OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 605, 4 December 1869, Page 4

OTAGO.

[daily tikes.]

The Wetherstoneß deep shaft is at pre- ' sent being kept dry by the last contrac- ' tors, at the rate of L 4 per week, in order that no unnecessary expenses may be incurred until further tenders can be accepted for a complete prospect of the bottom, as it is well known that a gutter exists, both sides ot which have been touched. Last night I heard that a letter had been received from the Provincial Government, offering L 75, on the condi- » tion that the district should supplement itwkh other L 75. This, I hope, will be raised, as it would be a very great pity to abandon this attempt to determine whether a deep lead exists there or not. The tailings, which have been accumulating to such an extent and depth at the Blue Spur, seem to have at last a chance o being sluiced down the creek. A company is about to be formed, called the Gabriel's Gully Gold Mining and Crushing Company, whose object will be to construct a tail race about a mile in length, of large stones, and by concentrating the tail water in one channel, to save the gold supposed to be lost by the Spur sluicers. A quartz reef discovery is reported in the Lake district, but nothing reliable has transpired respecting it. The exact locality is unknown, although it is spoken of as being situated about thirty-five miles from Bendigo Gully. The report, which is given simply for what it is worth, is that the reef crops up for about twenty yards along the surface. It consists of a hard white quartz, closely resembling a crystalization, encased in dark blue rock, and so far as an opinion can be formed it averages from 14 to 18 inches in thickness. According to the current report, the lay differs slightly from any of the Bendigo Gully discoveries — east by north-east having been stated as the direction. With regard to the state of matters at the Bendigo Gully reefs, the Cromwell Guardian says : — Business throughout the district continues brisk, a disposition to extend operations being manifest in almost every branch of trade. Dowii to the present time but little actual work has been done towards developing the Bendigo Gully reefs, still what little has been accomplished tends to promote commercial confidence in the stability of the district. The reefs have been visited by a number of Dunedin speculators, and one very important undertaking, viz., the erection of stamps for public crushing, has been arranged. When completed this will operate as a powerful inducement to prospecting parties, and otherwise aid in developing the reefs. The project will in the first instance be carried out as a private speculation, but we believe that it is not at all improbable that it may eventually merge into a Joint Stock Company. The capital proposed to be invested is LSOOO. In some of its more useful branches the labor market is but poorly supplied. Carpenters, for example, getting 20s a day, are in demand. Wages-men (slnicers), L 4 per week ; domestic servants, 15s to 20s ; and storemen, L 2 and found. From the Nevis the Cromwell Guardian learns that the excitement regarding the Bendigo Gully reefs has had little effect upon the population of that district. In fact, it is said not a single individual has left for the more promising El Dorado. The miners, nnmbering upwards of sixty, are one and all doing well, which no doubt accounts for the fact that they are not at all disposed to change their quarters. The road, across the Carrick Range is reported to be in excellent condition. As yet no complaints have been made about the water supply, but serious apprehensions are entertained that the rapid melting of the snow will be followed by a drought. At the Upper Nevis work has beeu resumed for the season. This is one of those diggings which, from its exposed position, can only be wrought with safety during the summer. It consists of a succession of terraces, which are sluiced from the surface. When water is plentiful it pays remarkably well. At present the supply is full enough, but serious apprehensions arc entertained that the season ■will be a dry oue. This« opinion arises from the fact that the snow is disappearing from the ranges much more rapidly than usual, and when that supply fails it has little more than the rainfall to depend upon, which is very precarious indeed. At Cardrona, unlike Nevis, the European population is rapidly leaving for the reefs at Bendigo Gully. Their place, however, is bding taken up by Chinamen, the estimated number at present being ,up* wards of 100, with periodical accessions to the number. The Pirate Claim, which has been wrought to good advantage for some time past, has begun to exhibit symptoms o{ exhaustion, and the share holders are beginning to think that a very few weeks more will see it worked out.