THE ARROW.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 16 August 1864, Page 3

THE ARROW.

(Fro)n the Wakatip Mail, August 8.) The heavy storm whicli occurred on Thursday night last caused much damage to the river claims in the district. Tlie Arrow rose rapidly some five or six feet, completely swamping, with two or three fortunate exceptions, all the. river claims. In many instances, wheels, sluice-boxes, timber, and tools were swept entirely away, or buried in tlie sand ; and an almost entire suspension of work has arisen in consequence. At daybreak, on Friday, the lowor beaches of the Township Flat were strewn with waifs aud strays of drift wood, and broken timber, much of whicli found its way to the wood heaps of thrifty housekeepers. The great dam at the Gorge stood the force of the water without injury, but the claims on the flat were flooded by the rising of tlie Bush Creek. Shepherd aud Co.'s wheel — the Scottish Chicf — is completely imbedded in sand, and the new tailrace of the Hit-or-Miss Company is filled up. The mischief done is in fact so great, that it is not probable either party will attempt to repair damages. The foot-bridge at the crossing, on the Dunstan track, was swept away, and all traffic suspended for many.hours. On the Kawarau River, all labor has been stayed for the present, and the 200 and odd new , arrivals, who had pitched their tents on its banks during the last few days, in anticipation of taking up beacli claims at low water level, finding their prospects blighted for the winter, have nearly all left again, some retracing their steps to the Arrow and Cardrona, where the eflects of the . flood have been less disastrous. Tliis creek rose rapidly, and in one or two claims the paddocks were flooded before the owners had time to remove their tools ; some of the wheels were also stopped, but beyond a temporary delay of time no great loss lias been sustained. Most of the claim! loldevs on the Cardrona are now engaged in deep sinking, finding payablo ground at twenty-five or thirty feet from the surface, and the workings are assuming a very permanent character. Various plots of ground are being marked off and fenced in for garden allotments, for cultivation in tho coming spring, and a fixed population is quietly- settling down in that remote locality. At the Twelve-Mile, and on all the terrace workings up the river, the late storm has proved of much benefit to the claimholders, bringing an abundant supply of water, and setting all hands actively at work again — a welcome change to many, after their compulsory spell, arising from tha previous long continuing frosty weather. With the exception of a chain or so, the new track to the Twelve-Mile is now completed for traflic, and travellers to and from this township no longer find the journey a task of danger ancl difficulty. The Arrow Quart?: Mining and Crushing Association have decided on revising and amending their late prospectus for tlie formation of a company, and the scheme will now be offered to tlie puolic on much more liberal terms than previously. The prospectors of tlie reef have considerably modified their claim for compensation, and have decided with the provisional committee that £850 only, instead of £2.250, shall be claimed as representing the value of the entire present vested interest iii the reef, aud the whole of the shares will be thrown into the market. With these terms the company will, probably, be now successfully floated, the somewhat extravagant conditions of the prospectus having alone prevented many shares being already taken.