MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 512, 18 May 1878, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

[From our Special Mining Reporter.]

It is. hardly possible to imagine more miserable weather than what has been experienced for the last fortnight. For those who have to work on top at the windlass, or do any work amongst timber, it must be miserable indeed. I know one man from the sultry clime of Queensland who gave it best altogether one day this week, and put on a man rather than face the drenching rain and boisterous wind that was blowing. It is next to impossibility to keep a fly over your head; and the most of them wire-in under double-reefed topsails. Those who are foi the most part on top got along right enough, hut men. who are the greater part of their time below feel it very keenly when they have to come on top, and it will be a relief when (he clear f: osty weather sets in. While this wet weather lasts a great number of claims are kept idle, as it is no use attempting to bail when the water gets in from the surface. It is a very serious affair with claims that require to be worked every day and a large amount of stuff gut out to make them payable at all, to be kept in forced idleness ; but it is a notorious fact that parties who were most liable to be flooded out were the most careless in bringing before the Government the desirability of having a tail-race constructed.

In spite of the bad weather there are still claims being taken up on the flat, and shafts going down, and lor the most part they are getting payable prospects. It is with the greatest difficulty that the trades-people find their way about delivering their goods along the track, as trees and debris shew the tracks in all directions; what is everybody’s is nobody’s business, and hence the trees lie where they fall, and everyone finds a road for himslf.

The water-races in the district must be very carefully looked after, as I have heard of no stoppages through the late bad weather.

There have been a few narrow escapes with falling trees along the lead but for the most part the dangerous trees have been felled, as the narrow escapes of last winter caused a great slaughter amongst the timber.