ALEXANDRA.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 302, 25 August 1875, Page 6

ALEXANDRA.

[from our own correspondent.] August 20, 1875. Spring weather has already set in, and those Working river-beach claims consider their days numbered so far as working their claims are concerned for this season. But it will have a contrary effect on the water-race owners, although it has been an exceptional season for them, scarcely losing a week's time the' whole winter. The Manuherikia Company's water is working two claims, one near Insley's, the other close to the Manuherikia Brewery, with favorable results. There are also two claims being worked with the Corporation water race, one by Allan and Co., on the banks of the Manuherikia River, the other by the old Ovens Company,' at the Newcastle coalpit on the banks of the Molyneux ; and if rumors are true, both are doing very well. There are a great number of Chinese working on the Manuherikia and Manorburn Flats. The claims are worked on the paddock system, and arc kept dry by a Californian pump, the motive power being water which is lifted from the Manuherikia river. About ten years since, there was a scheme set on foot to construct a drainage channel through these two flats, but it fell through for want of energv, although the Government offered to subsidise the works to the amount of £4OO. At Butcher's Point not a single paddock has been taken off this sea.son, but for what reason is a mystery to me. There are two first-class claims at this Point, but one great drawback to their being worked is the want of water to drive their wheels when the river is low enough for them to work. I would suggest to the owners of those claims the advisability of erecting a current-wheel for the purpose of keeping their paddocks clear of water. As a rule, when the river is low enough for them to work, there is but little water in their race, as it takes its rise out of a very mountainous country. Noble, Paget, and Co. have set in to work the old Frenchman's claim, and have succeeded in taking off a paddock, in which they found a block of sound ground, which paid them handsomely, and are in hopes of coming across several others, it being their intention to rework the whole of this claim while the river is low enough, and while not to work the back ground, which will pay small wages now that they have nothing to pay for water. They lately purcl rased one of Oliver's water-rights from Conroy's and Blackmail's; The other claims on this side of the river are all in work, and I hear no complaints as to results. The claims in Convoy's and Butcher's gullies are also in full work. Having heard much of the extent of the works in Mr Michael Rett's claim, Golden Gully, I paid it a personal visit the other day. This claim is situated about two miles from Alexandra, on the west side of the Molyncux River, and has been in work for something like three years. The workings first commenced in a small gully over the river, and by working back it proved to be a defined lead of gold about 150 feet wide, with the bed-rock rising on either side. Some time since, it being found expensive ■-work to construct an open tail-race through the solid rock, it was determined to begin on a low level, and put in a tunnel. This undertaking cost close upon £IOOO in cash, being constructed by hired labor. It is a little over 300 feet ,in length. Mr Kott informs me that the tunnel has repaid its own cost, and that he has sufficient fall to work for the next twenty years, the time he computes it will take to work out the claim. The present face is 55 feet, with gold from top to bottom. The whole of this face ol dirt is blown away by water through a hose and pipe, and a pick is very seldom used in the claim. Mr Ivett owns a water-race from Butcher's gully, (in fact, owns all the water from Butcher's gully,) and about half-a-mile from his claim lias constructed a reservoir, which is about a mile in circumference, and holds six days' supply of water sufficient to fully carry on operations. Altogether I believe the works in connection with this claim are the most extensive of a mining class in Otago. Everything appears to be in perfect order, and the claim is well worth a visit from anyone having the interest of goldmining at heart. On the 11th inst., we enjoyed a real intellectual treat in the shape of a lecture delivered by Dr Allan, of the Dunstan District Hospital. The hall was certainly not so well

filled as tho occasion warranted. The proceeds went to the benefit of the Library fund. Thore was a fair sprinkling of visitors from Clyde, and no doubt many were agreeably surprised to find the Doctor handle his subject in such a masterly way. Long may Natural Science be a benefit to mankind, and long may the worthy Doctor be spared to enlarge on it!