MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 790, 12 April 1879, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

[From otfß Special Mining Reporter.]

A few days ago there was consider* able talk about a rush on the flat just behind Dunedin Flat. It appears that a party were sinking there and got good prospects, and since that a second party has been successful in getting very fair prospects in the next claim; but they are not considered to be both on the same level, and therefore cannot be the same run of gold, if run there be at all; but they are more likely to be small patches, as the place has been sunk on all about, and there is not room for a decent run of gold, or it would have been got long ago. There is no doubt that patches will be got all over the flat, but as there are no ridges to form a back to a run of ground, it is not likely there will be any extent of it in any one place.

There is very little outlet just now for people that are getting worked out, unless they have the capital to go in for ground sluicing on a large scale. Up till recently there was a gradual extension of payable ground, which took up all that were getting worked oat, but at present there are a good number of men doing nothing. It is a pity the Government should think it advisable to remove our respected Warden to another district. It will take his successor a long time' to get conversant with the wants of a diggings of this description. Mr Price is thoroughly acquainted with this sort of diggings, and with Kumara in particular, and was beginning to extend great privileges to miners, under certain circumstances and nobody knows better than Mr Price when it is right, or otherwise, to give extended ground, or whatever libe privilege may be. If his

Successor should be a man unaccustomed to an alluvial diggings that has readied thestagethis lirs, the place may be cooked before he has learned how to treat it. Thin diggings is undergoing a change from the usual mode of working, to a more extensive and consequently more expensive system of working and unless parties are encomaijed by grants of extended ground in proportion to the capital invested, there must a d*al of .ground lay idle that would, with a liberal system, be worked to advantage. Mr Price's Very extensive experience and practical knowledge enabled him to grapple" with every individual ease ias it was presented to him, and there Was little fear of any party obtaining a monopoly in any shape, by misrepresentation or otherwise, without Matthew " smelling a rat." I don't think it, at all likely that this district will benefit by the change, whoever his successor may be, and had it not become fashionable to petition to have Government Bervants retained when the heads of departments had determined on a change* it might have been done in this case with some advantage to this district. A number of the old standing claims continue to pay very will, and on Mignonette Plat some of them have been improving for the last month or two. I am creditably informed that M'Kenzie's party of four have taken a thousand pounds worth of gold out of their ground since the water was laid on to the flat, and the claim is likely to last for a Jong time to come.