DRYBREAD.

Dunstan Times, Issue 295, 20 December 1867, Page 3

DRYBREAD.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ]S T c one portion of the Dr.nstr.n mining district deserves more attention than this, hot on account of the numerical strength of the population, which including Devonshire, Tinkers, and Drybread docs not exceed 200 but for its vast resources, and the admirable system adopted by the miners in extricating the precious metal from the soil. The geographical position of the locality is well known, it is situate at the base of the Dunstan Mountains between Mount St. Bathans and the township of Clyde ; the workings are Confined entirely to ground sluicing, the motive power—water—being obtained from the numerous water courses running down from the mountains. To particularise any of the water races would be invidious, as tin; whole nre on a par, each having entailed in its construction an equal amount of skill : some are-five and six miles in length, whilst others are twelve and fourteen. The longest races are in the hands of Limited Liability Companies, such as the Drybread Water Pace Company, and the Perseverance Company. The former of these Companies being in the hands of Duncdin capitalists, they confine their attention to renting the water ; the latter, a local company, possessing claims of their own, only rent water, when it is plentiful, such as at the present time. From the nature of the ground that is worked, a great amount of labor is necessitated before a claim is regularly opened, in fact before any returns are obtained, so therefore on that account it is only a field suitable to those who have the wherewithall to stand out for a few months. In some instances the tail races extend for miles, others a much shorter distance, but in every what with the cutting of head and tail races, (i vast amount, both of time and money is necessarily expended before any return can be expected. Of the many companies under the Limited Liability Act tlfct are in 'Oiago, the Drybread Water Pace Company is about the most-remunera-tive to the shareholders, in fact up to the •present time, its dividends have been the most satisfactory, this fact alone is significant of the general prosperity of the district. During the past week a party of mi" ncrs have applied to the Warden for per mission to construct a sludge channel or tail race in Drybread Gulley. The object of the party in constructing this work, which will be about five miles in length, is to facilitate the miners in working the hills on either side of the gulley, the only remuneration expected in return for their labor is the gold that will be saved from the tailings by their'being confined to one long narrow channel. The Paces that will come off here during the Christmas holidays (1 refer your readers to the advertised Programme) are expected to be first class,' a number of well known horses are already spoken of as likely to contest for the stakes. I am however not in a position to speak as to favorites. It is to be hoped the Weather will bo fine, as the subscribers to the race fund for their liberality richly deserve to have good sport. The race course, which without a doubt is the best in Orago, is in first class condition, and when the contemplated im-

provements in the running ground are finished, nothing better could be desired. The district has been lately visited with almost incessant rains, rendering out door employment far from pleasant, and it is feared the ultimate effect will not be beneficial, as it lias almost denuded the ranges of snow, which gradually melting during the summer months, supplies the Water ■paces. A phenomena of an unusual character visited Black's No. 1 on Friday last sth inst. The rain duringthe day had been incessant, in the afternoon a rumbling sound was heard coming down the range, the attention of several was drawn to the neighbourhood, when it was observed that a body of water about six feet high was tearing recklessly down one Gulley, carrying all before it; as the water was confined to one small gulley, yet others "being near, it is imagined that the bursting of a waterspout was the cause of the flood, some gardens at the foot of the gulley was destroyed no other damage being done. The upcountry coach from Dunediu was unable to cross the Mahuherikia, the passengers being ompelled to spend the whole of one night at Beck's White Horse Hotel. Business throughout'the district is dull, tut this is attributed to the filet of the mi-ners-'amb other residents preparing for the Christmas holidays, when it is expected money will be more plentiful, another cause, is the reduction of six pence per oz. in the price of gold, the miners keeping their gold in the hopes that the price will bo raised ; whoever may be the cause of this reduction, whether it is the government or the banks, is not known, but imprecations both loud and deep from every quarter are heaped upon the twain.