MINING MEMOS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 540, 23 August 1872, Page 2

MINING MEMOS.

M'Nally and party, who are engaged iu constructing a water-race from the head of Chatto Creek to the terraces under the Dunstan-Range and at the rear of Clyde are reported to be making treat "headway, but they confess to having been, in their first calculation-of the length of the race, somewhat out of their reckoning, as, instead of its being brought in in about twenty-six miles, it will reach nigher fortyfive miles. They are, however, by no means dispirited, having implicit f ith in tbe payableness of tbe r-nture. Asyrt they have only six men employed, but intend’putting on six or more additional hands when tlio hard weather has thoroughly broken up Th?ir course of action is to bring in a part only of their water-right, with which to open up the ground, and afterwards- extend it at leisure. To aid them in euttiag the race they are having made a race plough on an improved principle. by which they anticipate being able to get through a greater amount'of worit than by the ordinary’ plan of pick and shovel' About ten heads of water they expect to land on their claim about Christmas next.

Lindsay, Anderson, and party, who are conveying the waterj of the Leaning Rock Creek to the Clyde aide of the range, are making great their race, They-.have arranged for four extra hands *o go on, to the work, and -therefore they will have everything, completed-much sooner than was anticipated. The value of the ground on to which these races are to he brought is at length acknowledged, Every available gully and spur ar- fas‘finding occupants, and t.he.keenest competition exists for the right of the water. In one instance,, a .party, of . four have agree 1 to give their lahqr to aid in the construction of a main head race for the right of using the water after it has been once USL'd. . . ;.... ■ ....

A great difficulty presents itself against the occupancy of the land by the miner, to remove which the Mining Association are stepping in ; and, though it will take some time and a large amount of. petitiouidg and, writing before the land is wrested from the agricultural lease-holders and placed entirely at the disposal of the miner, it is thought it will be done, and that the country and district will benefit by the change of ownership. No decided plan of action has as yet I een adopted ; hut, apio-ig other things it is intended to memorialise his Honor the Superintendent to refuse the renewal of any of the existing agricultural leases when they expire; and as some fall duo between this and the end of he year, immediate action will have to be taken and the question; will' soon be settled. One of the reasons this extreme course is to bo p irsued is that some of the lessees are raising obstacles in the way of the miner, against the prosecution of his labors, thus attempting to prevent his settlement. There are about twelve other miners beside the two parties already referred to . working in this neighborhood, and, ftom all accounts, they are doing excellently well.