BLACK'S DIGGINGS

Dunstan Times, Issue 238, 16 November 1866, Page 3

BLACK'S DIGGINGS

(FROM OUR A CORRESPONDENT.)

In mining matters things have been very quiet since my last, nothing new having been opened, although a good many parties are out prospecting. The Hit or Miss claim had a very fair dividend, but the amount has not transpired. There has been no other washing 3 up of much account this week, most of, the parties being occupied in stripping. Although mining las been dull, the township is improving very aiuch, showing that some one has faith in the place. Mr Samson, from the Manuherikia, is erecting a large drapery eastern end of the township ; and Mr is building a new butcher's shop next faJpl ■ premises. The Government are also building for the especial accommodation of thit portion of the community who are unable to distinguish the relations between ' mcum' anil 'teum,' or whose craniums are nqt sufficiently strong to resist the action of the sun, succumbing to which influence they'are liable to ..disturb the peace of Her Britannic Majesty's faithful subjects, unless provided for in this way.. A most dastardly robbery was committed on the premises of Messrs Pitches, on Monday night last. It appears that on the night in question, Messrs Pitches went to bed about ten o'clock, and left two men playing on the billiard table, 'and Wo men locking oa, they left about four j

o'clock, and between that time and two o'clock a.m., eight billiard balls were missed from the box in which they were kept. Dp to this time no clue whatever has been obtained of the thieves Whereabouts. A man known as ' Scotch Jock,' was arrested on Wednesday evening, on the charge of committing a rape on a woman named Hogg. He has been admitted to bail in two sureties of LIOO each,' and himself in a like sum. The case will be heard on Saturday. I have to chronicle this week the departure of two of the oldest residents on Black's, Captain Tonbridge, and Mr George Muns, who left on Monday weekjlast, for .the old country ; their absence will cause a blank whicli" will ta*ke a long time to fill up. The price of meat having been raised Id per pound, in consequence of Mr Low having imposed an extra charge upon sheep, it has been determined to hold a public meeting for the purpose of memorialising the Government j to declare the place a township. I

'"Tatf-iFSoN’s Diggings— Dr^read. The proprietors of the water-races at this place may be justly proud of their property, and the miners of the district may safely depend on being supplied with abundance of payable ground for years to come. The Perseverance WaterEace Company have just completed four branches off their main race, to sluice ground proved to be payable in the direction of Mr Cpgel’s Station, and the Drybread Water-Race Company have also constructed branches out of their main conduit, towards ground bordering on the main road to Dunedin. Drybread will sonn.give employment to treble the’number of miners it did in its palmiest days. The water-races in the district are all commanding a large extent of country, and the owners of them have some of the best paying property on the Otago goldfields. Branch and party, owners of the Mountain Water-Race, had a “glorious” washing up last week, and their labors have been rewarded beyond the anticipations of the most sanguine of the shareholders. SpGar-Pot Gully. Thiajudly is situated within a mile of Mr GlassfjßHHome Station, and was first opened about past, The bed of it w r as only owing to a want of water, but Heathertone and party brought a powerful water-race to it some three months ago, and not only the old ground has paid handsomely for sluicers, but the maiden-ground bordering the gully has biSen proved of a very rich nature. The company are at present sluicing ground never supposed to be auriferous until within the last'fortnight, and the evidences of its payable quality are highly gratifying, and by exercising ordinary economy, the party may depend upon making a reasonable pile without leaving the locality to try elsewhere. Norman’s party who are at work a quarter of a mile above that of Heatherstohe’s, are preparing, to wash up, and they anticipated a splendid yield. Tinker's Gully. The far-famed Holmes party are also about washing up, and the gold-buyers may be seen every tiMek perambulating the locality on the alert for the gold. About three months ago the same party washed close on. 500 ozs., and the next washing is expected to be a very large one, although not equal to the last. When this w'ashing-up will have been completed, the company intend constructing a most expensive tailrace so as to work deeper ground than any as yet worked in the gully, but the undertaking is a safe one, and many 500 ox. washings up may be reasonably expected.