CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 197, 3 February 1866, Page 2

CROMWELL.

(FKOM OUR OWN COKItESPONDEXT.) / The effects of the late flooding of the Clutha are likely to blight the prospects of mining operations at Quartz Reef to an extent much to be deplored. The Nil Desperandum Company have during the last two years expended a large amount of capital and labor in forming a dam to turn the course of the Clutha. Three montl s' more work would have accomplish e I this great undertaking had not the disastrous floods occurred. Some four months pist the front wall of the barrier was successfully completed aeros3 the river, and since that period the Company have been engaged ia forming a buck support of great width and strength, which work was about half finished when the river rose, and the immei sj pressure of water proved more than the unsupported portion of the front wall cculd be.ir. Tlie stream effected a breach, ; n 1 soon carried before it the labor of many a weary month. The damag.3 donj in o:.e hj >ur wa; immense. The cos"; of the uecesia.'V repairs will amount to at least £I7OO. The subsidence of the river is progressing ■ so slowly that the work of repairing cmnot even be commenced, and the comapny have been necessitated to register the ground and leave the work in statu quo for the pr. smt. The sleeping shareholders have at all times promptly met all calls mule upon them, and are ready and anxious to meet the requirements of carrying out the eiterpr.ss despite the late untoward effects of the flod. In the meantime the working slnre'.iolderj have taken up ground in the locality and hive engaged in sluicing t : ov „nt-;i t.v river subside sufopt~as«ouo -- — ■■- ticiently to commence work at the dam. To have this gigantic undertaking carried out is of vital importance to not only the. shareholders, but also to the district of ; Cromwell generally, as the enterprise will ' afford employment to at le;\st one hunderd hands for years to come.

On the varii us terraces on the i outhern sirle of the Clutha, between Quartz-reef and Cromwell bridge, sluicing is being carried on vigorously and profitably. Robin-son Calwe.ll and others la 4 wek completed a tine race from Firewood Gully, which, from its elevation will command all the high-lving auriferous ground in the district. The water of this creek has been allowed to run to waste until taken up by the party mentioned, although abundance of sluicing {round has been known to exist untouched ever since Qua.itz-nef was first diseovt red to be an auriferous locality. However, it may be stated that each week as it passes on brings proof that the application of water to ; mining property is becoming more exI tensively adopted. M'Lean and party are constructing a race from Five Mile Creek to a distance of six or eight m'les from the terraces which, when completed, will 'not only supply suftieient water for the i use of the party, but will allow of a considerable quantity being let for hire. i Fiedler and party have brought their water-race to bear on a gully below the ground taken up by Robinson and Calwell's party and have dropped on ground far superior to what they ever expected. There arc several other sluicers on a more confined scale in the locality, but who intend making their water supply more effective when the state of their finances will allow. There are in the immediate locality terraces of at least three miles in extent that will pay at the very lowest estimate, from four to six pounds per man, per week, but unfortunately owing to the supply of water in the district being so limited they cannot bo turned to profitable account just now. The Aurora Company and Kittlety & Co.'s party are pushing on with the construction of their respective ra.-es. The operations of these two races I when completed, together with that of the I Rise and Shine Company when in full working order, cannot fail to make Old Bendigo Gully a place of considerable importance. Wilkinson, Rayner and others are constructing an extensive tail-race at th.j Lower Flat. It is being cut through a barren rock bound gorge, the bed of which is much higher than the alluvial sinking above, consequently the drainage is stemmed back, and much payable ground ; ia rendered unworkable. A considerable number of miners have been doing well at a secluded spot in Seven-mile Creek, on the northern side of the main road leading •to Albert-town. The ground is shallow, and pays on an average about £-1 per ; week per man. The gold is coarse, and there is every reason to believe that the auriferous deposits are not confined to this ; gully alone. The neighboring gullies have - not yet been tested to any great extent,

and as the color is obtainable in numerous spot?, 1 unhesitatingly believe that this :;e\v locality will become the scence of extensive operations at no distant date. Coursing down from the adjacent ranges there arc several large creeks, out of which water may bo directed at a small cost to (Jin j/3in?*>>p+ tfrrafAs.