BLACK’S.

Dunstan Times, Issue 528, 31 May 1872, Page 2

BLACK’S.

■(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Winter has set in at last in earnest, an d the surrounding mountains have I think received their winter coat of snow. All the race owners have a plentiful supply of water, and in all probability will not ho short for some months. The Lawder Creek water-race has been repurchased by part of its former owners, who have put it in thorough repair, and expect to be at work in the course of the week. The Suspension and Golden Gate water-races bid fair to take their departure from here altogether—the former to Tinkers, and the latter to the Wai Kori Keri Valley. The Suspension Company have commenced their cutting some time ago, and are I believe getting on very well. The Golden Gate Company took their departure yesterday Mr the ranges, I suppose you will soon have them nearer to you, when you will ho able to hear of them oftencr. 1 notice in your last issue the Committee of gold-fields recommend the withdrawing of auriferous land in the Leaning Rock district from agricultural leases. 1 think they would do well to do the same at Black’s—hero wo have a large fiat, from which alargc amount of gold lias been (btained, and 50(lf. spent on by the Government to bring up a drainage channel to drain off the under current of water, besides a very large amount i f money and labor being expended upon it, and now the miners are shut out from continuing their labor of prospecting by the whole of the unworked land being taken for agricultural leases—what are the Government about I should like to know ? Are they so short of land that is fit only for agricultural purposes that they are forced to draw upon the auriferous lands to supply the demand. A petition was sent to them about eighteen months ago upon this subject, but as far as I can learn very little notice was taken of it—another one is I believe in course of signature for the same subject. I hope they will take the matter up in earnest this time—they must see the folly of throwing impediments in the way of prospecting. There is any amount of land, and good land in the district that is not auriferous, and fit only for the farmer. Black’s flat is no place[Jfor farming, and not one acre of it should ever he allowed to bo leased for that purpose. Graham and party are still paddocking in front of the Bank of Now South Wales, anil I believe are doing very well. Chcescman and party have discontinued cutting their race for a time, and have applied for protection for it ; they are now turning their attention to the outer portion of the flat, and I believe contemplate cutting a tail

race through three of the sections of agricultural land before referred to, but I think they will meet with no little opposition. At Black’s No. 3, the Homeward Bound, (formerly the Try Again) have succeeded in getting down the depth required, (120 foot), and are now driving for the lead. I wish them every success. Revel ahd party have completed their tunnel tail race, and are now hard at work sluicing. 1 believe they have a first rate piece of ground to work, and are likely to have a splendid washing this winter.