THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 64, 9 December 1863, Page 4

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.)

Affairs on the Arrow Township Flat still remain almost stationary, a few claims only being now in work, anil the majority of these the lucky possessors would hardly dream of parting with; the men who held the rest of the claims not possessing the means to carry out the extensive system of operations necessary to work the ground successfully. A good opportunity srems to offer itself for the investment of any loose capital that may be afloat, in the formation of a properly-organized company to undertake the work, as there is apparently very little doubt but that a combination of a moderate amount of capital, business tact, and energy would ensure good success to the promoters of any well-organized scheme. The necessity of the public now taking some steps in the matter is generally acknowledged ; the prosperity of this community depending, in a great measure, upon the success of all local mining operations. Competent judges have already passed a favorable opinion as to the practicability of the Flat being worked with proper appliances, and all that really seems necessary is the presence of some directing genius to point out how the work should be done. A thousand and one plans have been already mooted, but none as yet seem capable of being brought to a practical issue—the assistance of steam power or immense water-wheels, the sinking of timbered shafts and drives and a gigantic system of sluicing have all been advocated; and probably, when some of our miners have worked out their up river claims, and have time and money to invest, some decided action will be taken in the matter. A plain straightforward exposition of any well digested plan and a guarantee that an organized company could hold a legal tenure of the flat, would meet with a by no means unfavorable response from the majority of the leading miners and business men of the district.

A discovery has been recently made in the Eight-mile Creek, running into the Arrow River, which leads to the supposition that the wealth of that locality has yet only been partially developed. The boulders and stones in the bed of *he stream have been found when broken open to be thickly impregnated with mundic; on the Victorian goldfields the presence of this is generally taken as a sure mdicaUoa of the near proxiinity of quarts

reefs producing gold, and it is by no meani improbable that these stones, originally washed down from the surface of the adjoining ranges, may have formed the outer casing of similar gold-producing reefs, only awaiting development by the patient research of the miner.

A party who lately came in from Lake Wanaka, having crossed the Black Range and followed down the course of the Arrow, reports that the population there has increased of late by many new arrivals from Dunstan and Taieri, via the Cadrona Junction. The principal workings are on the Matatapu Kiver, and the ground although patchy has yielded moderately well Provisions are chiefly obtained from Roy's station and the small Township near Wilkie's station at the junction of the Cadrona and Clutha Rivers about twenty miles distant from the diggings. A prospecting party are reported to have lately left Roy's station with a boat and good equipment, who proceeded up the Lake with the intention of thoroughly prospecting the Mokororo River and its tributaries, following the direction taken by Dr. Julius Haast about March last, in his expedition on the supposed old Maori track towards the West Coast.

Up the Cadrona River the population has considerably increased of late, especially towards the head of the River where new ground has been opened up and is reported to be paying well; lower down, near the Cardrona Post Office, a quantity of old ground is being reworked and is apparently proving remunerative enough to keep the claim-holders from wandering elsewhere.