OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 537, 26 June 1869, Page 4

OTAGO.

(From the Daily Times Monthly Summary.) The month's record of mining operations in the province is again uneventful, though, on the whole, eminently satisfactory. Winter has, during the last few weeks, set in in earnest, and in the highlying districts, such as Mount Ida and the Arrow, snow has fallen in considerable quantities. In the former district, especially, the weather has been pretty severe, and the Chinese, who some few months ago settled down at Mount Burster and Clark's diggings, have been obliged to come down to tho Kyeburn. At the Serpentine, a number of men are still at work, and doing tolerably well, in spite of the difficulties they have had to contend with in the inclemency of the weather and the scarcity of water. Round Naseby, water is more abundant, and the returns are consequently larger, while at the Kyebum matters are described as being in a particularly flourishing condition, inasmuch as the population is increasing, and stores and other places of business are being erected. The best evidence, indeed, of the prosperous condition of the miners in the Mount Ida district, is to be found in the fact that the Escort returns from it have been increasing of late xmtil at the present time it occupies a position, in this respect, second to no other district in the province. The mining population of the district is estimated by the Warden, Mr H. Robinson, in his last report, at 1200, of whom 830 are Europeans, and 250 Chinese. At the Dunstan, we find that the anticipations contained in our last Summary with regard to the dredges, have been realised, as the river has once more, with the advent of colder weather, fallen considerably, and they are now in full work, and doing exceedingly well. Numerous parties, also, are preparing to commence operations upon the various beaches and bars as soon as they become exposed. The local journal presents a bright picture of the prospects of the miners in this district. In a late issue it says : — "The terrace claims from Clyde downwards are in full swing, and, judging from the general cheerfulness of the shareholders, are doing well. At Frenchman's Point, Half-mile Beach, Butcher's Point, and other places along the course of the river, a busy scene presents itself, there being in the aggregate 150 men actively employed. The Chinese, of whom there are from two to three hundred in the district, appear to be doing pretty well. A large number of this section of our population are settled on the Manorburn Flat, about two miles from Alexandra, and are working ground that was partly wrought four or five years back. In this flat were some very rich patches, and we do not doubt but that ' John' will drop across many more that have escaped the European. In fact, our mining prospects . have not presented so healthy an appearance for some time past, consequently business is brisker, and a general feeling of confidence has arisen among all sections of the community." In the Lakes district, as we have already said, the weather has become very wintry, and keen frosts prevail at night. The supply of water is, m twithstanding, abundant, and mining affairs generally are in a most prosperous condition, it being said that the yield of gold per man was never better than it is at present. In our last summary we stated that one of the chief modes of carrying on operations in this district was by means of tunnelling ; the following remarks by our Arrowtown correspondent furnish some further particulars on this point: — " A considerable deal of attention is now being devoted to the terraces laying along the course of the Arrow River. The modus operandi is usually by tunnelling in from the sides till the bed rock is struck. You may drive in 100 feet, and you may drive in 500 feet ; but in nine cases out of ten, when a moderately level bottom is reached, there is gold to pay handsomely. In all these terraces the bed rock dips inwards into a sort of plateau, in the crevices and gutters of which rich patches of gold {ire found, and in some cases a well-defined run. From Ll2 to L3O per week is a quite common dividend to shareholders in a tunnelling claim. To all appearances, this description of mining admits of immense development. There are miles of country to be opened in the neighborhood of the Crown Terrace, and I should not at all wonder but that with the coming spring we shall have a large influx of population. The Lakes district, once so famou3 for its large yield of gold, bids fair at no distant date to recover its old position. The steady increase of the Escort returns amply justifies this assertion." In the Tokomairiro district, some excitement has prevailed of late with regard to the new diggings at Adam's Flat, nine miles from Milton. There are about 70 men on the ground, but little has been done as yet, in consequence of the land not having been proclaimed. The total area of ground supposed to be auriferous is estimated at 350 acres, the sinking varying from three to eight feet on the flat, and increasing on the higher ground. A race to carry off the water from the land, which is described as being very wet, is said to be necessary. It is not anticipated that any large finds will 1 be made, though it i 3 asserted that 400 men could find profitable employment on it for some years to come. A number of men are at work at Miller's Flat also, and are making wages there.