THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 32, 19 August 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) August 18, 1863.

The snow has entirely disappeared from the flats, though still extending very low down the slopes of the ranges; we must I fear be prepared for spring floods of more than ordinary severity, as the loftier mountains are covered to the depth of some feet, and the whole surface which the rivers have to drain is of so considerable an extent. The weather for the last two days has been most charming, like the English poetical May in everything but the sweet flowers and the song of birds; spear grass and kakas forming but a poor substitute for the delights of our own Spring at home. The Arrow is lower than it has been for months, and I am glad to have to report that work has been resumed with energy all along its course. We can now look forward with some confidence to heavy escorts and streets crowded with successful diggers instead of the dead-alive appearance our township has presented during the recent months of calamity. The Hit or Miss Company have given up their protection and [are hard at work with the Enterprise Company on the flood and tail races; they expect to be ready to turn the river to-day, and will lose little time afterwards in building their dam and trying their ground in good earnest. The party working Hogan's claim have finished their wing dam, have their ground clear, and expect to bottom a paddock to-day. As this has heretofore proved the most productive ground on the Flat we may expect to hear of more than average success. The Arrow Sluicing Company, represented by Mr. Mabel, have nearly completed the fluming necessary for carrying their water race round the rocks which project into the Flat, so that the experiment so often mooted will soon have a fair trial, that is, whether the terraces will pay for sluicing; if it be found that they do, it will be a great thing for the neighbourhood. Many of the inhabitants of the street on the Flat have moved up on to the Terrace, so that the township is now gradually extending towards the camp; nearly all 'the allotments in the present line of streets being already taken up, though I am sorry to see as yet no attempts at the construction of more perma-

nent buildings than the old style of country - fair calico booths. The camp is finished and walled in; the buildings are artistically grouped and form a very picturesque object in the Arrow vale. The contrast is very great to the manner in which they are flung down, as it were, higgledy-piggledy at Queenstown, where a beautiful site is thrown away from the want of arrangement. The Gold Receiver and others are commencing their gardens in the enclosed space, and from the richness of the soil these will no doubt be very productive. Mr. Schau understands gardening well, and we can only hope that his energy in first taking this work in hand at the Arrow will be rewarded by many prizes at the first horticultural show of the district. Mr. Hickson, warden of the Manuherikia, has been sent here in temporary charge of the district; he arrived on Friday evening and held his first court on Saturday. It appears not to be at present decided who is to come here permanently, but there seems little doubt it will not be Mr. Hardcastle, who remains at the Hogburn. Mr. M'lndoe, the clerk of the Court, will probably soon be removed to Queenstown, being succeeded here by Mr. Anderson.