OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3256, 28 July 1873, Page 3

OUR COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.

Arrowtown.— The Kawarau bridge question is still uppermost in the minds of our residents, and a general feeling of dissatisfaction prevails on finding (if report be correct) that in spite of all our efforts, the astute Mr Hallenstein has gained his point. It is the greatest blow to the prosperity of this district which it has .yet received, and will be stoutly i-retested against. It is seen that allowing Mr Hallenstein’,s bridge to be first taken in hand cuts off our chance of any speculators erecting at subsidised one at Morven Ferry, because the traffic will be divided. The Government will, however, be appealed to for the purpose of inducing it to construct the Morven bridge at the cost of the Province, in order to maintain the present trunk line of road to Queenstown, on the faith of which all the landed property here has been purchased. The present line runs through a populous and prosperous district; the Frankton bridge will take the road along a mountain side possessing few natural resources. The spirit of fair play which prompted Mr Fish to espouse a just cause, even against our own representatives, will be remembered with gratitude.— The Maercwhenua land sale, for which at first we were inclined to censure Mr Macandrew and Mr Tolmie, is now clearly understood, and we see that Mr Reid is alone responsible for it: and still more to blame for trying to induce the Government to repudiate a bargain so clearly made.—Mr Hallenstein arrived here on Monday. and, it is reported, has resigned his seat as M.H.R. Should this be true, we shall soon be again engaged in election struggles, and there will most likely be no lack of candidates. Messrs Clarke and Innes, of the Arrow, Barton and Malagban, of Queenstown, and your Mr H. S. Fish are spoken of as probable. It may be as well to observe that every fresh election shows up in bolder relief, and in more vivid and defiant colors the two opposing parties in this district, and in future the principal question with voters here will not be a candidate’s political creed, but that of bis religion, National or education ia the real question at issue, however much it may be veiled. The same question is also cropping out among ourselves, and the Miners’ Association will most probably be brought to grief by it ; that is, if the principle holds good, that a house divided against itself cannot stand. This state of things is to be deplored, and the only remedy I can see is for each party to stand firmly by its principles jifid settle the question by a steady trial of strength and tact.—Another question which is claiming much attention is, what shall be done with the Crown Terrace ? Here is a fine tract of agricultural land, about six miles by one and a-half, at an elevation of at least 1,800 feet, which has hitherto been used as a commonage, and to a limited extent for gold raining. Both cattleowners and miners oppose any attempt to alienate any portion of it, and it remains at present a mining reserve. Now, I myself have worked on it for gold to a greater extent than almost anyone here ; and I find that it is on the average too poor to pay for limited mining operations. It might pay, if worked on a very large scale, by sluicing, in which case vested interests would have to be bought in or compensated, as at present tailings cannot be discharged in any of the creeks which intersect it, without damaging races, Ac., supplied from them. There are, however, numerous quartz reef*, whiph Iffiye been yevy Httlp tested, Were it thrown open pn terms which would reserve the right to mine by paying compensation for actual damage only, and leaving ample reserves for mining on proved auriferous blocks.it would be readily taken up, although strong opposition from cattle owners would be raised against such a step. It is a tract of country which should not be alienated without most rigid inquiry into its various capabilities, and making due provision for the interests to be affected by such alienation.—The Moke Creek Miners’ Association have forwarded the sum of L 5 as a donation in aid of the funds of the Arrow Committee.—Prior to the meeting of the. Provincial Council, the Government h?.d proraised to place tlra aajary of Mr Warden Stratford qh a par with those of other goldfields Wardens, but it does not appear by the Estimates that the promise has been fulfilled. Indeed it is rumoured that the Arrow is in danger of losing its Warden. Should such a step be contemplated, it will not reflect any credit upon the Government after the promise made in writing tp the Miners’ Association that the palary was to be increased. It payst also bo borne in mind that Mr Warden Stratford is very popular, and that he has expended LSOO in making a home here. Dunstan.— The increase of rabbits on the Galloway Station is so great that the proprietors, Messrs Campbell and Low, are compelled to take active measures to put a stop to the nuisance.—A coal seam, that promises to he of some extent, has lately been discovered by a miner named Robert Scott, on the run of Mr Glassford, in the neighborhood of Devonshire Gully. The coal is of excellent quality,—From the action taken by two of the men employed on board the Pneumatic Dredge against the Company for wages, we are sorry to hear that the Company are compelled to cease operations. Steps have been initiated to wind up the company. —At Black’s No. 3, the Homeward Bound Company are getting out splendid dirt ; it is reported that it is the best that has yet been taken out of the claim. Shares that were lately sold for L2 each, would now bring over LIOO, —Times.