THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 45, 3 October 1863, Page 4

THE SHOTOVER.

(fbom our own correspondent.) Maori Point, October 2. On Monday last we were visited by a frightful hurricane of wind, which shook the stores and tents to an alarming extent. In [ nearly all cases the stores had to be closed. j At Packer's Point in particular, it raged with fearful violence, and had it not been that the stores were cut into the side of the hill, some of them would have made an aerial flight into the river. This was succeeded by a heavy fall of rain, which lasted till daylight. The river had risen considerably, but curious to say had fallen four feet towards night. lam happy to state that this slight flood has done comparatively slight damage compared with those preceding. In point of fact it has been of infinite service to the Grand Junction Company at Maori Point, in widening and clearing away the debris from their floodrace. It would have taken them five or six weeks work to have done the same amount by manual labor. There has been a temporary stoppage of the ferry-boat at this place, in consequence of the awkward nature of the ground on the camp side of the river. I must say the authorities have shown very little judgment in choosing that side of the river for the police court, as every flood that occurs destroys the communication between here and Queenstown, more particularly as we now boast of a post-office. I am credibly informed that there is a raid going to made on the grog-shops in this neighborhood, and they will either have to take out publicans' licences or a bush licence. It is quite time that a stop should be put to the indiscriminate sale of grog, and that a well-conducted house should, be protected, which is much wanted in this quarter.

The miners are constructing dams and flood-races in a much more substantial way than they have hitherto done, and the result is that comparatively little damage is done. The water works over the breastwork, and when the river falls, with the exception of the loose gravel, very little damage is done. On Dead-horse Beach, on Monday last, a party washed seventy-five ounces out of three tin dishes, but unfortunately two loads of wash-dirt were swept away by the flood the same evening. The road to this place is now in first-rate order, owing to the fine dry weather which has prevailed lately. As an instance of their improvement I may mention that two gentlemen walked from Maori Point to Queenstown last Wednesday, in the incredibly short time of four hours and seventeen minutes, including six stoppages. A month back it would have been a haid day's tramp. The influx of new comers continues steady, and a considerable increase of population may now be noticed on the river. Several are from the Dunstan, and many from the burn, which —in spite of the fictitious importance sought to be bestowed upon it by the Dunedin papers —does not seem to be regarded with much favor by the miners. New chums, too, are getting plentiful on the field, and a steady progression is being made up the right branch of the Shotover.