NOTES FROM A DENIZEN OF THE ARNOLD.—No. V.

Grey River Argus, Issue 16, 6 January 1866, Page 2

NOTES FROM A DENIZEN OF THE ARNOLD.— No. V.

There is a complete dearth of anything JQte mining intelligence to communicate this week, our time being entirely devoted to recreation; but a reaction has taken place much sooner than I anticipated towards take Brnnner. Another prospecting claim has been applied for, and there are about 400 or 500 people prospecting in and about that locality. There is one point on which they are nearly all unanimous, that is, were the Lake Brunner gold fields adjacent to a town like Greymouth, where provisions could be had at reasonable rates, very decent wages could be made, but until there is a cheaper mode of transit either from Christchurch or here, I much fear that it will be a long time indeed before the resources of that district will be thoroughly developed. In my opinion it will be only a matter of time and patience on the part of those now engaged before it can be pronounced a payable gold field ; but I have no doubt in my own mind that it will ultimately turn out well, and should my prediction be verified, what a vast extent of country will be opened up for mining pursuits, this place being as it were a grand centre or connecting link with the Boiler gold field. However, I must leave it to geologists or others more capable of judging than lam dn this point. lam much surprised that neither the Canterbury nor Nelson Governments have mining surveyors or geologists, and it is highly desirable that such men should be appointed, so as to afford every information to facilitate the miners in their pursuits, apart from other benefits likely to arise from their investigations for developing the mineral and other resources of the country. , v . . Considering that we are entirely out of the pale of civilisation, we were agreeably surprised at receiving a visit from Mr Bowen, a Church of England Clergyman, on New Year's Day, and I am the more happy to record my meed of praise to the Church on this occasion, seeing that she has not forgotten us, especially as she is generally so lax in sending forth any of her servants when compared with other denominations. However it is gratifying to think that if we do Buffer under the misrule of. a bad secular Government the Church at least has not been unmindful of us. Considering that Mr Bowen arrived only an hour before holding the service, it was gratifying in the extreme to see the alacrity with which the inhabitants prepared an empty tenement, which luckily had been vacated by a baker, for holding the service in ; and it was pleasing to see that people of all creeds joined in the service ; and had we had more timely notice there would have been a much larger congregation. Any clergyman who in future wends his way up here will find a most hearty welcome, but we ought in every instance to have some timely warning. On the following day Mr Bowen proceeded to Maori Gully and read the Burial Service over the bodyjof a man named Bates, whose sudden deatkJhas causexb* gloom. over the whole district. Truly may we say that in the midst of life we are in death. Only last Boxing Day he was victor at one of the feats of wrestling, and hut Monday he was hurried to eternity, withput a moment's warning. Another sudden death has occurred here, but the particulars of which I am unable to ascertain. ■••■ Mr Bowen also held an open air service on Tuesday evening, in Maori Gully, which was remarkably well attended. His kindly and unostentatious manner has endeared him to all classes, and his reception seemed to be gratifying to him in the extreme, and he assured us that he would endeavor to obtain for us the services of a permanent clergyman, and disabuse the ideas of the people of Christchurch as regards the class of people we are. New Year's morning was ushered in boisterously. Several of our worthy citizens seemed to have gone suddenly mad, if one might judge from their ongoings. A band composed of musketeers and others, with tin dishes, frying pans, and every available implement that could cause a discord being in great requisition. Every store in the place was visited, and the inmates liberally supplied with grog, which.was of course as freely returned ; then, 'after compliments being passed and healths drank, and a volly fired by the said musketeers, the procession would make a grand move for the next store playing a " grand march," much in the style of seven or eight brass bands, which, on a certain occasion, were performing in thegrounds of the Duke of Hamilton, and the spirit of rivalry took such hold of them that they all played God save the Queen on their own particular key. One worthy storekeeper, not; being aware of such » Scotch custom of ushering in. the New Year, had himself Jitrongly fortified against invasion, but was compelled tor songndsr at discretion, and the look of terror and amazement depicted in his countenance was ludicrous in the extreme, but when the nature of the 'occasion was explained' to 'him, everything went merry as a marriage belL The whole, affair terminated in the mdft orderly and good natured manner, not an angry word nor disgraceful action having occurred from, beginning to end, and comparatively few having succumbed to the influence of Bacchus. We cordially wish. our Greymouth friends a happy and prosperous New Year. In my last, I omitted fo mention that tha thanks of the whole community, are due to Capt. Sam Henry antf the stewards, 'for the. admirable manner in which they conducted the Boxing Day Sports ift Maori Gullyindeed I have seldom witnessed decisions so satisfactorily acquf esced in by all partita. Scrutator.