CARRICTON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 520, 5 April 1872, Page 2

CARRICTON.

(from our correspondent. ) Aprid 2. ' Pursuing the even tenor of their way, consisting in working in and talking of quartz, eating and whisky drinking, with an occasional jig or reel of a Saturday evening> the people of the range pass one week after another away. We have both batteries at present working—the one crushing about eighty-five tons weekly, the other gradually drawing upwards to fifty'tons. The Elizabeth, now that steam can be generated in sufficient quantities, when sup* plied with new stamp-heads, may perchance get through sixty tons in the week. This, however, will be an exceptional case, and certainly the maximum. Want of water tells seriously here, even with the pumping gear in order, as thickened water is by no means a desideratum in gold saving. The upper machhie is, perhaps, more straitened than the Elizabeth. Clean water would, in good stone, such as the Oak and Star, give several pennyweights to the ton greater yield. There seems no help nearer than Coal Creek. I have not heard as yet that any steps are being taken towards its carriage to our habitations and workings. I wonder bow it will get on, when its promoters faltqriu the r allegiance. The water must he obtained, if only to do away with the expense of coals. The two machines now working will pay somel,soo/. per annum for fuel alone. I have been entering into some small calculations, and find, among other items, that the Star and Oak have hitherto produced about 9,SOW. worth of gold. Considering the short period they have, teen opened and the amount of work done, the yield is certainly gratifying In the upper part of the Star, where the reef had been missed, it has been found again by Williams some nine or ten feet from its supposed position, having jumped some ten feet eastward—the natural inclination of the lode. It has been opened up along the level to the boundary' shaft, and shows an average thickness of over three feet. It prospects satisfactorily, and the Star Company have now stone in view to suffice for eighteen months’ crushing. This adds considerable value to the property. The Rob Roy crushed some fifteen pennyweights to the ton. The Welcome Company are still sinking their shaft, while the

Oak and the Elizabeth still go on in their ordinary manner. Above the Elizabeth, a claim, called the Colleen Bawn, l aj b en further prospected, and a body of stone found, yielding a good prospect; but what its thickness or extent may be is as yet unknown, the stone, reef, leader, or whatever else it may be called, not having been cut through. Pipeclay way, the John Bull is still getting out good stone. I don’t often venture on Ladkiels lino, but can vouch that this i claim in its crushing, will in no wise disap- | p( hit the shareholders if they are endured with ordinary moderation. It commences to run to earth and carries its gold with it. It is the most unique thing of the sort to I be seen in the province. The llobert Burns Company are sinking a permanent shaft. The Nil Desperandum is slowly grassing stone, and .the Golden Gate Company are driving their tunnel. Hudson, of the Blow Away Embryonic hotel has been summoned for sly grog selling. It appears fHat unless the informant can swear the liquor vended contains 2(1 proof of alcohol, no infringement of the ' Licensing Ordinance can be made out. Claret, Moselle, Hock, audSauterue should all under this clause ho retailed with impunity. It is necessary to analyze spirits before punishment can follow for infraction of the law. Very curious certainly, and very creditable to our law makers—but I suppose it would be unwise to cx; eot a polith #’ silk purse to be made frem either a sow’s ear, or the fibre thereof spun from Hie 1) a ns of our Provincial Politicians. Where infractions of law tahe place and glaringly so it would seem somewhat the duty of the police to suppress such eccentricities—more especially so, when the chief Commissioner is so indignant at the reflections cast on his corps by the New Zealand Herald. Known house breakers and horse stealers are not allowed to follow their avocations and amusements with impunity—hut the subject is too cognate and dreary for a corres - spondents letter, so 1 will turn it over to the attention of your.leadcr writer, the representative of the fourth estate. The Vale of Avoca crushed ten pennyweights to the ton. The Star about ISOozs. to 160 tons of stone.