THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 31, 15 August 1863, Page 5

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) Maori Point, August 13. A few days ago it was reported that a quartz reef had been discovered in a gully about two miles above Stony Creek. On Thursday Mr. Warden Williamson, accompained by several experienced quartz reefers from Victoria, visited this locality, and found it to be, not a solid reef, but a seemingly rich conglomerate of quartz; and they have no doubt it will turn out very well. I hope to be enabled to give you a more lengthened report of this in my next. I have just examined the specimens and they appear to be of a most promising nature. There has been a prospecting claim granted, and several other claims I understand are already taken up. Contributions for benevolent purposes are not behind on Maori Point. A subscription list in aid of the Frankton Hospital was kindly got up by Sergeant Neill, which reflects great credit on the miners in general and this gentleman for the efficient manner in which it was carried out. I believe no less than £6O has been subscribed already, and I have no doubt were the workings at this place further advanced that this persevering gentleman would raise double the amount in the same time. " Competition," they say, " is the soul of trade." It would appear so in this quarter, for no sooner is one store in course of erection than it is closely pursued by other competitors. A very extensive building has lately been commenced for Mr. Bracken. It measures 30 by 20 feet, and appears to afford ample accommodation for a good number of visitors, &c. It has its frontage to a street at present designated Camp-street, which was laid out by our Warden. And now with various other places, viz.:—the Bank of New Zealand Gold Office, Mr. Wilson'" store and refreshment rooms, &c, Maori Point is assuming the appearance of a very pleasant little township. I may also mention that other enterprising parties on the opposite side of the river are not at all behind, for with the stores of Messrs. Goodwin, Stewart, and Anderson, and appearances of additions in shape of refreshment rooms, &c, for the new arrivals, it has a very cheery look for the approaching summer. I may also mention that a bridge has been erected across Stony Creek. It is a piece of very good workmanship, and I think it will bear the force of any flood. A bold and successful attempt at rescue was accomplished here by Mat Bryers, a young half-caste, native of the North Island. About 5 p.m. on Wednesday, a man named George Eaton was crossing the river on a laden packhorse. When he got in the middle of the stream, the horse lost his footing, and was carried down the rapid current. The man very fortunately had presence of mind to jump off in time and got safely to the shore; but the impulse of the current carried the horse down close to the Gorge, when the half caste most daringly jumped into the stream, caught the horse by the halter, and with the assistance of his mates and others succeeded in dragging the unlucky animal to the beach. As a sequel to this escape, I may state that after a great many opinions on the treatment of the apparently drowned, a bottle of gin

was poured down his throat, which thoroughly intoxicated him, and during the night he fell over one of the adjoining cliffs and terminated that not very enviable lot—the life of a packhorse. Friday, August 14. Since the foregoing was written touching the quartz reef, one of the prospectors has proceeded to Dunedin to procure tools, materials, and machinery for working it. I must say that I consider it premature in the extreme to adopt such a course, as there is nothing whatever to justify any person in doing so. The reef, or rather leader, is only two feet wide, and promising enough certainly, but it would be more prudent for the parties to raise from 50 to 100 tons, and they would then be enabled to test the reef as to its capabilities. It would indeed be a great stimulus to this locality were a good quartz reef opened, and induce capitalists to come here, besides which it would give the place an air of stability; but lam exceedingly chary of ever estimating any quartz veins that ever have been discovered here. We have seen so many bubble schemes and hundreds of men ruined in the sister colony of Victoria that I should especially recommend prudence.