THE SHOTOVER.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 17, 16 December 1863, Page 3

THE SHOTOVER.

'(From the correspondent of the TVaJcatip Mail.) Nothing of any moment has occurred in mining matters since my last. Some three or four parties are. now flannelling in the hill opposite the Gorge. per week per man is spoken of as their usual dividend, an ounce to the dish is by ho means rare, and in one instance 7ozs were procured. They are gradually extending this class of workings up ihe hill ; the shaft-sinking: is attended with considerable difficulty, as the number of shafts par- ; tially sunk and abandoned sufficiently prove. The Arthurs Point and United Beach Company's races are progressing satisfactorily. On these faces being a success chiefly depends tho future prosperity of the Point; and the additional buildings which are being added to the township shows at least that the business portion'of the community are sanguine regarding it. More labor has been employed, and the middle ot January is mentioned as the time when we may hope to see the Shotover change its vv;itery bed. I trust that the event will be marked by some celebration worthy of the completion of the most important mining undertaking in the , cq'ony. ' Half-way between this Point, and the Big Beach, and immediately below the new and substantial bridge erected by Ryan and Bond, Brown and Baker's l-aces are connected, and the crating completed. They are now busy in the construction of a dam. This portion of the river, like many others, has been greatly addicted by the floods of last winter ; but the shareholders have now finished over ]500 feet of orating, and considering that only some 30 men were employed in the work, it is one of many instances of indomitable ener<rv which the t'iners of the Sho lover have displayed. Th*» water wheel on Cart Wright's 13 each will be ready for working in a few days, until which time wecannothopeto see very great returns. The wheel is certainly the largest, and probably the the best that has yet been attempted on the river, and it is to be hoped that it ni-iy prove useful in a eorresnondinn degree. The news from Sutherland's Beach is to the effect thatmany parties are busy diverting the river or portions of it; crates are being used for that purpose in nearly evew instance. Owen's party have taken off a paddock more than usually rich ; the iiold is of a course nature, and was found on the bed rock. On the Big Beach no further discoveries have been maclfe. Several of ihe claims which were held in esteem have not realised so well as expected, while others considered of no moment have yielded better. The great drawback is on account of the water, the tail race not having been so efficacious as was anticipated-, especially for the upper claims. Generally speaking, good wages are to be made at this place.