THE ARROW.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 34, 25 January 1864, Page 3

THE ARROW.

(From the Wakatip Mail.) The weather, a threadbire f-übject to dilate on, but nevertheless one of vital importance at all times to the Otan-o miner, is just now the 'absorbing topic of cnnver-^Htto*', 'he earnest ui-li of even one bein<r thai we may be blessed. with a lontrconfinuing fine season, for on that depends all hopes for liie prospeii y of both miiiinsi and tr.iding speculations. The Arrow River i-4 now lower than it pro' ably has been since tlie commencement of the diggings ; our miners never felt m<<re certain of success, or nearer the accomplishment of their wishes; and our i ruder.-*, tup'iug over the pages of their ledgers an-1 pondering on ilie manifsd-.l entries or" goods supplied on credit, to lioldets of claims as vei u!i!)(>ttoined, venture to indulge in anticipati -ns of thei: liiile accounts beinir soon squaied, nnd that rara avis, a lucky digger, again becoming an everyday visitor amongst us. Mining* affiirs are steadily progressing, the money value of shares in claims is increasing, and although our populalon has been diminishing, those win left us were mostly of the .hrilliess class ol rush hunters — i,-a:i ever chasing a sh-tdow — .ir rLe up lucky diggeis «f that fated class who may be daily heard to declare thai thtir luck is i. cad against them. Each aud every individual now remainiim has weighty interests depending on tiie success of the enduing mining season, and a single month of fine weather will living very many of their speculations to a satisfactory i s.i ue. On the Arrow Township Flat there is not much doing ju-t now. A few parties are still a; work who contemplate erecting a large wafer-wheel, to be worked by the I river, for their joint benefit, their previous success warranting the extra expenditure entailed thereby. It is to be regretted that the whole flat is not being worked, bin the formation of a company possessing the requisite means seems at present to he impractical) c. It is generally admitted ,that there is a legitimate opening lor lite investment of capital, but every man's motto seems to he '* each for himself," and a want of unity more than a lack of funds probably retards the idea of working the flat by machinery being- accomplished. Some excitement has been occasioned by the discovery of strong indications of a payable quartz reef close to the Arrow Township. Some miners who have been working wiih cradles on ground near t lie river, originally held by the Arrow Sluicing Company, have found amongst the tailings specimens ol quartz, rich in gold. A small reef has since been laid bare, and ihe stone obtained therefrom hasbeen found exceedingly rich. .Specimens have been eagerly sought for by our townsmen, and praciical men hold out strong hopes that the d scovery will prove of material importance. The various mining companies on the Arrow are now all actively at work. More wheels are in course of erection, and the workings aye being rapidly extended far up the river A small rush was reported away at the head of the Arrow, ancl several parties left the Tweivc-mile diggings, but the locale of the rush was confined to one small gulley, where all the available ground was quickly taken up, and, is paying exceeding uell. Above the Falls on the Arrow there are now ahont a hundred men working, attracted thereto by the operations of one or two parlies who have*, "been engaged fbr some time -past in constructing expensive flood races to enable them to work the bed of the river, hitherto untried ground. Amongst these pioneers the Perseverance Company stand most prominent, having been engaged in .expensive preliminaiy operations for nearly four months past. They have now completed a Covered flood race, and have a substantial wheel erected, and will commence sinking their first paddock in a day or two. The Alliance party started their wheel on Saturday, all hands from the claims mustering to witness it, this being the first

wheel completed abovo the Falls. -M'Leod and Swyer's parly, hailing as the Rnpubiif-, have also nearly completed their wheel, and: various other parties in 'adjoining claims are all actively pushing on. 'their works. • Every man theie sneins sanguine as to- the claims turning out well, and the utmost good feeling prevails. A praiseworthy effort is now- being made by the elaimhohlers to form a committee amongst themselves for tho immediate settlement of any disputes tliat may arise without the necessity of losing lime in dancing attendance at the Warden's office ; a store has also been erected in the immediate neighborhood of the successful workings. Many claims ou the Big Beach will be shortly bottomed, and good results are anticipated. Dcvi ne and party's claim, tiie Alabama Company's and several others are still yielding good gold, and shares therein are quoted at tolerably high figures. At the Twelve- mile, mining matters are steady, and the population seems stationary. Some disputes have lately otxurred amongst the ownei*3 of certain flumes erected there, which have been settled on the spot by the assistance uf a jury impanelled by direction of the Warden. Many parties are now engaged in working ground high up the ranges, in some places 0(10 i'cei above the level of the creek and are stated to obtain good gold, the favorite spots selected being small patches of ground lying between outcropping points of the rock. On the Arrow also, men are thus engaged, and as the beds of the various streams become worked out ihis new featuie in mining will probably be more fully developed. As a proof thit gold does exist in places hitherto unsuspected, I may instance that within lnlr'-a-mile of ibis lou-nship, a solitiiry hatter is tit present engaged in working ground on the summit of a point on the river from which I am credibly informed he has earned at least Ll'2 or LIS per week, ground below and around the spot having been rep -atedly prospected and found unrcmunerativo. At the weekly meeting of the Township Committee — Present : the Chairman ( Dr Dougla.--), Messrs Richmond, Rout, • Tat-forth, bpeiisley Paterson, and [rigs — the following resolutions were adopted: — *• That all t' c members of the Committee assemble on Tuesday evening for ihe purpose of druwing up an iid dress for presentation to bis Honor the Snoerinteuderit of tbe Province on bis arrival at the Arrow." "Thai Messrs Paterson, Rout, and tiie Chairman act as collectors of tht money required for clearing oil' the debts incurred upon the township by the Committee." Dr. Douglas wis re-elected Chairman of the Committee for the next, term, and .Mr In-rs was appointed to act as Secretary instead of Mr E. T. Pain, resigned. The Secretary was also instructed to make out accounts ol hues due, and fevwmd same to defaulting menibers, Willi request tor paj nient.