THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 June 1863, Page 5

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) June 2, 1863. It is needless to state that the Shotover is dull, and that no gold is being obtained: for the heavy losses accruing from the heavy floods have brought everything to a standstill. After the rain of Snnday week the river in a few hours rose to a height never yet witnessed by any residing here, causing loss and devastation throughout its course; cradles, pumps, tools of every description, bridges, boats, sand Lags, tents and huts were borne along by the impetuous current N ever could such a catastrophe have occurred at a worse time, for hundreds whose patience has stood the test of months of hard labour and selfdenial, have seen their work swept before them, at the time when their golden dreams were about to be realized.

Amongst the sufferers are Grant and party, who had all but completed a most extensive cutting immediately below the Gorge at the Skipper's Junction; every trace of the work has disappeared, and they estimate their loss at over £IOOO.

Ber<*en'sbridge, the communication between Butcher's Point and Skipper's, was taken bodily away and deposited entire some distance below. This was supposed strong enough to resist Jany flood, having been iron bolted to the rocks on either side the river. At Maori Point the same tale of destruction has to be told. The workings of the United Gold Mining Company suffered materially, and I was informed by the shareholders that £BOO would not cover the loss they have sustained ; and Sullivan's Company, which had successfully turned the river and got fairly to work, are reported to have been injured to the amount of £ISOO, but I have since been informed they are successfully washing away the accumulation of sand and gravel in their

cutting, and the loss will not be so great as was expected.

At Wilson's Beach the works are all but levelled, Wilson's and another party having sustained damage amounting to £SOO each. The big race at Arthur's Point has received considerable injury, and that in the lower gorge has entirely disappeared. Many from necessity are compelled to sell out and relinquish their task, but most of the companies are returning to work with vigour to repair their losses. The topic at Skipper's is still Protection and the Roads. Handbills have been issued, convening a public meeting, for the purpose of forwarding a deputation to the Government on these subjects.

The inhabitants of Arthur's Point are indignant at the removal of the Camp to Frankton, and there is some talk of calling a public meeting to petition the Governmant against it. Frankton is no doubt the nearest and best road for those of the Upper Shotover, but the miners from Arthur's Point will be greatly inconvenienced by the change.

THE ARROW (from our own correspondent.) June 2, 1863. The weather of the last few days, though fine for the season, has been very frosty and sharp, much to the delight of those miners holding claims in the outlying mountain creeks and rivers, who hail the approach of winter with much glee; and unmindful of the hackneyed adage, which recommends you not to count your chickens before the incubatory process is completed, are speculating on the probable amount of their gains when tbe frost will have so far reduced the volume of water as to allow them to work with ease and profit. It has not, however, been so much to the satisfaction of those in the immediate neighborhood of the township, who have little to gain by the cold weather except perhaps rheumatics and chilblains. The flat is turning out very well, and seems to satisfy all but the most voracious after the precious metal. Several holes have been bottomed, and with very little water, the race of which I lately informed you (the Hit or Miss Company's) having answered its purpose excellently, and drained the surrounding ground to a considerable extent. The extensive flats in the vicinity of the township which are as yet entirely untried, will doubtless be soon worked, now that the attention of the miners has been directed to them. They have hitherto placed their chief reliance on the river and creek workings, and I dare say they will cling to them for the winter at least, but still I am of opinion that the flats will be found not a whit less payable, especially when you take into consideration the easy access to the latter, and consequent saving of time. An ounce to the tin dish was washed out of a newly bottomed claim last week. Not a bad prospect that.

At the Twelve Mile Creek and neighborhood there are about 100 miners engaged, and all apparently well satisfied with their prospects. Sluicing is the principal form of working in this locality, and two heads of water have been granted for working a large terrace at the junction of the creek with the Arrow River. The proprietors of the two races are sanguine of the result, judging from the prospects received. That the yield of gold is satisfactory, I may merely instance the fact that several men who left the Creek some short while ago, allured by brighter prospects at a distance, have returned and set in with renewed vigor. The gold lies in the crevices of the reef, and is of great purity and very heavy. As an instance of this I may mention that a nugget was a short time back taken out near the gorge of the creek, weighing 6 ozs. 11 dwts. (2 dwts. short of that found in Fox's Flat about ten days' ago) and about which there was no extraneous matter whatever. There is also fine gold in the gravel, which yields a very fair profit if sluiced, but which if treated otherwise, as a general rule, would scarcely pay. A number of stone and sod huts are built, thatched with grass, which evince a determination on the part of the miners to weather out the winter, if possible; and the notion of failure never enters into the mind of the genuine goldseeker.

The new Government buildings are progressing—very leisurely, it is true, but still progressing—and they will not be completed a single hour before they are required, for every thing here, from the Warden's Court downwards, is cold, cheerless, and wretched. On Friday last a race between Herring and Canavan came off in the presence of a good number of spectators, who, however, did not show the same spirit in regard to betting that has been evinced in our former pedestrian trials. There were three events—loo, 150, and 200 yards, the winner of any two being the winner of the whole. It was for £SO a-side, and Canavan carried off the prize,

beating his opponent in the first and third matches. It was a well contested race, and seemed to give universal satisfaction. A Cumberland wrestling match took place on Saturday, for £lO, £3, and £2, opposite Mace's Victorian Hotel, in the presence of a large number of spectators. The utmost good humor seemed to pervade both combatants and audience, and considerable interest was taken in the sports. The first prize was carried off by Vipond, the second by Younghusband, and the third by Gardner.