MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1186, 17 May 1872, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

ROSS. [ross news, 13th instant.] We have little of a satisfactory nature to report, and much of a contrary character. Jones' Flat, which has for many years been the chief gold-yielding part of this district, is slowly and surely being abandoned. Five claims are now working where more than thirty were, and these five are so weighted with the cost of drainage that it is thought to be only a question of days how soon they will also be abandoned ; but with a strange .perverseness, claims that are reported to be yielding well, are standing idle, owing to an attempt to alter the hours and payment of labor, which is resisted by miners. The Gassius claim is idle from the same cause, and the owner, who was supposed to be making a handsome profit, prefers burning firewood at a loss in an attempt to coerce his men into longer hours or lower wages. At Sailor's Gully, nearly all the claims are idle. In that neighborhood, nothing new has been discovered,; although several shafts have been sunk to great depths. At Olearwater, no change has taken place beyond top-improvements on some of the claims. At Scanlan's, a whim is about to be erected, and two or three shafts have struck payable wash. At Donoghue's, the prospectors' shaft is down to the new drainage-tunnel, and the upper shaft hasjjreached 20ft of good wash at 175 ft. The drainage-tunnel will be pushed on with all speed to this and to' Sweeney's shaft, when there is every probability of a large area of good ground being opened out. At Bowen we have the old paradoxical story of the claims being swamped for want of w,ater — a want felt everywhere in this district. One party, the Bowen Extended, will probably erect a pressure-engine for pumping purposes, which will enable them to use the whole of the fall of their water supply, and thus give them increased power; From the gullies the recent rains have enabled a little more gold to be got. In Donnelly's — both branches — an improvement is visible, but the limited supply of water precludes any increase in the workers. The Westland Quartz Company are steadily driving into the hill, arid the men seem pleased with prospects. The reef appears the most promising of any that have been tried in this district, and very good specimens were got in the creek below it. At the township, Purvisa' party have opened out at 130 ft, and are driving towards Jones 1 Flat, prospecting. It is to be regretted that they did not; continue ; sinkiug, and prospecting the terrace ; ; and we would like, if a Prospecting Association were formed, that this party were paid to do so. They are, men who would do justice to their employers, and it is well worth while to have the terrace tested as far as possible. From the Totara and Aylmer Lead we have nothing new. On the beach, at the mouth of the Totara, a party of black-sanders have commenced with the water from near M'Gowan's. They are putting everything through, but have not had long enough trial to judge how their, spec will turn out. The leading jntereat with miners just • now is the

Mikonui race; the prospects of which being made keeps a good many lingering here, who would otherwise have left. At present , the survey department are examining what rights would be touched by the reserve, and, when the report is completed, it is thought the application of Messrs Brogden and Sons will be granted.,.-