ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 381, 6 August 1869, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

(from a correspondent.) Thinking your numerous readers might he willing to receive a few jottings from an eye witness as to what is doing in this portion of the district,

I determined to visit the different claims in the immediate vicinty in order to judge for myself, from my personal knowledge of many connected with the various workings I felt confident ray gleanings woull bo reliable, and that I should state nothing that would tend to mislead, as nothing leads in my opinion to such general mistrust amongst a mining community as partial or highly colored or imaginary statements, nothing should be written but the words of truth and soberness ; most of us at different stages of our mining career can look back to times when we have been influenced by such reports and have grasped at the shadow, thereby lostthe substance however not to moralize on this common place subject I will proceed to detail what came under my during my constitutional trot ararogst the various claims I visited.

Although I found much to regret, inasmuch as several claims 1 had expected great things from had not proved sufficiently remunerative; yet, on the whole I think I must report affairs connected with the mining interest to he in a healthy condition, and so they should bo. More is paid for the necessaries of life, consecpiently more for labor than in any other paid of the province. While on this subject I will give a hint to the storekeepers and others co-operative establishments, combining every branch of trade, have been found to answer the purpose intended in other parts of the world, why not at Alexandra ? I am not one of that class who would advocate the upsetting of Vested interests and rights, and effecting a coin plcte revolution in the state of affairs ; but, like Mrs. Partington, “ I has my feelings,” and when [ experience the weight of a heel on my neck I must speak, if I can do nothing else. The fact is, a clog is put upon mining industry, to the great detriment of all. By the existing rates foreign capital is prohibited from coming into the district, and the capital at home is kept locked up, instead of being invested in one or other of the mining enterprises that are awaiting only' for cheap times.

I afraid I am diverging from the path of a correspondent, so, not to ramble any fur her from my first intention, I will now proceed to give an account of my late wanderings. Starting from the township, I proceeded by Leslie’s punt for Butcher’s Point, which for the past three months has been a scene of busy activity, passing by a goodly number of Chinese encampments, whose industrious owners' were busily employed in cradling the river deposits. On my arrival at Butcher’s Point, 1 found the claim belonging to Mr. J Coleman in full working order, and some sixteen men engaged. Although this gentleman has not the assistance of a water-race for the working of his claim, by the ingenious application of a fan or current wheel, the claim is drained, and a sufficient amount if water raised for the purpose of supplying a cradle, constructed on a new principle, which seems particularly adapted for passi g through large quantities of wash dirt. From what I learned of the prospects of the claim, should the weather still continue favorable, I have no doubt biit its owner will be amply i awarded for the labor and expense that has been invested.

Tu the adjoining claim, belonging to Anderson, Stanhrook, and W ickstran, I was sorry to find all hands engaged in the withdrawal of their pump, wheel, &c. This party have been engaged for the past two years and a half in stripping some of the heaviest ground in the district, employing a great number of hands. For the last ton weeks no less than thirty men have been constantly employed, the expenditure for the present season amounting to no less a sum than 1,100/, sterling, an amount, I was sorry to hear, although actually produced from the one paddock, leaves the hardworking shareholders no profitfor their present labor or past expenditure. I was also informed that it was the intention of the company, during the remaining portion of the winter, nut to desert the point, hut to work the water on ground within a short distance of the claim now abandoned by them.

Crossing by the boat at tlie Imperial Flaming, after a short walk I came to the Half-mile Beach, the greater part of which is held by Wood and party, the terrace, hack from the beach* having been successfully prospected by this party. From the splendid prospects obtained by the Company, as yet no bottom having been struck, it is impossible to form a proper of the real worth of this Bounder.” From this I proceeded to the far-famed Frenchman’s Beach, but as so much has been written in your columns at different times, of the richness of this Point, I need not but say that the two claims now at work, (both Kett and Co.’s and the Hit or Miss Co.) never looked better, and I have every reason to believe and to endorse the opinion of the shareholders that these claims will be highly productive for several seasons yet to come. Having heard that good gold had been struck in the main bot - tom at Poverty Beach, I proceeded thither to inspect the workings, and found that Roberts and party had obtained good payable gold on a pipe clay bottom running into the flat j great results are anticipated, and from its appearance I am confident tho party are in possession of a [very va^

luable claim. Crossing again to the opposite bank, I found both the Ovens Company and Brown’s party busily sluicing the banks, and from what I could ascertain with good average success, both these Companies having an abundance of water at command. Ascertaining from an old mining acquaintance that he had struck good prospects on the flat between the Balmoral hotel and Low’s station I determined next morning to judge for myself as to the probability of this taming out to my friends expectations and as several other’s had taken up ground I felt anxious to hear the results. Arriving at the Balmoral hotel 1 proceeded to the scene of the rush I found my friend and went with him to the workings, the prospects are great, but when the ground is 'opened will evidently give good wages, three parties on the ground having procured similar results, leaves no doubt but that the flat will prove of good value to the district, and I hope, before the end of the coining week, the numerous parties now working will, on testing the ground, prove this to be the case, and so open up a continuous run as far as Low’s homestead.