one conducting it would have been upon his best behaviour, and would endeavor to do everything in his power to satisfy the critical judgment of his contemporaries. In many cases buyers often go to a sale, and when there, are afraid to open their mouths, so really, if anybody feels disappointed, 1 think 1 may fairly conclude that it was his or their own faults. LI 150 is a long price for a coal pit, where the consumption must necessarily be limited, leaving alone there is always the risk of another pit being opened in the immediate neighborhood. As a rule on the goldfields but very few owners of coal pits have been rewarded for thoir labor and outlay. Tho purchaser isMrR. D. Owens, of Momn Ferry, at one time owner of the Cromwell pit. It will

take a good deal to get the purchase money back ip tils ease, and make up tor losses in the other, f >1 ! *./. * ; I hear that coal of very excellent quality has been discovered by Mrllobt. M'Morran, at the Greenstone, Lake Wakatip, and that it Can be delivered at Queenstown at a very cheap rate. Two seams have also been discovered in the neighborhood of Dooley’s. Snoh being the case, and taking into consideration that firewood is very moderate in price, the prospect of keeping the cold out of our dwellings, at a small expenditure should be a cheering one. A petition to the County Council is going the rounds for bridging the Kawarau River at the most convenient place between the Arrow Bluff and Morven Ferry. The site of the latter is, without a doubt, best suited for the cheapest job; but nearer the Bluff is preferred, as it would considerably shorten the road, as well as save a heavy item in repairs. This, however, is a matter forsomo skilled opinion, and which I suppose the Council will take before it commits itself to any action in the matter. A I ridge across the Kawarau is very badly needed, but it is scarcely reasonable to expect that the cost of such an undertaking should be saddled solely upon tho County, It should rather be considered a national affair. At all events, as other counties will participate equally in the advantages, a portion of the cost should come out of the Colonial revenue. A bridge across the Kawarau has many advocates and many opponents. There is a •class who desire to do everything with Invercargill and another class interested in doing business with Cromwell and Dunedin. Tho former party is strongly represented in the County Council the doings of which body partake a good deal of the “pull Baker, pull Devil ” kind of business. I must say that we have much to admire in the energy displayed by the Vincent County Council in the matter of bridging 'the various rivers down your way, and it is a very noticeable fact that the ruling body of Vincent does not require to be memorialised ere they can make a move in the direction of doing their duty. An investigation like what has been made by Mr Vincent Pyke into the conditions of the leases and privileges of punt and bridge owners, might possibly be made with advantage in our case. It is quite possible that here, as well as at Bannockburn the public are being charged too much. The inference is that ■the late Provincial Government, with all its imperfections, when they gave the river crossings into other hands, were not entirely unmindful of travellers. Such links in the chain of communication as are represented by these river crossings, have surely not been permitted to pass away from us without some restrictions : or, for what purpose were the roads made for ? The plant and claim of the Universal Co , on the Arrow Flat, was sold off on Saturday last, under a bailiffs warrant, Captain Barry offioia' mg as auctioneer. The total sum realised was under one hundred pounds. This is a warning how careful mining companies should be in not getting into debt. A very little extra care in the management" would have saved all of this. In mining matters there is nothing worth noting this week. Mr Sam Williams, and his mate Edwards from the Garrick, are up here on a prospecting tour. They certainly deserve success as they are the only two persons who have engaged in the work of finding a reef for the last six months. The weather is, however, much against them just now; still, such perseverance under difficulties should not go unrewarded. The weather on the flats has been pretty open of late, and whore tho sun reaches, the operations of the plough have not been interrupted. I think there will not bo any scarcity of wheat next year, as a very largo breadth of that cerial has, arul will be sown for next season’s crop. Tho present high prices are more the result of speculation than of scarcity. There is plenty of grain and flour in the mills, but it is in few hands 5 however, 1 fancy the ultimatum has been passed, and prices will recode. In fact a slight decline has already set in.