THE GOLDFIELDS.

Evening Star, Issue 3556, 16 July 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GOLDFIELDS.

ARROW. {From our own Correspondent.)

July 13. The report that a good prospect of gold had been obtained by the United Company on the flat induced a visit to the claim, when I found that the prospect had been procured in sinking & prospecting shaft on one side of the claim at a depth of about 22ft in a layer of wasbdirt, in Which 2ft more has been sunk, still yielding a Sood prospect; and doubtless, but for the very eavy flood which has occurred to-day on the river, this ground would be soon explored, and its value ascertained. The shaft is not expected to go much deeper to the reef, and the manager —Mr Elliott—intends to work it by tunnelling. Another party has pegged the Company off, and commencld sinking for the same run of ground a little above. The machinery for draining the Company’s ground is erected in the centre of the claim after several trial shafts had been sunk to find out the deepest ground, and is erected in a most substantial manner. The drainage shaft is 26ft deep at present. The pump was slowly but surely draining the ground, and it is to be regretted that the present very heavy and continuous rain will retard the operations. The manager and a number of men were actively engaged to-day in throwing np works to prevent damage from the flood, and have se far succeeded. No time has been lest in erecting the machinery, which was accomplished in ten days after the arrival of the plant; but the progress of the Company has been much retarded by the length of time occupied in its construction and transit from Dunedin j and now, at this season of the yeai*, frequent delays from floods may be feared. On the return of better weather the manager intends to put on an additional pump to drain the ground more rapidly, and any discoveries which may be made will exercise an important influence on the progress of this part of the district, as it was here that the Arrow lead of gold was lost, and if again struck it might be traced several miles further to the Kawarau. The rain of to-day, from its severity and long continuance, cannot fail to have inflicted heavy damage upon water-races and every description of mining works.

Good Templarism is making rapid strides here, large numbers of those who were fcmerly excellent customers of the hotels having joined. In consequence a marked change is observable in the place, and the movement seems likely to become ef almost universal extent here.