THE ARROW.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 63, 16 June 1863, Page 3

THE ARROW.

(From the Correspondent of the Wakatip Mail, sth June, 1863.) The frost still continues sharp, and the consequent fall of the Arrow River is enabling the miners holding beach claims to repair the damage of the late flood. I am sorry to say the losses have been veiy heavy ; in many cases the work of two months has been utterly ruined, besides the destruction of pumps, wheels, &c. A most important case, arising from this flood, was decided yesterday in the Warden's Court. Gleeson and par!}' summoned Davina and party for allowing the river to overflow iheir tail race, to the damage of their, Gleeson's, claim. Theie were three "other cases against the same defendants on the same grounds, and in each case £100 damages were claimed. Davina and party are the holders of the j well-known Italian Claiiu, about two miles and a half from the township, from which your readers may recollect hearing that they took in three weeks thirty pounds weight of gold a man. It appeared from the evidence that the dam and race constructed by the Italians was destroyed by the late floods, and that consequently the adjacent claims were temporarily ruined, i I cannot give a better idea of the case than by quoting the exact words of Mr Beetham's very lucid judgment, given j after a most patient and careful sifting of the evidence. "In this case," said the Warden, " 1 cannot see that sufficient evidence has been brought forward to induce me to give damages. The dam, no douit, I gave way, and the water overflowed the tail nee; but wi.ful carelessness on the part of the Italians has not been proved. Evidence has been produced a> to the unfitness of the racn for its ordinary purposes, but it does not appear that this was ever pointed out to the Italians ; nor , was any complaint on the subject laid before me, wli«n on the spot a shurt time before the flood. I have personally intpscied the dam, and consider it the best on the river. Tbe flood was an extraordinary one, and scarcely a dim lias withstood its force. Culpable neglect not having been proved, 1 must dismiss the cuse " This decision induced the plaintiffs in the other three cases not to appear. Had the judgment been against the Italians I am given to understand that no fewer than thirty similar cases would have been brought before the court. Working on the n;t is still in many r.eses impeded by water, so much so th.it it has been proposed to the Hit or Miss Company to allow their large race to ba connected with the Flat so as to act, as a peifect drain of the whole space. The Company, however, refuse, except upon uch terms as the miners very justly thinks exorbitant. Their demand is LSO down ; LSO a week from the miners working the Flat ; and L 8 a week from each party after bottoming. The holes on the FJaf, which are free from water, are turning out very well. M'AulaflVs party have struck the reef at the depth of 16 feet, and have a very good prospect. I saw three ozs. of very coarse gold washed out of one dish yesterday ; their claim is close to the Lower Town, on the left hand side going up the Flat. Contiguous are two parties of Germans, both doing well ; their holes are bottomed at about the same depth — 16 feet ; the gold is easily discernaliie, and the washing stuff ranging from specks up to nui?gtts of one dwt. Half-a-mile up the Flat, a partyhas struck the reef at h depth of eiglift feet ; they got the color, but as they have not fcyet washed out I do not yet know whether the gold is in payable quantities. Only seven parties are working at Bracken's Gully, and these with indifferent success. At Twelve Mile Creek the prospect seems good, for they are working on a large scale;, but I think we will soon have many disapj ointed in that quarter, working on the Flat.