OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 306, 14 September 1865, Page 2

OTAGO.

MOUNT IDA. A Coreespondent of the Daily Times, of the 29th inst, writes : We have been visited by a very severe gala of wind, which did damage to nearly every place in the town. It commenced in the evening, and lasted with unabated fury until daybreak ; it has since been followed by hard frosts, which have caused nearly all mining operations to bo suspended; therefore, until (he sun asserts its supremacy over the frost, the items in mining matters will bo very limited. A great many miners are still leaving hero for the new Dorado in the West • A general meeting was convinced on *he 21sfc ult, to take into consideration the want of a public institution for the purpose of holding service on Sabbath days, &c., and a collecting committee was formed, and subscription lists opened, for a Union Church. A good round sum was speedily collected, amounting to about £l2O, I believe. This will very nearly suffice to put up a building which will be creditable to the Hogbum. Why we have not had a building to represent the dif» ferent sects of the Protestant religion before is more than I can understand. It does not speak particularly well for the religious zeal of pur community. , A meeting of our Committee was held last night,'to examine tenders which were sent in for building the aforesaid Church. A notice will appear in Saturday’s Times, calling for tenders, plans and specifications being sent down. , Hyde is beginning to bear.a resuscitated appearance, and in a few months more it will contribute its share to the Escort. It is no longer worked by windlass and bucket, but by tail races. As tl* ground is from twenty to forty feet deep,; the workings are very extensive, and worked under the Lease Act.

At Fireman’s Hill there are two parties sluicing ; they have extended claims, and are doing very well.= ' ‘ . > ■■ ■; I’uilerton’Si or,Four-mile, is now but * limited field, and although there are but few companies there, it is making good returns, being supplied by water from the Shag Talley. ; Macrae’s Flat, generally known as Murphy’s Flat, is yielding more gold than the other diggings in this district. ; It averages from 500 ozs. to 800 ozs. per week, with a population of about 500, The JBauk of New Zealand have erected a branch* bank. This diggings is Unlike" any other field within a hundred miles, for very little? sluicing is:done here. The principal.-workings ;are on the Flat, and performed - by the spade—the pick being very little in requisition. It averages about a foot to two feet of wash, which returns from half an ounce to-four ounces to the load ; it has been traced into ground too ; deep and too wet tomako it profitable to work. The spur near the township has. some.very good, claims.., The wash-dirt! is V ” *’ A * '• V * V ,v ' '* f • " • ’ j

B faput fifteen feet to. twenty feet deep—the whole of it being payable; therefore it will be many months before it is worked out. A great quantity of very pretty, but small rubies, are found amongst the gold ; also many other precious stones, but too small, to be of any value. At Deepdale, there are several parties making Very good wages on the banks of the creek. There are also a few parties working at the Stoneburn Creek, bat the gold, which is of a coarse nature, is very patchy- This frost deters many parties from washing-up, which is done by tub and cradle or by the long tom, so that when we have some summer weather it will wear a yet more lively appearance. : .