ALEXANDRA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 47, 5 October 1870, Page 5

ALEXANDRA.

- -0— (From our own Correspondent.) October 3, 1870. Since my last communication, which was some time since, the weather has been everything that could be desired for mining operations, and the holders of claims on the banks of the Molyneux have nothing ta complain of as regards the length of the season. Just now, there is every prospect of fine weather. Should it continue for another month, Messrs Ritt and Co., at the Half-mile Beach, will from current reports have no cause to complain about the price they paid for the claim. lam informed that the purchase money, together with the cost of opening up the claim, building dams, &c., amounts to little short of £3,500, and all this was expended before they obtained an ounce of gold. It is a universal wish here that the shareholders will be well rewarded for their pluck in entering upon this speculation. This company hold four acres at the Half-mile Beach, on the west bank of the Molyneux, in working which they strip from sixty to seventy feet of mullock into the river with water. This stripping is done in summer, after which they sink to the river level, when they have to erect a wheel and pump to keep the paddock dry. The bottom is reached about eighteen feet below the level of the water. The lead of gold is confined to a narrow gutter, which runs through the claim. It is worked day and night, and employs twenty men, at £3 10s per week each. The adjoining claim is owned by Wood and party, who as yet have not commenced operations, owing to their not having a supply of water to sluice off the top dirt ; but I have no doubt they will have everything in readiness for next season. It was June before this claim was granted ; consequently it was too late for them to procure a supply of water in time to have bottomed a paddock this season. The Hit or Miss Claim, at Frenchman's Point, has done remarkably well this season, and got over a large quantity of ground, having substituted tramways and trucks for wheelbarrows, by which they get through four times the quantity of ground with the same number of hands. There are several other claims on the west bank of the Molyneux doing very well, but it would take up too much space to enumerate them. At Butcher’s Point, Stanbrook and party and Mr James Coleman are in full work, with satisfactory results. The sluicing claims at Conroy’s, Butcher’s, and Blackman’s Gullies are all at work with a full supply of water, and several of them are, to my knowledge, doing remarkably well. I have heard very little grumbling about the short supply of water this season, which has certainly been an exception to the general rule. The dredges are not doing nearly so well this season as last, although they are making good wages. Each year they have a larger quantity of tailings to contend with, which materially affects the working of their claims ; in fact, in a few years in ray opinion dredging will be a thing of the past in this neighborhood. The quantity of tailings sluiced into the river every year is something enormous, and the heavy portion of these tailings, which lodges on the bottom of the river, renders it impossible to reach the hottom with present appliances. The Ovens Water Race is flowing full of water, and the owners arc working a string of boxes on the banks of the Molyneux, near the Newcastle coal pit, with satisfactory results. The Manuherikia Ground Sluicing Co.’s race is also full. Four of the shareholders are working one atrinv of boxes on tho Molyneux, and are doing exceedingly well. The remaining eight shareholders are sinking for the main bottom immediately below the Newcastle coal pit. They have one of the best plants on the river, and have lately laid down a tramway, and procured trucks, to be worked with horse power. They have started to sink about fourteen feet above the present level of the river, and can consequeutly stand a rise of about ten feet without having to knock off work. It is to be hoped that when they reach the bottom, they will 1 be rewarded with plenty of the precious metal. This company have done more prospecting than any other company in the district, and should they succeed in striking gold in this instance, they will not only benefit themselves, but the whole community. The disagreement between the School Committee and Mr Reid, tho schoolmaster, is at an end. Mr Reid has resigned the appointment of Town Clerk, preferring, if he cannot be both, to remain schoolmaster. I should imagine that the Council are a little ashamed of the part they played in this affair of the Town Clerkship. On Thursday last, Mr George Fache, of the Dans tun Times, passed through this place on his way to Clyde, suffering from a severe fall from his horse. In consequence of the pain ho was suffering, the buggy ip which he was driven had to proceed very slowly and carefully. It appears that Mr Fache was returning from Roxburgh on Wednesday last, and had only proceeded a short distance when his horse came heavily to the ground, and rolled over him. Ho received some severe bruises, and was very much scratched about the face. Dr Thomson was immediately sent for, Mr Fache being meanwhile convoyed to Mr John O’Brien’s, at tho Gorge Creek. Dr Thomson arrived there about midnight, and found his patient very much bruised, but, I believe, more frightened than hurt. Tho strangest part of the whole affair Is that the Dunstan Times did not notice tho accident in any way. It will take some time before the

whole of the braises and scratches about his face will lie effaced ; in fact, he is so badly scratched that I scarcely recognised him when he crossed the punt, f trust we shall soon see him again attending to las business.