ALEXANDRA,

Dunstan Times, Issue 440, 23 September 1870, Page 2

ALEXANDRA,

(from OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) Since my last, I have taken a ramble round several of our mining claims. The Hit or Miss Claim at Frenchman’s Point, I found to be in first class working order, their tramway and trucks doing their work admirably, this Company have been very lucky in getting good horses, who appear to know their work as well as the men engaged, the Manager of this Company complains greatly of the price of horse feed, and even at the high prices charged has often to go to Clyde for a supply, I should imagine a hay, corn and produce store would pay in this place, and have often wondered the reason some one has not embarked in that line, Leaving the Hit or Miss Claim, 1 traveled down the banks of the river until I reached the Half-mile Beach, where Kett and Go’s claim is in full work, [the lead in this claim is narrow, but the wash looks well. The adjoining claim,(Messrs. Wood, Feraud and Co.) arc not yet at work, not having as yet brought water on to the ground. There has been a report of an extraordinary fiind of gold by Kett and Co., the truth of which I cannot vouch for. On another day I paid a visit to the Manuherikia Company’s claim, near the coal pit, and was certainly surprised at the preparations they have made for testing the main bottom. Last year they made similar preparations, but were not so fortunate as I hope they may bo this. I am informed that ere this appears in print their tramway w-ill be laid down and in full work, the wheels having arrived from Dunedin. In looking over their works I was much surprised at the smallness of the paddock they were taking down ; in fact, I am of opinion that, unless the ground is first, class as regards standing, that, by the time they reach the bottom, it will bo nothing

more than a duck’s nest, and, should I prove correct in my surmise, wo most of us know it will be no test as to the value of the ground. The Ovens Company are in full Work, and, I believe, doing well, as I hear nothing to the contrary. No doubt they will be anxious to know the result of the Manuherikia Company’s testing of the main bottom as they are quite as much interested as their neighbors, and if successful, it will enhance the value of both these rac°s. At Butcher’s Gully, Messrs Murphy and Wilkings have washed up and obtained nearly one hundred ounces of gold. The lawsuit I referred to in my last between Rosendale and a party of Chinamen was brought to a close on Monday last; the former is the owner of a water-race, which takes its rise from Butcher’s Creek, and the Chinamen own a claim in the same Creek, and the water-race heads from about the centre of this claim and about five chains from the head of the claim is a tail race owned by Jenkings, and the whole of the tailings from the workings above Jenkings, flow through his tail race, consequently Rotfendale has great difficulty in keeping his race clear of tailings, and having to allow two heads of water to flow down the creek before he is entitled to draw any. In the first suit, Rosendale was ordered to place a proper guage box, so as to allow the two heads to flow past the head of his race ; immediately after the decision, he commenced to build a dam across the creek a little way above where the Chinamen are working, which would have the effect of locking up the whole of the ground above the dam, and of driving the Chinamen from their claim, consequently the Chinamen gave notice not to proceed with the construction of saiddara. Rosendale immediately sought relief in the Warden’s Court, by suing the Chinamen tor unlawfully interfering, when he Rosendale was carrying out an order of Mr. Warden Fyke’s, but failed to get the relief sought. In summing up Mr. Warden Fyke said, it was one of the most unsatisfactory cases he ever had before him, and as both parties had a right, ha Would order that the dam be removed, and that the Chinamen construct Rosendale’s race further up the creek if required, and should a dam be required, to turn the water into Rosendale’s race the Chinamen to construct the same at the head of their claims which I learn the Chinamen offered to do before the suit commenced, but should a dam be placed at this spot it will be only some four or five claims from the discharge end of Jenkins tail race, and I expect he will enter a protest against any dam being erected, as it would interfere with the discharge of tailings from his race, so I am afraid there will be more rowover it yet. the Chinamen s claims being good, as a matter of course they will do their best to workit out. 1 have heard nothing of M'Gynness’ claim lately he having not washed up lately but I am informed that it is looking well. Nothing new to chronicle respecting the dredges further than that they are making steady wages. The Galatea being the only one that is doing an. thing really gpodbut I am informed their claim will soon be worked out.