THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 55, 7 November 1863, Page 5

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) Friday, Nov. 6. The present bright sunshiny weather and occasional warm genial showers have during j the last four days considerably varied the as- j pect of our mountain scenery. King Sol has now effectually exerted his all-powerful in- j fluence, and compelled our rugged hills to take off their caps in his regal presence. The I snow is everywhere fast disappearing; a few | stray streaks and patches in sheltered gullies ! on the ranges inly remaining. The rapid thaw now set in tends to keep the Arrow river somewhat above its usual level, but not sufficient to seriously impede the work of our miners. The solution of the knotty problem j as to the exact locality of the hidden treasures of the Arrow will now soon be discovered, I and amongst the number of claims, good, bad, and indifferent, there is very little doubt but that in many instances the holders will realise i the most brilliant results. I The claimholders on the Flat are most sanguine as to the richness of their claims, several holes having been bottomed with very favorable results. In one instance which has come to my knowledge, 4 ozs were obtained after a few hours work. The possession of every inch of ground is now rigorously upheld, and often contested. Owing to the removal or washing away by the floods of various pegs, there have been several disputes during the last few days, as to the boundari s of claims, but they have been promptly settled on the spot by our Warden. In several instances claims have been amalgamated, and the actual site of the lower street and premises thereon, pegged off as part and parcel of such claims. Storekeepers'who reside on the Flat are discussing the probability of having shortly to quit the ground they occupy, the miners expressing a strong opinion that they have the right of immediately occupying the whole of the Flat for mining purposes; but the holders of business licenses with some reason naturally I contend that they should be allowed to reI main unmolested until their business licenses I have expired. The question I believe has ! been referred for decision to the Attorney- | General.

A small rush has taken place up the Bush Creek, about one mile from the township. Gold has been discovered in payable quantities, in about eight feet sinking. The prospectors anticipate realising,from two.to three ounces per man per week, and a race has already been commenced for sluicing purposes,

At present there are about fifty men on the ground. If any dependence can be placed on the many vague and indefinite rumors that are always afloat, it may be presumed that in a short time some startling news may be expected from the neighborhood of Skipper's Gully. A prospecting party left this township some little time ago, and I am credibly informed that they have made some important discover ies in that locality; the exact particulars, however, are for the present kept a secret.

Mr. Warden Williamson's report on the West Taieri gold field has caused some little excitement amongst the unsettled portion of our mining population; but those who have held claims throughout the winter express very little inclination to desert them now for any new rush. Men who are familiar with the locality of the Taieri diggings express a strong opinion that the report of the richness of the field is somewhat highly colored. From three practical miners who have just come up from the Taieri I have gleaned the following particulars:—They state that they left Duuedin on the first news reaching town of the discovery of gold, and arrived there two days before Cobb's coach came up on the 13th ult. At that time they had sunk four holes, from which the net result obtained was about ten pennyweights. Since then they mention having put down thirty holes in different gullies, varying from one to eight feet in depth, from which they only obtained altogether about three ounces, and they express an opinion that in many places still less gold was obtained for the same amount of labor, although, in a few instances, parties had done remarkably well. They describe the ground as most easily worked, consisting of black soil with slaty shingle or gravel underneath, in which the color is everywhere found, but only payable in patches. They state that probably 500 men might make wages there, but on their departure nearly 3000 people were on the ground. Bread was carted out daily from Dunedin ; provisions were high in price, and the supply inadequate to the demand; but the men stated that they met several Dunstan storekeepers en route for the diggings, to establish places of business. Your readers will receive this information for what it is worth; disappointed diggers are often apt to give a gloomy description of any place on which they have tried their luck, and failed; but from the lengthened experience in gold mining of my informants, I think their statement may be relied upon as correct in the main particulars.

The Arrow Cricket Club have commenced practice in good earnest—the majority of the members meeting every afternoon, weather permitting. The clearing of the ground has been completed, but much still requires to be done to form the perfectly level and smooth turf required for the <-ame. Another club is in course of formation amongst the miners, which will include some already tolerably good players.