KUMARA.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 33, 25 June 1877, Page 2

KUMA R A .

[from ouk own caußEsrosDEXT.] Theiusli, which I raouticncd in my last between Dilhmu town nnd Blake's nosi saw mill, though causing little excitement is progressing slowly. Out of tho lino o claiui9 first marked and sunk, only thro of the nearest to the prospectors Invt struck gold, one, Botirk's party bav ; ng ox ccllent prospects, the rest aro proved t( be duffers, but then' ovrucr3 havo shifted a littlo moro to the weat, and thotiql troubled with water are sinking again under the belief the run is more to tha side, and not following the trend of the ter race. The way it is supposed to be head ing will take it clear of all workings am into completely new and untried country i should gold be found as far ahead as tbi , last claim sinking, some half-mile fron i the prospectors, it will bo safo to assunn , the link in the continuation of the mail lead has at last been found, and snolhei extensive rush will set in, for diggers »r< all uudev the impression the lead will gel richer as it ia traced nearer to its soureo. : From other pai fs of the field there is little to chronicle. Claims that hare been us- ' ing tho cradle, as water becomes available ■ from the vicinity of the Kapitea race, change their mode of washing, build large end high paddocks, and discard the rockers for the sluice bos, and obtain generally a corresponding increase in their weekly earrings ; thepaddooks are usually constructed of a size to bold (ho stuff raised during two weeks. Id some tunnel claims where a good system is adopted, seven men will in that time ran oat and wash 140 loads, bnt where claims working out of a shaft adhere to the old style of raising stuff by the windlass such a quantity will necessarily take a much longer time to get. From the maia ditch distributions races aye cut in various direolions to supply the claims, nod where required fluming is erected by the Couipanjios; on the Shamrock lead a contraot for half a mile is now being carried out, , and a like amount for the Okoka Company, Jate Prospectors race. The cba-ge ; for water is £1 for 40 inches xuaniu.r eight hoars, but as some claims aye intending to use tbree or foor heads daily , for ground sluioing, some abatement will ' be made though by the shareholders ; thought scarcely sufficient. The fact of the town' and diggings of Knmara being situated in ft pine forest with timber plentiful and cheap, is no doubt one great , reason why the town has grown to such large proportions ; though its extremities are not extending, the number of build- ; ings is continually being increased, the gaps between existing houses being , gradually filled up, and among the build- | ' iags erecting arc some intended for hotels, as if the place had not already more i than double the quantity it can support, but the idea appears to be gaining ground here, that it will be an excellent 1 place for whisky mills ; publicans arguing on the rule that when men are on an average making only a pound or tro a week over expenses they do not think the remainder worth savingandso providethem

ii time n itli places to ;nako them welcome ( in, aud spend the balance. Another 1 noticeable object about here is the nura- ' ber of places in which gold is announced to be bought, for besides the banks, of which there aye fire, oil stores even to the most iosigniQcant, placard tlteir fronts with the announcement in large letters, " Gold Bought," so that a stranger would tbisk a wonderful business was doing in the precious metal, whereas unfortunately, the reverse is the case, and it is very pro* bable the reason why the banks decline lo publish their monthly gold returns is because the amounts are so insignificant. The weather of late has been simply abominable, wind and raiu, alternating with rain, wind, thunder end lighting. Many narrow escapes are recorded from trees being blown down, but no serious accidents are reported. Creeks and rivers have been very high, checking for a time all wheeled traffic, but there is a delightful change in tno weather to day, wuich is mightily welcome. Kuraara, June 19th, 1377.