THE LAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 392, 22 October 1869, Page 2

THE LAKES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Queenstown, October 18,

Attention is being directed towards the quartz-reefs of this district. It is said that, Messrs. Bullen, the owners of the Phoenix claim and plant, are forming a company in Melbourne for tbe purpose of working their reef. This is just what is wanted. The introduction of Victorian capital and skill would prove of immense ad van -

tage towards developing quartz-mining in Otago. The reefs at the Shotover

an! turning out exceedingly well. Eleven tons of stone from the “ Bonnie Dundee,” crushed at Messrs. Southberg’s machine, gave one handled ounces of gold. Claimhohlers on the Shotover need machinery badly. They pay 21. jier ton for packing to Skipper’s, and 1 1. for chrushing. Alluvial mining is also improving and numbers of tunnelling claims are being taken up on the “terraces” of the Shotover. It is found that in numerous instances tunnelling is as effective in working these terraces, for reasons that the layers of auriferous drift are not more than from one to four feet iu thickness, and laying as they do upon a bed of clayey sand, the ground can be easily .and quickly worked. To give some idea of the value of a sluicing claim on the Shotover, I may mention that it came out in evidence, in a case heard before the Ward'Mi last week, that a party had agreed to purchase a one-third share in afuiir-acre lease at Wexford-terrace, near Maori Point, for 700?. A case o' considerable interest lo holders of sluicing claims was heard before Mr. Warden Bectham at Charleston (Maori Point) on Tuesday, which was argued at considerable length by Messrs. Maudes and Cope, the agents for the contending parties. It appears that a party of miners known as the “Wire Rope” Company hold a fouracre lease on one of the Shotover terraces. Now, to work this lease—which was some nine hundred feet back into the terrace - they had applied for and obtained a grant for a tail-race for the entire distance, and for three hundred feet in width, alleging that such was required for the purpose of working the lease, the tail race requiring to be in some places about sixty feet deep, am. the ground dangerous and full of stones, thus making their claim ten acres instead of four. A short time since another party s* ts into the terrace, and marks their claim right across this tail-race reserve, and proceeds to work; at the fame time bringing an action in the Warden’s Court to restrain the “Wire Rope” company from working the ground. The real gist of the com plaint was, however, who was entitled to the gold obtained in washing out or constructing the tail-mce, but thiwas not mentioned iu the summons,

being only reverted to by Mr. Cope, the agent for the complainants. The Warden decided that as the defendants were unquestionably in possession of the ground for a lung time before the complainants took up their claim, there was nothing to prevent them constlnoting a tail-race, hut they were entitle to no more ground than was sufficient to preserve in working order. He thought that a surficb width of one hundred and twenty feet and ten feet on each side at the bottom. He would make no order as lo the disposal of the gold, as that might form the subject for a future nation.

It is reported that a regularly defined lead of gold lias been struck at Moke Creek. Those who have struck the “run” are said to be making from 50£. to 70/. per week. During the I present month no less than eight ~ applications for leases have been made along the supposed direction of lead. At the head of the Lake a numl er of mining parties are at, work and reported to be doing well. The squatters on the Lake have seta worthy example They supply the miners with beef at, 4(1. and mmton at 21. per pound. If this practice was only followed out throughout the entire goldfield- there unquestionably follow a large increase of flie mining population It lias always been my impression that cheap living would do more towavds populating the goldfields than any oilier measure that could possible be put in practice. The correctness of this, I think, is bourne out by the increasing population -of this district. During the last twelve months the escort returns have nearly doubled themselves.

At the Airow the Chinese are still increasing their numbers, and another store tor the sale of Celestial commodities is nowin course of erection. Jotp is a persevering plodding fellow and appears to make handsome returns from ground that has been abandoned by Europeans as utterly nnremunerative. In some instances their operations are upon an extensive scale, and their perfect system of combined labor will doubtless bring them rich returns. The Twelve-mi'e (Mace Town) is also looking up. Business appears to be improving as another store is about being added to the number already there.

Mr. John P. Armstrong. Dentist, long known to Victorian miners, is paying ns a visit and seems pretty busily employed in improving or extracting those most necessary but Sometimes troublesome ivorv appendages known as teeth. Mr Armstrong leaves here for the Deinstall and Cromwell.

The weather lias been excessively cold and windy lately, which has had a very injurious effect upon growing cro-s. The wheat looks well but rain is wanted badly to produce a more rapid growth. Oats are very scarce and are selling retail at ss. per bushel. W heat has advanced Gd. per bushel. There is only one buyer for this cereal at present, therefore the market price may he said to be an ar! fit ary one, the purchaser being able to dictate terms.

A number of magnificent entire horses are travelling the (list let this season. Mr, [-'cole's entire draught stallion Ne'son has proved a magnificent animal, and those who knew lom last year would scarcely recognise him now. He is decidedly the favorite among the farmers and carters.