ARROWTOWN.

Evening Star, Issue 2908, 14 June 1872, Page 2

ARROWTOWN.

June 10th, Unwonted excitement has reigned in tinlittle world of the Wakatip since the late elections ; and certainly this hitherto quiet corner of the Province has gained by the publicity and attention which its affairs have latelly commanded. By the efforts of Messrs Innesand Hallenstein our requirements for roads, bridges, and tracks have been liberally provided for on this year’s Estimates, The diminished amount of the last escort from Queenstown may be attributed to the stoppage of work in the rich ground on the Shotover on account of litigation, for which stoppage notice of action for LSOOO damages has this day been served on the Warden (Mr Beetham), Mr Turton, and Messrs Eager and party. Few parties outside the district are aware of the splendid field for the investment of capital which the Shotover River presents. The bed of the liver is enormously rich ; but the attempts of small parties of miners with limited capital have—beyond proving the fact in almost every case where the bed rock was reached—hitherto failed. The system of draining river-workings by means of covered-in tail-races or culverts has been very successful, and no reason exists why the whole of the Shotover River should not be worked in this manner. The operations of the dredges have only been partially successful, owing to the quantity of silt constantly brought down by the river. I notice in the Home papers that a goldmining company for New Zealand has been started in London with a capital of L 50,000. The Shotover is well worthy of the attention of such companies. A s this district is not likely to put forth claims to any large amount of subsidy under the grant in aid of water supply, the Commissioner in his report stated that he was prepared to recommend the expenditure ef a portion of the loan in opening up the immense extent of back country by tracks. I trust that this recommendation will not be lost sight of, as but little prospecting has been effected above the Twelve Mile, although some ten miles of the river bed and numerous gullies are known to be auriferous. A commencement might be made by opening up this locality, and it would doubtless lead to further discoveries and afford profitable employment to a largely increased population. In reference to subsidies for waterraces it would be satisfactory to applicants to have their application adjudicated upon more promptly than as at present. One application has been sent in from this district about two months back, but nothing whatever has been heard of its fate. If six or twelve months are allowed to elapse before money can be advanced on a claim for subsidy, in most cases the race would be completed before the money became available; and it might even then be withheld, on the ground that as the race was finished a grant in aid of its construction could not be issued.

It is gratifying to note that our local Hospital is in a sound financial position having assets to the amount of L9OO. Its success must in some measure be attributed to the esteem in which the resident surgeon, Dr Douglas is held. I had a letter to-day from a patient, now lying in a dangerous state, who speaks highly of the attention paid him by the Doctor, It is to be regretted that under the new rules lately introduced by the Hospital Committee, every patient, whether a subscriber or not, is called upon to pay 50s per week if he can afford it. Surely in the case of subscribers a nominal amount only might be charged, and thus the public would be encouraged to subscribe very generally. It is desirable that this objectionable clause may be struck out as soon as possible. The Pnb'io Library here is also in a good position, and the committee have been enabled to reduce the amount of subscription to 10s annually, besides having just laid in a stock of new books. The Miners’ Association holds its first annual meeting on Saturday next. Since its formation the committee have taken a most active part in every movement for the advancement of the district, and have earned the confidence of the public. .Efforts are also being made to obtain the foimation of a mining board for the district. It seems that the Arrow is likely to obtain the services of a Resident Warden. The ap-

pointment ofiuch an officer will be a grea boon to the qgtlying portions of the district, as it will enable them to receive periodical visitations from the Wardens, and thus save great, expense to litigants. It will also relieve our present Warden {Mr Beetham) from the over-work »vhich the interests of such a wide district entailed upon him. His powers have been severely t »xed during the past two years especially, and he must have felt gratified at the recognition of his services evidenced by the determined stand taken by the miners and residents against the- Chinese petition for his removal. Should the new appointment involve the removal of Mr Receiver Field from the Arrow—as that gentleman’s appointment in the service dates from 1862, and as his duties have been most creditably performed—the Government should take his case into consideration, and award him some adequate compensation. He has had the misfortune to be removed from one station to another on several previous occasions, at great loss and inconvenience to himself and his family, and it is scarcely twelve months since his removal here from Alexandra. It is a case of great hardship for a married officer—especially when he has a family, as in Mr Field’s case—to break up his homo, sell off the ra <st of his goods for what they may fetch drive off bis stock (if he has any), perhaps leave a house, on which he has expended his s wings, to fall to decay, or else part with it at a sacrifice, and depart to begin the world elsewhere. The advocates of the periodical removal of goldfields officers must have very little feeling, as such a system would, besides destroying the comfort of officers, involve them in heavy pecuniary sacrifices, and they would requite higher salaries, or else allowances as compensation. I regret to have to chronicle a dreadful accident to a miner named M‘Gregor on Saturday last (Bth inst.). He was returning home from the township to his residence up the Arrow River, and while endeavoring to get along a precipitous part of the journey, he lost his footing and fell some hundreds of feet down to the river. He was picked up insensible. and removed tuthe hospital. The Government ought not to delay expending the sum placed on the Estimates for the track up the river, as the miners run great risks in travelliag.up and.down at present.