FOURTEEN-MILE BEACH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 526, 17 May 1872, Page 2

FOURTEEN-MILE BEACH.

(from our correspondent.) Mav 8. There is nothing very startling to communicate from this quarter. Messrs. Quayle an.l Co. have almost completed their head race from the headwaters of the Gorge Creek. They would have had their race in by this time but for a break in one portion of their ditch. Messrs. Heron and Nott had a nasty smash at the head of their race, which will take a week to repair. They are only waiting for their timber to arrive from Tapanui, when they will at once proceed to repair damages. Aneut the quartz reefs, The prospectors have taken out about five tons of stone, showing gold pretty well all through it. The quartz, however, has run out with them, though the casing still continues the sami width in their drive. Tliey arc down seventy-two feet witli their shaft, and, after sinking a few feet further, they trust either to strike stone again or pick it up in their cross-drives. The river is getting down to her lower level pretty fast, and all hands will, I trust, be at work in their different claims before long. There seems to be some truth in the report that the Tuapeka folk will not have a railway to their flourishing township in such a short time as they anticipated. There appears to be a hitch in the programme ; and, conpled with the fact that Mr. Brog- j den did not pay them the expected visit they looked forward to so anxiously, seems to give color to the rumors that are afloat with respect to it. I enclose a copy of the memorial on the subject which will shortly be sent round for signature, so that, in the meantime, you may arrive at your own conclusions on the subjec*. There is no doubt but that tho line proposed in lieu of the Tuapeka one is to all appearance the most feasible, and will prove the best paying one. In fact, it will bring districts now scarcely known but by name to the up-country people in close and constant communication with us, and I need not mention the benefits likely to accrue therefrom ; and moreover, as we have to pay our portion to the piper, it is nothing but just we should have a share of the music. As I have not seen your last issue you mustexcuse the brevity of this communication, for the only thing I have heard of worth mentioning, was Mr. f, L. Shepeerd's address to the Dunstan electors—and the chnracteristic manner in which he " strokod them" into giving him a vote of conlidence. 1 am told the member was so overcome by the unexpected warmth of his reception, that he could not articulate his thanks, but retired gracefully, whistling "Twerevain to tell thee all I feel."