THE ARROW.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 9 July 1864, Page 3

THE ARROW.

(From the Correspondent of the Wakatip Mail.) The reports which have been lately current as to some heavy yields of gold being obtained on the Arrow, from claims^ which were previously considered as only paying indifferently well, prove to be fully authenticated, The quantity of gold lately obtained from several claims has much i exceeded the usual average, and the opinon often I expressed by Arrow miners that the treasures of I the river are by no means yet exhausted, has been | indisputably proved to be correct. The heavy frosts now prevailing prove a hindrance to work in some iustances, but generally speaking a fair amount of activity prevails iv all mining undertakings. In some eases, where the frost lias prevented all hands in parties from following their usual mining avocations, they bave filled up tlieir spare timo in prospecting various terraces and points previously untouched by pick and shovel, and levels have beer? taken in readiness for bringing a supply of water for sluicing operations in tlie coming" spring. I have bear I spots described as indicating beds of wash-dirt lifty and one hundred feet in depth, only awaiting the cutting of waterraces to become most valuable property. Should this prove correct, and of which there is little doubt, we may yet see brisk and stirring times on the river. At the Eight and Twelve Mile diggings all interests in water-rights arc jealously guarded, and not a singlo claim exists in wliicli a share could be purchased, except at a tolerably high figure. An accident occured at the Eight Mile a few days since, by which a miner named James Day was seriously injured. Whilst working with his mate under a facing in their claim, a quantity of earth slipped suddenly from the top without the slightest warning, upwards of a ton weight of which fell on the unlucky man, crushing his leg and foot in a fearful manner — two or three of the party only narrowly escaping a similar mishap. He was brought into the township by his mates, and, under the care of Dr. Douglas, is now favorably progressing towards recovery. • On the Kawarau River, some distance below the Twelve Mile store, on the Dunstan-roacl, a very narrow escape occurred last week to Mr. Douglas, the manager to Mr. Hill — at present superintending the erection of the line of telegraph posts from Dunedin. In crossing the river in a boat with two men, the craft became unmanageable from the strength ofthe current, and was dashed to pieces against a projecting rock, and it was only by a severe struggle that the party were providentially enabled to gain the shore again uninjured, except from the effects of their sudden ducking. From the Cardrona district, at rare intervals, solitary travellers come in who report the track there as being almost impassable. The population on the Creek is said to be increasing, and in several claims water-wheels are being erected, and mining matters generally are said to bo improving. Provisions have, as a matter of course, increased in price there, ancl the stocks held by the storekeepers are barely sufficient to meet their requirements. Trade oh the Arrow is still quiet, and thero seems very little chance of its improving during this present season. Meanwhile, as a favorable sio-n of the times, I may notice that a new hotel is being erected adjoining the premises lately occupied by Mr. Max Mendershausen ; the fiddle and tho bow is in constant requisition in many of our hostelries, and, considering that the township population can now be reckoned by scores only instead of hundreds, a considerable amount of loose cash is in circulation. ; The improvement to the main street is now completed, and Mr. Butel.the contractor, is fairly entitled to the thanks of the inhabitants for carrying out his contract faithfully and to the letter. The subscribers to the fund may all congratulate themselves on having received full value for their money. The miners at work on the flat may be assumed to have struck a patch lately, as they seem to have declined to accept the money collected some time since to assist them in erecting an additional water-wheel to lessen their labors — the money, after laying idle for two months awaiting its disposal, having been lately returned to the subscribers. A communication has been received here from Sergeant Lynch, intimating that the Government, and also his immediate superiors, have completely exonerated him from all blame in the case of M'Tavish v. Lynch. To the worthy sergeant's friends and admirers this will doubtless prove satisfactory news ; but, as a general rule, all interest in the affair has long since died out here. One of our earliest Arrow residents has turned up on the northern goldfield. I append the following from the Havelock. Mail of the 15th inst. — " Canvas Town : Mr., Gusta-vus Aymer has opened the Golden Age Hotel, a spacious and commodious establishment, strongly indicative of comfort and good cheer." .. Gus. of the Golden Age, Fox's, wilibe known to nearly all your readers. Par paranthese the friends of Mr. William Fox aro actively employed in obtaining signatures to a petition for a mitigation ofhis sentence, but what ultimate success -mil attend their efforts has yet to be determined.