THE ARROW.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 47, 24 February 1864, Page 3

THE ARROW.

(From the correspondent of the Wakatip Mail.) 19th February. The recent heavy floods on the River Arrow caused an almost total suspension of work for some days ; the paddocks in nearly every claim having been swamped, weels put out of gear, and dams and tail-races in many instances much injured. The flood rose to its greatest height about 2 o'clock Sunday morning, and tho water at that time nearly reached the level of the stores and huts on the Big Beach. Above the Falls, the flood has also been severely felt, and the result of many months labor has been almost obliterated. The Perseverance Company had sunk theh* first padI dock to witliin three feet of the bottom, but now have two or three weeks additional work to repair damages to race, and get in working order again. The works of the Alliance and | the Republican Companies have also suffered much damage, and operations on the river . generaUy have been seriously retarded. Oue or two parties have given up their claims in disgust, but the great majority of the miners havo again set in steadfastly to work, anxious to avail themselves of the glorious weather which has foUowcd the storm. The river claims on the Twelve-mile and Eight-mile diggings are reported to be injured by the floods, but uot to the extent at first anticipated. At Bracken's, tho disastrous effects of the flood have been very slightly felt, and mining affairs in that district are in a generaUy prosperous condition. The amount of gold brought in from there does not by any means represent the actual yield of that locality, most of the miners having long since tacitly agreed to seU only enough to cover their bare working . expenses. I kuow also that the gold they do seU is oftentimes carefuUy sifted, and tlie inferior portidns only disposed of, the best gold being retained for a better market. On the Cardrona the population is still mii creasing daily by arrivals from the Dunstan and* lower diggings. The route foUowed by traveUers from that to the Kawarau. is a track brough the ranges, which saves a distance or several miles. During the late stormy weather the whole of these ranges and adjoining countiy was enveloped in a dense fog, making it extremely difficult to -travel ; three men who were on theh' way to the Cardrona from the Kawarau lost themselves for three days, and in theh wanderings found fastened to a tuft of grass a written paper bearing these words :— "February, 9, .1864. James Long, lost between the Cardrona and Clutha — alive." The paper was forwarded by the men to the police authorities at the Kawarau. A miner named John Hamilton, who formerly kept the "Victoria Restaxu'ant, Dunstan, was .drowned" on the 4th February lasi;,;.by accidentally falling from' the bank of the . river Kawarau, near its junction with the Clutha. His body was recovered on Sunday last, and to the credit of the Kawarau people they placed the corpse in an open stable amongst some horses, there to await ah' inquest. The funeral of the late Mr. ''Colyille; took place on Sunday last at the Arrow cemetery, and was attended by, .nearly ' eighty persons, aU anxioxis to testify their respect for the unfortunate man. Before, the removal' of the corpse from'his late' residence, Yprayer^' were read by Mr. nßurrbwes ;• and at the>.graye the Church of England- "burial' service was iead by C:;C::Schim,dilsqYyy z-yy-Sr zrAyAyA' An accident. happened on; Wednesday last .to Mr: ' O'Fee, landlord of the Digger's Rest Hotel, whilst" driving a spring-cart, occupied by -himself and' two ' friends, to wai-dsFrankton, the.>veMcle*byy'Bbme^ Mr. Q'Fee.'.s leg .became fractured ; ths other parties' escaped "uninjured.