THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 198, 22 March 1865, Page 2

THE ARROW.

(from our own corresrondent.) March 20. The escort this morning took down 1,095 ounces ; 100 ounces of which may be fairly attributed to miners selling their gold in order to be off to the Grey, and several of the sluicing parties have washed up during the last week, and the splendid returns realised account for the large amount sent down. Extended claims still continue to be applied for, no less than nine notices for such applications are now posted on the Court-house-three being from the Cardrona, No reaction of the Grey fever can as yet be reported; every day sees fresh departures, and our population bids fair to be reduced to the select few who are doing well and know when they are well off. Several parties left to-day with horses, intending to take the route overland via Christchurch; letters having been received that the short track by the Lindis Pass is so severe as not to repay the few miles saved. An old and well-known inhabitant of the district also left this morning—" Donald," the mule, long in the possession of Mr Rees, and lately in that of Mr Clements. He has gone with his new master, another well-known character, Joe Pickup, to try the chances and changes of the packing trade at the Grey, which, from all accounts, will not prove a pathway of roses. Agricultural produce has been disposed of in this district at a ridiculously low figure, owing to farmers having taken the fever and cleared out in a hurry. One and a-half acres of potatoes Went for £6 ; ten pigs and a chaffcutting machine for £2, and other things, animate and inanimate, at an equal sacrifice. Jones, of Hayes Creek Farm, has cleared out altogether, and Holmes, who holds a halfshare in one of the best farms in the Lake district, has disposed of his interest and this year's crops, &c., at a nominal price, and left this morning with the overland caravan. In Arrowtown the business of the public-houses and stores are, with few exceptions, carried on by " grass widows," who are left to wear the willow while their cruel sponsors figure at the rush. The Imperial Hotel and Bowling Saloon is in trouble again; the new proprietor having followed the example of the late one, and " walked his chalks," leading the bailiff's man in the house, and the hungry creditors to partition the remains. Bullen and Co have closed their establishment, and transferred their stock to Queenstown, with a view, it may be supposed, of making one good business out of the wreck of two. With regard to mining matters it is strange, but true, that coincident with the wholesale emigration caused by the rush, the claims in work, both river and terrace, are yielding larger returns than they have before done during the past year. From every part of the district the accounts are the same; every miner appears to be on gold. At the Twelvemile a party of four have just washed up 195 ounces for two months work, and in various localities £8 and £lO continue the weekly average. The few men left in Bracken's are doing very well, and a pretty little nugget of nearly 3 ozs was picked out of the washdirt in one of the terrace claims there a few days ago ; it is now in possession of Mr Schernikow of this township. The present proprietors of the Arrow Quartz Reef are about to associate themselves with fourteen other miners on the principle of a co-operative company. The preliminaries will in all probability be settled in a few days, We are informed, however, that it is intended to subscribe a capital of £2,ooo—of course payable by instalments—and that a well-known and experienced quartz-reefer will proceed to Melbourne in order personally to select and ship the requisite machinery. We all look forward with great interest to the development of this reef, and entertain cordial wishes for the success of the present undertaking. There seems no reason to doubt the quality of the stone, and from all appearances of the neighboring strata, the reef itself extends for miles, lying about N.W. by S.E.. in a line parallel with the river. There is every reason to hope, therefore, that a few months may see, not one company, but several at work, and the permanent prosperity of the district secured by the extensive resources of quartz-reeffing. In matters political, it may be worthy of mention, that the agent for the Registration Society here has managed to place on the roll (barring informalities which will be taken advantage of if possible) sixty names; the majority of which are those of permanent residents. It is very necessary that the Government should be urged, not only to publish the Electoral Roll as soon after the 30th of Sept. as possible, but to make provision for the due posting of the same throughout the Electoral district—on the doors or walls of all public buildings. Another matter well worthy the attention of every elector, is the fact that the Government persist in appointing for places of nomination and polling obscure and out-of-the-way stations, vide, the present Manuherikia, I believe, above Clyde and Alexandra have no polling places, and anyone desiring to exercese the franchise has to ride miles through the bush to the homestead of some " Old Identity " squatter. These are points which should be agitated without delay, for we might find ourselves at any moment in the ridiculous position of being in possession of the franchise, and yet obliged to look quietly on at a sham election, of the results of which, we should be the victims. We understand

that the Executive will be asked to place a small sum on the next Estimates for the . purpose of enclosing the Arrow It is high time some action was taken in the matter, as the graves are constantly being trampled on and damaged by wandering cattle, and in some instances the monument rails have been pushed over, apparently, by horses. Many poor fellows lie buried here who lost their lives during the first year of the goldfield, and it is the duty of those of us who remain here to protect their remains from desecration.