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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 88, 2 March 1864, Page 4

In another column will be found a condensed a ccount of the wreck of the schooner Pryde on the West Coast. The hardy band of men who formed the crew arrived here on Monday, and left yesterday. Mr Beetham, our resident magis-; trate, has taken upon himself to assist two or three of the party who were unable to proceed > further for want of funds. The others found personal friends, and are able to travel to Dunedin direct, via the Dunstan Great commiseration has been expressed by those of our townsmen who knew of the circumstances, in behalf of the party, but from enquiries we have made we 1 are convinced that not one-third of our residents are acquainted with the plight and real position of the gentlemen who have suffered in this wreck, or who know anything of the vicissitudes they have encountered. Our columns will probably convey to them the first intimation that perhaps the most energetic and best qualified party who ever started upon an exploration of the West; Coast, including the Canterbury district (to which our own prospectors point as the ultima ihule) have had their hitherto successful career suddenly checked. Had they known these facts we believe a more hospitable reception would have been publicly awarded them, as it is those who have understood the case have deeply sympathised with the sufferers. The journal kept by Mr Sullivan is most valuable, both as regards its geographical informations, observations, and a daily detail of the progress of the party. But! as this gentleman reserves the same for the information of the Government, we are not at liberty to say more than that from a cursory glance at the fact that it will be one of exceeding interest. For the purpose of enabling our readers to judge of the exceeding richness of Maori Point, j we subjoin, in a tabular form, a list of some of the quantities obtained by different parties during last week: — Low and party - 141b. weight. Callery aud party - 37 „ Scott and party - 30 „ Anderson and party - 15 „ Milne and party - 20 „ Stuart and party - 30 „ Total - 1461b. „ On the visit of his Honor the Superintendent to this place he promised the miners of the district that he would send to this goldfield a dulyqualified officer for the purpose of receiving suggestions from them or their delegates with respect to the working of the Mining Regulations. Mr Warden Worthington has been appointed to this important duty, and is expected to arrive here on the 10th. We would urge upon the miners at the various places to meet him themselves, or through their delegates, for the purpose of bringing under his notice the unworkable portions, if any, of the Regulations, as affecting more particularly the peculiar workings of this district. A rumor was prevalent in town at a late hour yesterday that a gold discovery of some importance had been made at Moke Creek, but we have been unable to ascertain any facts connected with it. It was reported that the discoverers had gone to the camp for a prospecting claim, but, as the court closed at a very early hour, it is possible the prospectors (if any) might have been disappointed in obtaining an interview with the Warden. We have, ourselves, no belief in the rumor, and only mention it because it was generally spoken of. Now that the Shotover is at a lower level than it has been for some time, the miners are taking advantage of it by working night and day; and yet the outcry is great for assistance in the shape of hired labor. Men, we understand, are wanted up and down the river, and none of the " right sort" are obtainable—everyone going for himself now. Those who are on wages are receiving from £1 to £1 10s. per diem. We have been informed on reliable authority that a considerable number of able-bodied miners could find employment at the present moment at the above quotations.

On Monday last Mr Reuben Harris disposed of by private contract the store and premises lately belonging to Mr Toepfer, tobacconist, for the total sum of £1250, which comprised stock, business and Stand, the latter being a corner allotment, having a frontage to Rees-street of 14 feet, valued at £l5O. Messrs Carey and Griebel were the purchasers.

The Hibernian Beach Company's Race, near Ryan and Bond's bridge, Arthur's Point, has arrived at completion, and from what we are led ; to understand, the parties interested will commence active operations to-morrow. The work is considered by competent judges to be of the most solid construction, and may be fairly rated as the best dam on Arthur's Point. A description of the undertaking may be interesting. It was commenced on the 17th February, 1863. Two parties of eight men each originally " tackled" the undertaking, each party eventually adding strength to their numbers. However, after the great flood on the Bth July, the two parties amalgamated, and formed a joint racecompany for their mutual advantage. The race commences at a point from Ryan and Bond's bridge, and goes down to the tail end of the Gorge—making a length of 1500 feet. There are three rows of crating at the head dam, which form a splendid and substantial embankment calculated to resist any flood that may pour down the Shotover. The narrowest part of the race is 44 feet, and was at one time considered too small for the purpose, but it has since proved abundant, as it can carry three feet more water than the old bed of the Shotover at its usual level. There have been, on an average, 20 men employed on the race since it was commenced a twelvemonth ago—representing a capital of £SOOO in labor value expended on this gigantic undertaking. Great praise is due to those enterprising men for the patience and perseverance displayed, more especially when it is borne in mind that they had recourse to no assistance except their own individual resources. The captains of the work were Messrs John Brown, W. C. Baker, and Lawrence Sullivan. It will be seen from another column that a meeting of the Fire Brigade was held on Monday evening. The captain stands about five feet four inches in his shoes, the lieutenant measures about six feet six inches, and we should imagine that the sergeant has attained the astounding altitude of seven feet in his stockings. There seems here to be something reversed in the natural order of things, but we have no doubt that the company will work well together. It is one very necessary to Queenstown, and although we suspect that the secretary will not be able by his system of hydraulics to drown out the burning mountain which tradition sayeth is to burst out in the Remarkable Ranges, yet we hope that the Brigade will be a good one and able to extinguish any fire that may break out in Queenstown. Immediately in view of Queenstown on the road to Arthur's Point, a Prospecting shaft is now being sunk on one of the terraces. That gold exists in the formations overlooking the township, there is no doubt, as the color, comprising several specks to every dish, both rough and fine, has been got from time to time two or three feet below the surface. At a depth of three or four feet, there is an argillaceous stiff leaden-colored clay, that forms a sort of a false bottom, from the top of which several prospect dishes have been tried, and gold always obtained ; it is through this clay the prospectors are sinking, and as they proceed they find it intermixed with what a digger would term good-looking quartz, lhe prospectors are sanguine on the matter, and we think they have from appearances a reasonable " show" for it. Indeed, we would recommend a prospecting of all the terraces around Queenstown, which could be done at a trifling expense, and would at least go far to solve the problem whether gold does exist in paying quantities, if worked with proper appliances and machinery.