THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 61, 28 November 1863, Page 4

THE SHOTOVER.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Big Beach, Nov. 26, 1863. This continuance of fine weather is a priceless boon to the miners on this beach. The tail-race is at length completed, and although a large body of water rushes through it, they will have no difficulty in working the ground. Some, whose claims have been favourably situated, have been profitably employed during the past fortnight; and now all who have an interest in the race are busily employed in their respective cla.ms. Gloom and despondency have given way to cheerfulness and activity, all are sanguine and confident as to the ultimate result, and there is no doubt that all employed will make good wages, and doubtless rich patches will be struck, as the ground is now opened. For steady and profitable speculation, when it shall please the miners to act systematically and with unanimity, the Long Beach is second to no part of the river. It cannot be said that the miners here are particularly litigious, yet they have their little squabbles, and the presence of the Warden has been urgently requested to adjudicate them. This, however, is a luxury denied us. Great as our necessities have been he has never yet made his appearance; many times has he promised, but the performance did not follow. Certainly his office is onerous in the extreme. The duties of Resident Magis-

trate for Queenstovrn are sufficiently heavy to fully occupy the time of one man, but when the wardenship of the* Lower Shotover and Lake are added, it is quite impossible that one can do. the work. We don't find fault with the individual, but at ,the system that places him ia such a disagreeable position. Mr. Beetham is regarded by the miners as a well-meaning man, but, like another Atlas, he groans under the burthen of the Lake world.

I think of all religious communities the Methodists are the mosi earnest, for wherever a few of them are collected together, up goes an edifice of some sort for the worship of the Deity. Those belonging to that sect residing on this beach are no exception to the rule, but with commendable zeal have erected a substantial little building for Sunday meetj ings. A gentleman from the Arrow officiates. ; Maori Point, 20th Nov. Prospects here are brightening as the i weather improves, and the succession of fine | days that we have had of late, have done I wonders in, favor of the Shotover. Business I is brisker, and miners assume a. more confident air* as they work now, with a moral assurance of suscess. The river is at last I successfully turned at Maori Point, and the old bed left bare, in which operations are I being steadily pushed forward. To-day there I is a heavy freshet in the river, in consequence of the hot sun bringing down the snow, and I which for the time impedes operations ; but I ! have no doubt that in less than a week the results of the change in the weather will be shown to an extent that will surprise you. I Instances of individual success are plentiful. j I have heard that Purcell and party obtained I 136 ounces out of a paddock six feet by six, j four feet sinking, at the Sandhills last week; j and one week's work brought Gardiner and j party six pounds weight a man—the previous week's yield being 30 ounces. Qn a terrace, left-hand branch of Skipper's, Tom Long's party of four obtained 30 ozs. a man for one week's work. Several have bottomed and are just doing so 1 , but have not washed-up yet. The river is also just turned between Maori Point and Packer's.Point.

Besides the' oversfcA wheel christened by Warden Broad the other day, we have also two undershot wheels—one belonging to Connor and party, and Skehau and party, cosing £250. With these powerful auxiliaries, there is little doubt our great enemy—water —will be soon vanquished. The Government surveyor is much wanted on the upper, pdrt of this river, to define the boundaries of claims, as great confusion exists on the subject and is productive of many Warden's cases.

On Sunday last, an accident occurred which was nearly having a tragic termination. A man named Boh Scott fell off the dam at this place, and was swept down the river at a terrible rate. A German in the most courageous manner dashed in to the rescue, but was carried back by the current: a second time he made the attempt, and caught hold of the drowning man by the hair in the very nick of time. His noble exertions were well seconded by the miners standing by, and they were both providentially saved.

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) The sanguine anticipations of many of our miners who hold claims on the Township Flat have been somewhat damped of late by the discovery of a rather disagreeable fact. Gold having been found, in the first claims bottomed, at a depth of about twenty-five feet from the surface, it was supposed that this would be the average depth at which the bottom would be reached throughout the whole workings. It has, however, been proved that the sinking, in many instances, will have to be carried considerably lower, entailing the expenditure of an extra amount of labor and money, utterly beyond the means of many who have been barely able to hold their claims throughout the winter. Under these circumstances, many have been compelled to reluctantly abandon their claims, or else register them until some system of combination is decided on by which the ground may be effectually worked—not the slightest doubt existing as to the highly auriterous nature of the whole Flat—the only difficulty being to devise ways and means for unearthing the hidden treasure. Meanwhile the claims already bottomed are still yielding very good results, and the prospect improves as the depth of sinking increases. A curious feature has been discovered in the working of one claim on the Flat during the last week : underneath the first layer of washdirt, at a depth of twenty feet, thero has been founda stratum of fine loamy soil, exactly resembling the top surface, extending over the whole area.of the paddock, and about one foot in thickness. From this no gold could be obtained, but underneath, washdirt has been again found yielding good gold; in

I other claims carried to a greater depth, no (traces of this peculiar formation has been j discovered. I The Arrow Cricket Club intend playing i {heir first match on Thursday next, the playj ers to be chosen from amongst the members I who are present on the ground. The club : has had some good practice of late, and adj mirers of the game may anticipate seeing some ■ very fair play. Refreshment booths will be ! erected, and if the present splendid weather . continues, the usual monotony of the town will be agreeably relieved by the pleasures of | a gala day. " ' I A numerously attended meeting was held at the Golden Age Hotel on Monday evening to take into consideration the establishment of a committee on the Arrow to act in conjunction with the Wakatip J ocfy Club. Mr. Haughton was vote,d to the chair,and in a few brief remarks explanatory of the object pf the meeting, introduced Mr. Bracken, who,,, ad- | dressing the meeting, said :-4fr. Qhairman and Gentlemen—Myself and colleague! Mr. Elliot, appear here this evening to bring before your notice the Wakafip Jockey Club, a society recently formed at' Queenstown, for the promotion of legitimate sport in this cLis- | trict. lam happy to inform you. that, the scheme has already met with tl?e most cordial | support at Queenstown, nearly £3OO having I been t subscribed towards toe funds of the : society. We now wish to know wnat tne ! Arrow people are inclined to do towards coI operating with us in forming a really prospej rous and influential sporting association. | an early date we intend holding a series of races which will, I hope, prove second to none out of Dunedin. The proposed; Race Course is situate about midway between I Queenstown and the Arrow, and considering that the celebration of races will cause an influx of visitors from all parts of the diggings, and a proportionate, benefit to the Arrow, [Queenstown, and Frankton people. I sin« j cerely, hope that you will give the club your j cordial suppcrtand assistance." • Mr. Elliot next addressing the meeting, said—" I may state to the meeting that myself | and Mr. Manders, the Honorary Secretary of I the club, have been lately busily engaged in 1 canvassing the Wakatip'district for subscrip- ! tions, and the success attending our efforts i have exceeded our most sanguine expectations, nearly every person wo have yet calred upon subscribed most cheerfully. We now appeal to the Arrow people, and I feel assured that they will respond with their usual liberality. I would remark that the objeets i of the society do not by any means exclusively j refer to the amusement and interest of the Queenstown community alone, but tages are intended to extend over the whole district. It will be for our mutual interest if a society be formed in this district possessing sufficient funds to offer prizes worthy .the notice of the owuers of really good horses; the Wakatip Jockey Club will then soon become a recognised and respected institution." The following resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously—"That a committee, consisting of Messrs Melody, Canavan, Richmond, Scoles, Callaghan, and Foster, with Mr. Scanlon to act on the Twelve Mile diggings, be formed to promote the interests of the club in the Arrow district." The chairman then drew the attention of ! the meeting to the many advantages arising , from the possession of Subscription Card, and recommended a hearty co-operation with the Queenstown people, more particularly in the selection and formation of a permanent Race Course lor the district, inasmuch as the district having been proclaimed open for selection on agricultural leases, it was absolutely necessary that a site should be at once obtained before all the available ground was taken up. He then put the question-to the meeting whether they were in favor of the proposed site near Frankton, which was responded to with general approval. Mr. Callaghan then proposed a vote of thanks to Messrs. Bracken and Elliot for their attendance, and also to the chairman. Mr. Bracken, in responding said he certainly had anticipated that the storekeepers and leading men of the district would have mustered more numerously at that meeting, still he was happy to see so many miners in attendance, as they were really the men on whom the whole prosperity of the community depended; he felt assured of their cordial support, and for their information would state that it was the intention of the Wardens to grant the usual protection to all claims unworked during the race week, so that all parties might participate in the general festivities without any inconvenience.