OTAGO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 917, 5 July 1871, Page 2

OTAGO.

The Wakatip Mail says : — "Ash worth, Graves and party, who are dredging at the Sandhills, must have received , a good dividend for last week's work, as we hear they obtained 370 Ounces of gold for two days' work. The precious metal seerm to have been dislodged from a crevice in the bed of the Shbtover, and is a fine sample." The same journal has the following : — " The Shotover river is stated to be lower than it has been for several yeard ; -but complaints are made that large areas are locked up by speculative holders who are not working the groundj but are preventing miners from * setting in.' It is said that several miles of the bed arc- thus alienated, as it were, and that working parties of miners find it extremely difficult to secure a suitable piece of ground to wing dam, and work outside the pegs. The miners urge, with great force, that this locking up of the river is only intended to force themselves into the hands of the speculators, who will reap the; profit of their labor. They further . point ,■ out that for years the Shotover /has riot been, until this season, workable; and that now, when those who kaew partsof the river that could be profitably worked, go to the localities to take up a claim they find it included in some large grant— the only work done on which has been the sticking in of peg?. Those miners who have been able to edge in are doing well, and in several instances very large returns have been obtained. There is in , fact quite a furore to take up claims, in consequence of these successes ; and the Government should see ere the season passes away that such claims as the New Channel Company and others are worked, or at once thrown open to parties of working miners. Outside parties of miners refuse to take shares,, or join these companies, having been so often bit, but they are willing to work the ground."" JFrom the Horse-shoe Bend comes a rnmorof quartz reefs. Mr Riddell is said 1 to hare struck a very rich leader on Messrs Grant and Rutherford's run. For my own part I hate the very site of quartz. I once did speculate in that line, and got the magnificent result of lOgrs to the hundred tons. The Shctover River is stated to be lower than it has been for several years ; but complaints are made that large areas are locked up by speculative holders who are not working the ground, but are preventing miners from "setting in." It is said that several miles of the bed are thus alienated, as it were, and than working parties of miners find it extremely difficult to secure a suitable ,- piece of ground to wing dam, and work outside the pegs.; The miners urge, with great force,' that this locking up of the river is only intended to force themselves into the hands of the speculators, who will reap the profit of their labor. They further point out that for years the Shotover has not been, until this season, workable, and that now, when those who knew parts of the river that could be profitably worked, go to the localities to take up a claim, they find it included in some large grant — the only work done on which has been the sticking in of pegs. Those miners who have been able to edge in are doing well, and in several instances very large returns have been obtained. There is in fact quite a furore to take up claims, in consequence of these successes ; and the Government should see ere this season passes away that such claims as the New Channel Company and others are worked, or at once thrown open to parties of working miners. Outside miners refuse to take i shares, or join these companies, having been so often bit, but they are willing to work the ground. _