THE SHOTOVER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 73, 9 January 1864, Page 6

THE SHOTOVER.

(from our own correspondent.) Big Beach, Jan. 8. The stormy unsettled weather of the past two days has had, lam happy to say, no ill effect on mining operations, the river having risen about one foot only, and most devoutly do we wish that a couple of months' fine weather will be vouchsafed, to enable us to recover a little from the effects of the last floods. Mining on this beach is vigorously prosecuted, i The gap made by the floods in the dam is re- | paired, and in a most substantial manner—such a flood as the last will have no effect upj on it—and men, in spite of the partial depression that reigns, are again indulging in hopes of the future. The construction of the tail race at present occupies their undivided attention, and should the weather continue favorable, it will be finished next week. I can perceive no diminution in the number employed here, although the last flood drove many away, but their places were supplied by fresh arrivals, so that our population keeps up I to its old mark, say 150 for the Beach. A meeting of the Arthur's Point Racing Committee was held at Mr Grimes' Hotel, on Wednesday evening last. Mr. Mirfin having been called to the chair, opened the meeting by stating that it was called for the purpose of taking into consideration the best measures to be adopted to get up a day or two's racing at Arthur's Point, and also to enable the deputation that waited on the Wakatip Jockey Club to give an account of what occurred on that occasion. Mr. Gillespie, Secretary of the Committee, stated that they had been received most courteously by the Queenstown Committee, who, however, had declined to accede to their offer; he therefore conceived that their only i course was to call a meeting to decide when | the Arthur's Point Races should take place. Moved by Mr. Robinson, and seconded by ! Mr. Fox—" That as it is desirable a few days' I racing should take place during the season on | Arthur's Point, a public meeting be called on | Monday evening the 11th inst., at Mr. RobinI son's hotel, for the promotion of that purj pose." Carried. Moved by Mr. Fox, and seconded by Mr. Grimes—" That a note be addressed to the Chairman of the Wakatip Jockey Club, thanking them for the courtesy shpwn the deputation, and notifying that the Arthur's Point races will be deferred until after the Kawarau meeting." Carried. After a few desultory remarks the Chairman declared the meeting ended. The flood-race at Arthur's Point is rapidly approaching completion; the United Beach, or lower Company have all their crates, excepting about eighty feet, placed, and partly filled ; their principal difficulty at present is in getting a sufficient quantity of heavy ballast to fill in with. A month or five weeks will finish them, and much credit is due to both companies for the skill and perseverance displayed in carrying through this great work. I am sorry to have to state that the tunnel in the gorge is a failure. After driving eighty feet, two shafts were bottomed, both of them duffers.