THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 12, 10 June 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) June 8, 1863. I mentioned in my last that a hole had been bottomed at the top of the Flat, at seven or eight feet. One pennyweight to six buckets was washed out the first evening, which would pay very well for sluicing—the creek being so near. On Friday morning, consequently, there was quite a rush in a small way to that locality, and all available ground was taken up; but up to Saturday evening no bottom had been obtained in any of the holes, although some of them were worked down to 20 feet or more. The first party must evidently have hit upon a bar running across the valley in continuation of the spur of the hill. The difficulty of getting rid of the water is still retarding the bottoming of many holes on the Flat. As no arrangement has been coine to with the Hit & Miss Company, the miners are

amalgamating their claims so as to work them seriatim to their mutual advantage; in one case six parties have thus joined together and have built a pump some 24 feet in length, and, to me, of quite a novel construction, the efficacy of which I much doubt: it declined to draw water yesterday, to the disgust of the owners and the delight of the assembled loafers. A slight error of the press in your last issue procured me the favor of a visit from the representatives of the Hit or Miss Compary, uho are anxious that the terms demanded by them for allowing their race to be the medium of draining the Flat, should not be exaggerated; they ask only, it appears, £SO a week paid in advance, from all the miners, and £3 a week after bottoming from each party. The best paying claims at present are those at the back of the township, just where the Arrow River enters the gorge. Hogan's party are making at least from £2 to £3 a day each man, and the adjacent claims are I know turning out well. The sinking is between twenty and twenty-five feet. On the opposite bank of the river there is also some very fair ground, and many are quietly doing a good thing in that direction.

Most of the miners up the Arrow give the same old story, "hardly paying wages," but I have reason to think that a considerable quantity of gold is obtained. The first terrace is being actively worked, and the tunnels are as remunerative as ever. One of these ia producing a pound of the precious metal a day. With regard to the supposed murder, as the matter seems very mysterious, and the account furnished me from the spot differs^' n some particulars from what you published on Saturday, I send it for the benefit of your readers: "On Sunday last one of Miller's men, whilst out hunting cattle between Fox's and Sandhills, came on the body of a man apparently dead, lying within 100 yards of the track, with a gunshot wound at the back of the ear, trousers and boots off; gave information to the police at Maori Point, who went to the spot indicated, on Monday morning, but the body had mysteriously disappeared. Police are still scouring the country, but no clue was obtained up to Saturday." A foot race was arranged yesterday to come oft on July 3rd, between Richard Collins of Queens f o\vn and Daniel Harkenstall of this township, for £IOO a side. The stakes are deposited with Mr Mace of the Victoria Hotel. The odds here are in favor of HarkenstalL

The proprietor of a favorite house of entertainment, not far from the post office, has been criminally informed against by a brother publican for stealing a cat! Bail to the amount of £lO has been accepted. The case excites great interest and will no doubt be productive of considerable amusement.

Several diggers from this neighbourhood have applied to the Provincial Government for particulars with regard to the proposed military settlement at Tataraimaka in the North Island The acting Provincial Secretary states in reply that immediately on receiving it from the General Government, the necessary information will be published in the Gazette and other papers. It is probable that we shall lose many of the less successful gold hunters, who will prefer the certainty of the fifty acres to the chances, of a lucky prospect this winter. Perhaps they may wish themselves back again after a short experience of the pleasures of a beleagured life and a blockhouse, with a probability whenever they venture out of being literally made game of by the real proprietors of the soil. Here they talk largely enough of what crops they will put into the ground and how they will/'eat the natives down to their socks."

An extraordinary instance of the predatory habits of the owl in this country, came under my observation the other day, which may interest the lovers of natural history. A bull-pup, the favorite of a lady in this township, was found missing on the early part of last week; search was unavailing, and the departed was supposed to have been carried off with a view to future raticide. Yesterday afternoon a mysterious noise in the drain, running under and across the street, induced an investigation, when from near the centre was hauled the skin and bones of the missing pup, and clinging to it and fighting still for the remnants of his feast, a large owl, which was immediately secured. The bird had evidently carried off, killed, and eaten its unhappy victim.

The race camo off to-day, and, notwithstanding the weather, attracted a considerable number of people to the house. The ground was very heavy, rendering the work severe for horses carrying so much weight. Mr. Bracken riding his own pony, Brusher's jockey had to make up to Mr. Bracken's twelve stone. The start was good; Brusher went off with the lead, keeping it for a quarter of a mile, when the black pony passed him; but at the turn of the course Brusher crossing behind, again went ahead, and gradually increasing the advantage, won by a good 100 yards. Betting this morning had been much in favor of the black pony, so that a good many discontented countenances were observed as the result was made known. The rain came down in a steady shower the whole time, and quenched effectually the hilarity of the meeting.