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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 13, 13 June 1863, Page 4

THE SHOTOVER.

June 12, 1863. The weather during the last week was unusually fine ■, the days warm, light and cheerful, and the nights intensely cold and frosty. On the northern slopes of the mountains, where the sun gained most power, all signs of winter would pass away beneath his cheering influence ; but in the deep gorges of the river, where he seldom shines for above an hour in the day, and in some instances not at all, the ground rings beneath the tread; the water-holes were thickly coated with ice, and the rocks pendant with icicles, aud white with hoarfrost, glittering like gems in their rough settings; the smaller tributaries were frozen up and large slabs of ice marked their position, but many doubts were entertained of the continuance of such a prospect, many foreboding heavy rains and flools from the hoarfrost that every morning covered the ground. The miners, undaunted by the great losses accruing from the last flood, had again resumed their labours, and in many instances repaired the damages that resulted from it. At Maori Point, the race of Sullivan and Company had been completely cleared, and a great number of men were standing to their middle in the icy stream, placing sand bags across the natural course of the water to divert it into its new channel. Connor's race, on the next beach below, which had been completely levelled by the accumulation of gravel and sand, was also nearly cleared. Thackery's company, at the junction wiih . Stony Creek, were anticipating rich finds within a few days, and in fact the whole of the Shotover from Skipper's Junction downwards, was a-ain the busy scene of mining operations, but all were again doomed to disappointment. On the afternoon of Sunday the atmosphere became disturbed by sudden gusts of wind from the south and west, which gradually increased in violence aud duration, until a perfect hurricane was the result. Throughout the night a cold pitiless rain set in and continued throughout the following day without intermission; all the tributaries westward of the Shotover poured in their swelling torrents, which again swept all before it, causing ruin and devastation throughout its course. Bergen's bridge, which had again been replaced, was swept away; the Maori Point ferry rendered impassable, and all communication cut off between the two sides of the river. Stony Creek rose seven feet above the usual water level; and I am sorry to ,say that the races and creek workings have all again suffered and many are clean swept away. To recount the losses would only be a repetition of my former communication, but I am afraid such repeated illfortune will have a most injurious effect on m ning matters here. Many are of opinion that we shall have no winter that will allow of the water falling sufficiently for effectually working it.

On Friday, the sth instant, a shock of an earthquake was distinctly felt by a great number of miners residing on the river, and was described to me with various degrees of force. This would be in many places a most dau erous locality should such an occurrence place of more than usual violence. The precipice overhanging Maori Point is rent for a considerable distance from the main rock, and a shock Tould likely cause a landslip of great extent. It is to be hoped that such a catastrophe will not occur, as the loss of life and property would be immense. I am informed that Mr. Bracken purposes to erect a building, to be opened as a publichouse. in the neighbourhood of Maori Point; and no doubt such a speculation weuld prove a profitable one, as the population is large, and visitors have no accommodation, and are obliged to be under obligation to any one who^will hospitably give them shelter. Several small landslips have occurred during the late rain both in the Shotover and its tributaries It is generally found that where these have taken place rich finds of gold are discovered.the earth being from time to time washed away by floods, and the gold falling to the bottom. In many places the precious metal is found immediately after a flood, where the ground has been previously worked out.

Packer s or Butcher's Point, which four months since was a thickly populated place, is now all but deserted. Some two or three stores and a butcher's tent being all that remains of its numerous business places. These stood a fair chance of being blown away by the late gale, their position being greatly exposed. There is a great deal of terrace working going on just now, with various results, some companies being more than usually fortunate. Amougst them is a party of three men who are working a terrace some five hundred feet above the Shotuver; it is reported that the yield from their claim has been more than all three could carry. They are no doubt doing exceedingly well, but I was not able to gather satisfactory information. Smith and Company who are working on a high terrace opposite Packer's Point, have put a well-timbered drive into the hole, about 70 feet long, and have obtained payable wash-dirt about four feet high from the rock, which is here perfectly smooth and bearing evident indications of having been an old river bed. Parties in Sailor's Gully have been carrying on tunnelling operations, but have lost the run of the gold, which they traced profitably to a considerable distance.