The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1870.

Dunstan Times, Issue 445, 28 October 1870, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1870.

Beneaththe tluleof Men enti rely just the pen is mightier than the sword

Mining operations in the Dunstan district were never so generally satisfactory, nor was the district ever so universally prosperous. With the exception of the “ dredgers ” all classes of miners have experienced a most favorable season this last winter, and there is every probability that, the same good fortune will attend the industry of gold mining throughout thepresentsnmmer. There exists a considerable quantity ot snow upon the ranges, and to all appearances, there will he frequent falls of moisture at high elevations for the next two months to come, this, with the gradually melting snow will be sufficient to supply the water races until the return of winter, or at the very least, far into the summer. Agricultural operations have been considerably extended, the high prices ruling for horse feed, has given a great impetus to fanning, and the result is that, much land has been taken up, while land already occupied, is being fast brought under cultivation, we may therefore look forward to cereal crops being plentiful, and moderate in price immediately that the harvest has been gathered. From all quarters, our Correspondents are unanimous that, not only are the people doing well, but that, the district is ( partaking of a more settled character The miners in the most out of the way places, are building themselves comfortable dwellings, and surrounding them with tastefully cultivated gardens, useful and ornamental at the same time. The Valiev of die Mannherikia is yielding a prolific harvest of gold, Drybread, Devonshire Black’s, and neighborhood, are contributing largely to our escort returns, witli these portions of the district, the yield of gold is exact ly in proportion to the water supply, that moving agent not being so .plentiful as could

be desired, although existing in quantities in excess of what could lie profitably applied to mining. The application of all this water is a question of money, to tup the sources of our principal supplies, and to conduct the water down in streams sufficient for the miner, who is delving away miles from its source, is beyond the means of pri’-ate enterprise, and it can be only accomplished by capital from a distance, and this appears to be only obtainable by borrowing. This would have been accomplished, had there been no war in Europe, still we must hope for the best, peace seems probable at no distant date, when the schemes for raising money proposed by the Honorable the Colonial Treasurer will most likely be realised. The area of auriferous ground in the Mannhevikia Valley is something enormous, there is probably more than enough, were water available, to employ the whole of the present mining opulation in Otago for years to come, under existing circumstances, the vast area included within this Valley, calculating from the Hawkdun-nioun-tains down to the Molyneux, will not be exhausted for the next generation to come, even should there be a large influx of Chinese to share with ns the golden spoil. The valleys of the Upper and Lower (..lutha, the Nevis and the Bannockburn, though yielding largely at the present time, are a long wayfrom being thoroughly developed, claims that are being wi ought now, were so three years ago, in fact’ there have been very few new discoveries lor reasons that those already made are sufficiently productive to tatisfy the miners, who cannot work more ground than they now occupy. Here, like at the Mannherikia, permanent settlement is everywhere apparent, there are houses, farms, and gardens, and every possible comfort and convenience that, an industrious and well to do population could reasonably command. Dredging operations have perhaps seen their best days, not becouse all the gold lias been taken from our river-beds, but from the fact of the workings on the higher ground running such enormous quantities of debris into the water-courses, that the rivers are getting clicked, and rising considerably above their natural levels, that the gold contained in them is so thickly covered up, as to be beyond the reach of human ingenuity. Quai-z mining is making steady, but sure progress, and will at no distant date employ a very large population. The Cromwell reefs, both at Bendigo and the Garrick Ranges are looking extremely well, and there is no better evidence of this, than in the confidence with which crushing machinery is being erected, The same exists at Alexandra, the Butcher’s-gnlly reefs ai-e exceedingly promising, and one or two crushing mills will be shortly at work there. All industries included •in the Dunstan district were never more prosperous, oi promised so much for the future.