MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 212, 19 May 1866, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] Black's No. 3.—The Rough and Ready Company have struck upon first-rate washdirt at the south end of the deep lead. Their average prospect is ten grains to the dish, depth sunk through'eighty feet, but they heve not reached the bottom yet. This is the sixth shaft they have sunk to an average depth 'of ninety feet, at a cost of 21. per foot, making a total expenditure in labor and material on the six shafts of 1,080/., a rather large sum to be expended by a few working miners. The party are in good spirits, and great credit is due to them for their perseverance under very ' tryiug circumstances. The shaft they are at present employed in is partitioned in the middle, and the dirt and water are lifted by means of a whip drawn by a horse; but they intend erecting a whim immediately, when they will be able to lift twice the amount with the same power. The other claims here are looking very dull, and want of water is the cry of the diggers. The Ida Burn Water-race is progressing very well at present, but it will be a long time before it reaches its final termination, the ground through which it has to pass being very rough and rock-bound, At Black's No. 1 the diggings on the flat are yielding well, and fresh claims are being taken up daily. Walsh and party's race will be at work very shortly, the material for the necessary fluming having at length arrived. The Loder Creek race is now cut to the Manuherikia river, and the shareholders hope to haveitinfull working order in about six weeks from this' time. The never-failing supply of water from which this race is fed causes it to be looked upon as the best race on Black's diggings. The township is increasing in dimensions; the business men already established are extending their premises and preparing for a golden future. The Golden Gate Company have made considerable alterations in their race. Within the last few weeks they have erected one hundred and twenty yards of fluming at Maori-skull Gully, thereby raising their race so as to command a much larger area of auriferous ground than ever. The value of the water at present let or in use by the company amounts to a trifle over 90/. per week. All the sluicing claims at this place are turning out handsomely, the ground possessing peculiar advantages for this description of working.

Great complaints are made respecting i the inconvenience and loss the miners are put to through the ridiculous division of the mining districts. The country south of the Lauder Creek should properly be- ■ long to the Dunstan district, Clyde being , much nearer than St. Bathan's and more . easily accessible.