THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3218, 13 June 1873, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Arbowtown.— During the past week the weather has been fine and the frost light, and parties whose works had been damaged by the late floods have in most cases advanced greatly towards restoring matters to proper order. Insome instances, however, the damage is of a more serious nature, as in the case of the Southern Cross Company, John A. Miller and party, who have been over eighteen months engaged in bringing up a drainage-race to work the bed of the river about two miles above the township, and whose works were near completion. The late flood has not injure,*, their tailrace, but has filled up the shafts and tunnel by which access to the ground to be removed was obtained. The plan of working adopted by this company, viz., that of working the riverbed by tunnelling, is a most speedy and economical one, and far superior to the ordinary method of paddocking, as the ground is some 35ft in depth. The locality proved exceedingly rich, and was very partially and imperfectly worked in the early days. Although the company only hold a grant for a few acres, yet they are able to drain and work by their tail-race and tunnel over a mile of unoccupied ground of the same nature above them, and to carry out the enterprise they should call in the aid of outside capital. Should they do this, 1 am confident that great success would result. — The committee of the Miners’ Association and executive of the Otago Miners’ Association are examining into the New Goldfields Bill, and have solicited the aid of Mr Warden Stratford, which that gentleman has kindly accorded them. They have gone over thirty-five clauses, and in reference to those I may report that they recommended some amendment in the interpretation of terms clauses. There is a reduction o£ business licenses to LI, to enable storekeepers to compete on fairer terms with a class of hawkers who visit the goldfields, bringing large and extensive stocks of goods, who do an extensive business, yet only pay LI for license. Clause 23, which admits of the amalgamation of claims, should, in their opinion, provide that no claim should, after amalgamation, be of greater length than twice its breadth. If claims are allowed to amalgamate without this restriction, it would lead to great monopoly. For instance, a claim of one acre is 294 ft. x 147 ft.; join two claims, and the amalgamated claim would measure 588 ft. x 147 ft.; whereas a two-acre claim should only be 418 ft. x 209ffc. In fact, if twenty men were allowed to mark out acre claims —say in a river bed or on a deep lead—and amalgamate, they could hold over a mile in length. The regulations to be made hereafter may of course meet these objections, but it is felt that everything dangerous should be pointed out. I forgot to note in its order Clause 19, which permits the holders of miners’ rights to cut timber and peat, and mine' for lignite, which license is restricted under various Ordinances in Otago. Clause 30 withdraws gold mining districts from the operation of the Otago Waste Lands Act in some respects. A full report will be made, after the whole of the Act has been examined, and I believe that some original suggestions will be made and submitted to the various Associations and the Government.—lt is rumored that Mr J. L. Gillies will appear before the electors here this week. He will not meet with much support, as will be seen by a report which I enclose of a public meeting held here on Saturday evening, 7th inst.—The probable candidates who have not come forward are—Queenstown: Mr B. Hallenstein, Mr Jas. Robertson, Arrow :MrH. C. Cope, Mr Robert Clarke.