THROUGH. A PORTION OF THE DUNSTAN GOLD FIELDS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 441, 30 September 1870, Page 3

THROUGH. A PORTION OF THE DUNSTAN GOLD FIELDS.

(from OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.) Leaving Blacks’, erossel the Manuhorikia River at tlie lower for !, which at present, is a very good one, and arrived at Tiger Hill, and found the farmers busy getting in their crops, the quantity under crop this year will exceed that of last year, by about one hum red acres. After travelling some live miles came to Devonshire Gully, where there are several claims at work, the most noticeable being that of M'Uluskey and party, who are sluicing away about forty-live feet of gravel, before reaching the bottom, I was informed by the shareholders that the ground is good, but was so hard they got on but slowly ; in one part of the claim they are driving out the washdirt, which is six feet thick, and’is expected to yield some eleven pennyweights to the load. Day and party and Middleton and party, are in fail work, and doing well—three miles further on I came to Tinker’s Gully, where I found Messrs Holmes and party were in the act of washing up, an i the Blue Mountain Race Company are likewise washing up, both these Companies are satisfied with thtir prospects. At Smoker’s Gully, adjoining Tinker’s, I found Gray and party preparing to sluice down their ditch, I believe this to be a-first class claim, it will take them, three weeks to clean up, as they have been running for several months. In the next gully, found Reed and party at work, this party appeared sanguine of a good washing, about the middle of next month At Dryhread, I found fevery one as busy as bees, and from what I gleaned, satisfaction prevails among the majority, but there are some who are begining to croak, fearing a short supply of water. The whole of the water brought on to this place is from the Lawder Creek, and until

lately, the Drybread Water Race Company enjoyed the prior right to the lion’s share of this water, but some few months since, the Perseverance Company deprived them of it, by instituting a suit in the Warden’s Court at Blacks, praying that they, the Perseverance, shou Id be declared to hold ami enjoy the prior right to sixteen heads of water after the Drybread Race had drawn three and a half sluice heads, and at the present time the Drybread Race is only drawing three and a half heads, whereas the Perseverance Race is running full, but a very little rain will give enough water to fill the whole of the races, and priority of right effects them only, when there is a scarcity of water. I am of opinion that the before mentioned places, is about the best s uicing district in the Province of Otago, and that there is ground for ten times the quantity of water, but capital is , necessary. A race could be brought in from the Manuherikia River, by taking it from as far up as the White Horse Hotel, and even could ho brought into Clyde, there would he little or no rook to -contend with, the only difficulty would be a few deep gorges, and immediately it reached Drybread, it would pay itself for constructing on to Clyde, this is a subject that has been often discussed, and now is the time for the people of the district to bestir themselves, and endeavor to get their fair share of the money voted for the purpose of supplying the gol fields with water. I next proceeded to Ida Valley, from thence to German Hill, at the latter place, there are several claims in full work, with a good supply of water, the two best claims are owned by Bnrdendick anil party, who have just washed up with satisfactory

results, and Gavnn and party, who intend washing up the latter end of next month, •and expect a bettor yield than over they

bad. Gorman Hill is a good sluicing district, but the supply of water is limited and all the water available is taken up, and if they get water eight months in the twelve, the miners consider it very goo : On my back to Blacks I took occasion to notice the lino agricultural land in Ida Valley, and it is a great pity that it is not dotted with farms, but I suppose that it would be of no use, arking for a block of this land to bo thrown open for settlement. I had a conversation with a man named Slone, who lives on the road side, on the banks of the Pool-burn, he is breaking up about thirty acres this year, but had failed in getting a title to the same, so he intern's to try what title his occupating will give him. On arriving at Black’s flat, found all the farmers all busy, tilling their land, which is in first class order, and trust they will have a better season for saving their crop than the last. The water-races at Blacks are running full of water, and I hear of no complaining, so I infer they are doing pretty well. The Suspension Company washed up last week, but I coul t not learn the cjnantity of gold obtained, but one of the shareholders informed me that it paid a little over £5 per week.