The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1869.

Dunstan Times, Issue 390, 8 October 1869, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1869.

Beneatli the Rule of Men entirely j cst the pen is mightier than theswoiiD

Though last in the held, the Dunstan District promises not to be least in the important industry of quartzmining. It appears now to be a pretty well ascertained fact that the Garrick, Mount Pisa, and Dunstan Ranges abound in gold-bearing reefs. The knowledge of their existence, however, is not a tiling of to-day, as reefs at Bendigo G'dly a d the Upper Nevis were discovered as early as 1863. In ' epteiuber of that year specimens, in which the presence of the precious metal was plainly distinguishable, were brought into Clyde from both places j but the public mind was too much occupied with alluvial mining in those days to pay much attention to quartz mining, and the excessive cost of provisions and mining too’s placed prosbeyond the means of those

engaged in the ordinary pursuits of mining, while any span: capital that existed was invested in the construction, of water races, most of the large undertakings having been commenced about that tune. In our opinion it must v be a._source of congratulation that quarz-mining has but. so recently developed itself. We are thus enabled to profit by the experiences of our neighbors. Their reverses are our gains, and, although individual losses may have been sustained ! y early pioneers, it is satisfactory to know that the community at large will reap the advantage in the end. This, unfortunately, seems to ho the case with most new enterprises, and quartzmining lias ever proved hy no means an exception Wo may fully calculate that, from this time, the prosperity of this district is permanently esbi-

1 dished. The Cromwell Quartz-Mil Company’s claim, at Bendigo Gully,

has, up to this time, produced more geld than any similar undertaking in Otago; and, when we take into nc--1 count the depth to which they have i penetrated and the steady yield of the stone, there is nothing to fear regarding the continuance of the reef. The claim of the Aurora Company looks equally as promising, and when their machinery is ready for crushing the increased yield of go’d from the Dunstan district will satisfactorily demonstrate what we have often urged—that it is the richest gold-producing district in Otago. From the Nevis quartz-mining intelligence is most encouraging. It is believed that Messrs. Sninham and M‘Morrnn have made important and valuable discoveries. Specimens which have been shown to us as coming from this reef give every promise of success, while miners who have been for some time resident at the Nevis inform us that the Remarkables or Fleeter Mountains will be found to contain numerous gold-bear-ing reefs, lumps of quartz, studded with gold, having been repeat* dly picked-up in the gullies and watercourses of those mountains. The Cairn Muir Range will also be found to contain auriferous quartz. fonio trials lately male give ample evidence of this, and the same has been proved to exist in that of Mount Pisa. Besides gold, the ranges in this neighborhood are rich in other metals. Cinnabar has been found at Campbell s Gully, lead and silver at the head of the Fraser River and Bannockburn, copper at Mount Pisa and the Leaning Rock, and plumbago and antimony in the ranges between Adams’s Gully and the Nevis In addition to these minerals beds of coal are very generally distributed throughout the same localities, and, where that is not obtainable, there is plenty of water-power for driving machinery. Time will no doubt develop the existence of these metals in quantities sufficiently largo to make the working of them highly remunerative,

and thus add largely to the productive industry of the district. We cannot leave this subject without again im■pressing upon our readers the necessity of joint action in the matter upon the Government how desirable it is that something practical should be done in the Way of making plantations of trees. As our mining operations become extended the demand for timber will bo cnofmously increased, and, unless this demand can be satisfied at a reasonable rate, many undertakings, from this Cause alone, Will be brought to a stand-still. It would bo a pity that the progress of the country should be delayed for the want of so indispcnsible a material as timber, and for which, for mining purposes, no substitute can be found.

The election of Mr. W. 11. IV Let ter as Mayor of Crotmveil is notified in the Is ow Zealand Gazette of t’.ie 22nd ult

A proclamation appears iu the last, issue of the Provincial Gazette, dated Die 1 till nit., to tlie effect that a block of two thousand live hundred acres, being portion of Pam No 215, held I> V Mr. W. J. Clink, hut now known ns Block 11., Bcnger Survey District, Ims been taken hy the Provincial Government, in accordance with the terms of the Goldfields Act.

The stock assessments payable by squatters, under the 72nd clause of the Otago Waste l ands Act, 1860, on the Ist October of each year, were yesterday paid into the Treasury with one or two exceptions only. They amounted, we believe, to the handsome sum of 57,810/., and the exceptions when paid, will increase the total to upwards of 58,100/. This is 6,0007. in excess of (he sum which those assessments produced hist year. Approximately, the number of cattle and horses returned last month as running on Crown lands was 10.200 «s against 10,890 in 1863, and the number of sheep, 1.880,000 m 1809, iu lieu of 1,071, 500 iu 1868.

The accounts from the Cromwell Cos Quartz Claim, (Garrett, Goodger ami party), Bendigo Reef, continue as heretofore, the actual yield for the past week has not transpired, but we hear it to bo on the aveage. Some half a dozen parties have been formed at Clyde and Alexandra, during the last few days, all of whom have taken tip claims on the course of the reef, and commenced prospecting operations ; all are sanguine of success, but time will prove, whether the reef extends for any great distance ; a great impetus is given to business in the district, consequent on the addition to the mining population. The system adopted, half wages, by these Companies, was found to work well in Victoria and elsewhere, and doubtless, will do so here ; the nuJus operandi. is as follows, in the first instance the daim is marked out and regularly protected, after which two or more as necessity requires, are selected by each party to work and prospect, receiving la'll wages, or 21. per week each, the balance of the party paying an equal amount to cover this sum, the working expenses to be equally divided, and when the reef or gold is struck each shareholder employs a representative.

Quartz-reefs appear to abound in almost all parts of New Zealand. From our exchanges we learn that a reef has been discovered in the Kail ake Ranges, in New Plymouth. The stone has been tested by an experienced assayer, and found to yield at the rate of two ounces one penny weight M the ton. The specimens were of a very likely-looking character, and contained a large quantity of sulphur. We also learn that Captain M'Phersou, who has been for some time prospecting in the province of We'liiiglon, has at length discovered auriferous quartz in the Kaimanawa Ranges, at the head of the Wanganui river. Specimens have been analysed, and the result was hiehly satisfactory. In some of the stone the gold was crystaline, similar <o rite Thames gold. It is also mentioned that the reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield lias been claimed by Captain M‘Pher-

We see by the Wakalip Mail that recently Messrs. Hobertson ami Co. have sown with blue gum seeds a tenacre paddock near Hayes Falls, inter spcrsed with which are about seven hundred one and two year old gum and a number of Scotch fir trees. In the same commendable spirit, Mr. Goldstono, of Arrowtown, and Mr. 11. -J. Cope, Lake Hayes, have planted extensive nurseries of fruit trees, it would not be advisable that every land owner should go extensively into these lines, but why do Settlers not follow them on a small scale and in a different manner, and then the face of nature in the district so admirably adapted for cultivation would wear a cheerful garb even in winter. In no part of the Wakatip is one more struck with the amount <f apathy displayed in this respect than on the Arrow and Frankton Flats. It' the farmers are unwilling to sot aside small blocks of their holdings for the purpose, why do they not plant fruit or to rest trees along tbrtr boundary ftnces? This would really be making tbe most of the land, while in a very few years they would lie reaping a handsome return for the sma'l outlay originally incurred. It is positively astonishing that our community should display such culpable apathv, when the sacrifice required to remedy the the evil may be set down at nothing. It is a shame that we should have to cry out continually against the scarcity and dearness of fiuit, when such a simple remedy is at our finger’s ends We understand a suggestion was made to Mr. Gillies when here that ten acres out nf every hundred should be given to holders of future agricultural leases provided the lessee planted such ten acres with for sttrees, and cultivated the same This plan might lie a good one, but the country would wear a

more picturesqe appearance and more of the land brought into m 3 could the farmers only be made alive to the advantages as well as pleasures likely to accrue from some such a system as that pointed out to us. 'J he Coal Creek (Tcviof) annual race meeting is announced for the 28;h and 29■ hj of October inst, and, to judge from the published programme, two days’ good sport may be fully expected. From private sources, Vediear that reefs under the lUinstaii range are being prospected, and that in one instance in particular tlic stone looks well.

Wo are requested to draw tho special attention of miners and others in the neighbourhood of Dry bread to the sale by auction of books, Ac , on Saturday the 16th instant at M'Cnl lough’s Hotel, Dry bread. The weather during the past few days has been excessively warm : on several afternoons the thermometer, seventy in the shade. Mr W. Smitham, one of the shareholders in the quartz reef at the Upper Nevis has, we believe been in communication with the owners of a crushing plant at Skippers for the purchase of the same ; we have not heard whether the purchase is completed. The further the prospecting of this reel is prosecuted, the stone shows richer iu the precious metal, and is thicker as it deepens. The “ Saxby Day.” about which wc have lato’y heard and read so much, passed without any particular disturbance of the cements, so far as New Zealand is concerned. In fact, we have enjoyed most delightful weather, though rain would he gladly welcomed. What has occur-cd in other parts of the world we are, unable to say, but trust that we slia’l not have to chronicle any serious disasters. Mr. Macandrew met his constituents at Iklclutha and gave a very able and apparently satisfactory account of his stewardship during the late session of the Assembly, a resolution of thanks being carried unanimously Tuapolca papers say, that the price of oats lias been steadily rising for some time, and that now they raav be quoted at from 3s 9d to 4s a bushel with an upward tendency. To day, Mr. George Facile will sell by Auction at Ida Valiev, a loc of tores, about Twenty head of Cattle, horses, saddles, harnc-s, Si. There are a good few miners at work on the terrace at the back of tho Township of Clyde ; from the course, tho gold is being worked, it evidently will bo traced into Cooper’s or Dairy Gully, where, if payable gold exists there is reem for a good sized m hj.

On Wednesday alternoon last, a little girl, about two years old, the daughter of Mr James Holt, of Clyde hud a narrow escape from drowning, from falling into a cask of water; the poor little thing was fortunately discovered shortly after • immersion ; the usual remedies being applied, life was restored. The little one is again running abortt, apparently none the Worse for its ducking. The Tuapeha Press, we observe, is defunct, tlio copywright, ic., haying been acquired by the propi ietors of the Tuapeha Times. This is no more than might reasonably have been anticipated. as it is quite evident to all the least acquainted with newspap^^

matters that the district could not possibly support two local journals. A West Coast Contemporary says : —“ A regular, although secret trade, has sprung up in Auckland for the sale of quartz specimens for the purpose of ‘ salting’ newly discovered reefs.”

By reference to our advertising columns, it will be seen the Mount Ida Annual Race Meeting will be held on tbe 13th and 1-ltb January, 1870. Wo are given to understand tbe stakes to be run for wi 1 be considerably in ad vance of any previous meeting.

The attention of breeders and farmers is especially drawn to the sale of horses from the Wanaka Sta.ion advertised to take place at Cromwell on the 3rd Novender. The well known qualities of “Camden” whose pedigree is given in Huff’s guide is sufficient evidence the stork to be sold are

worth a visit of inspection. Mr. George Reid, who lias taken over the business of forwarding and general Commission .Agents, lately carried on by Messrs Reid and Herbert advertises that ho is devoting special attention to business connected with the Waste Lands and other Government Offices.

Tlie Escort on Monday last took down the follow gold ■ing quantities of Cromwell 837oz, Od wt. Clyde 252oz. Odwt. Alexandra 237oz. Mdwt. Black’s 850oz. Odwt. Dunstan Creek 39Goz. 3dvvt. Mount Ida 807oz. Odwt, Total 3,385oz. 17dwt.