MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1682, 18 February 1882, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

[From our Special Mining Reporter.] MINING CLAIMS. MIGNONETTE FLAT. There are several parties still working j on this flat, but there is a deserted look about it which an old miner never cares to see. The mode of working is by shaft and windlass ; the returns a little over tucker. There is only a small portion of the ground in this flat that the sludgechannel will command, but as time works on, the ground will surely be worked on the incline principle. Far poorer ground is being worked at the present time in Ross by this method, and is giving fair returns. Whilst in this locality your reporter met one of the Kumara pioneers, John Isbester. The old gentleman is as cheery as ever. "Tons of gold yet in Kumara 1" was the parting salute; ROSS TERRACE. Johnny Bourke and Party.—Five Men's Double-area Claim.—This party have their tail-race completed, and -will shortly be sluicing in full swing. The knotty point of defining as to how the boundaries of adjoining sluicing claims are to be taken out and worked is being tested by this party. The Warden has ordered arbitration in the first place. The arbitrators are - for Bourke and party, Gilbert Roberts ; for O'Neil and party, Michael Lee ; but they not being able to agree, James Tait has been appointed umpire. The conclusion arrived at by them will be submitted to the Warden, who will make an order accordingly. This is one of the most important features in connection with the working of the claims that has as yet been determined since the Kumara goldfields broke out, and the miners are most anxious that a fair and equitable solution of the difficulty may be arrived at. The depth of washdirt to be sluiced in this claim will average 50 feet. A share changed bands by public tender last week at £220. O'Neil and Party.—Six Men's Ordinary Claim.—This party are making good headway. They sluice into the Dunedin party's tail-race, and pay a weekly tribute for so doing. The returns from this claim have averaged nearly £lO per week per man for the last six months. Chisholm and Party.—Four Men's Ordinary Claim.—This party are doing very well, and are making a large hole in the terrace. Their returns are kept very quiet. They have a tail-race and stonetunnel of their own, which discharge at the front of the Teremakau Terrace. Jones and Party.—Extended Claim, equal to Eight Men's Double-area.—This party have a first-rate piece of ground, and are working the same on the most advanced principle. Their face is now about the centre of the terrace, and about 60 feet deep. As there is good gold from top to bottom, the Ross Terrace claims are thereby proved to be the best sluicing claims in Kumara. This party have their own tail-race and stone-tunnel. Reynolds and Party. —Six Meii'sDonble' area Claim.—This party are in full swing and have made a good gap in the side of the terrace considering the time they have been sluicing. They have a stone-tunnel and tail-race of their own. The washdirt averages GO feet. Three days sluicing averages £SO worth of gold in the tailrace—not so bad at all these poor times. No shares for sale, which is a very good sign. Brown and Party.—Six Men's Doublearea Claim.—This claim is situate at the north side of Ross Terrace, at the foot of the old track .to Larrikins, and has proved to be one of the very best claims yet opened. They have their o wjx tail-race and stone-tunnel and are working the ground to advantage. The manner in which a huge granite boulder weighing 100 tons was disposed of and placed in its little bed by them would surprise our theoretic but impracticable Government engineers. Lee and Party.—Five Men's Doublearea Claim.—This claim is partly on the Dillman's Flat and Ross Terrace. The ground paid well for driving, and will no doubt do the same as a sluicing claim, provided it be worked to advantage. The Larrikins road will prove a serious drawback when opening out. Watson and Party. —Four Men's Ordinary Claim.—This party are driving their ground ; it is giving fair returns at present. Like all the rest of the ground in this locality, sluicing will be its ultimate necessity. Simpson and Bain.—Two Men's Ordinary Claim. These two, like Darby and Joan, are jogging along very quietly, and asa protracted spree is now and again indulged in, it augers well for the quality of the ground. The mode of working is by driving, the washdirt being then paddocked by means of a whip. Joeßourkeand Party. —Extended Claim of Five Acres —This claim is well situated; the party are hard at work making preparations for sluicing. Two shares in this claim changed hands last week at £IBO per share. Pascoe and Party.—Six Men's Doublearea claim.—This party are up along the ten-ace, and hold a very fair claim. They have just commenced driving their tailrace, which, when completed, will be 1000 feet long. An abandoned tunnel alongside is taken up for use as a stone-tunnel. The Government race crosses the claim, and as there is a shaft already sunk to open out from, once the tail-race is in, the party's troubles are over. Though the claim has only been taken up this last three weeks and the certificate is not yet granted, a share was sold in it on Saturday last for £6O. DTJNEDIN FLAT. Bramhall and Party. Five Men's Double-area Claim. —This claim is the farthest down the flat. They are at present driving a branch tail-race in Seddon's

tail-race, which will take another fortnight to complete. They intend erecting. & whim to haul up the stones. This claini will be the least expensive of any claim oil the flat to open out„ owing, to the Government water-race and the Seddon tail-race both running through the same. A share 1 changed hands at £SO a Jew days ago: Palmer and Party. Three Men's 1 Double-area claim.—This party are working on shifts driving a tail-race into Poulson and party's tail-race. The bottori layers in this ground have been all driven out, but the top dirt is estimated to pay well for sluicing. Three dhe-siith shares changed hands last week at £SO each. The depth df wash in this part of the flat would average 30 feet. Sellars and Party.—Extended Claim, Five Acres.—This party have a branoli tail-race into the Seddon tail-race. They have finished their jiinip-up arid have driven a stone-tunnel to Williams' did water-balance: The work in this claini goes on veTy slow; owing to the difficulties' met in commencing opening out. A share in this claim was advertised for some tithe* as being for sale, but there was no buyer: Hobbs and Party.—Eight Men's Doublearea Claim.—This party were the first td bring a tail-race* on to Dnnedin Flat, and are the pioneer sluicers east of "The Break." . The claim has paid theni very well, and they have many years'" work yet before them. They have spared no expense in procuring the most advanced sluicing apparatus, which more than re : couped the first outlay. It is a great pity the majority of the sluicing claims do not follow their example; The last shard sold in this claim fetched £4OO. Poulson and Party—better known as" the Germans' Claim.—They are now ap-" plying for nine men's double-area grourid. The original claim is very good ; in fact, I believe they have divided more gold than any other party in Kuiriar'a. Tile last quotation for shares was £4OO. Evans and Party.—Six. Men's Double 1 I area Claim.—This party have completed" their tail-race arid stone tunnel, length 900 feet, and will soon make a good show at opening out. Being an adjoining claini to Poulson and party's, the ground is well, proved as being payable ; the depth of dirt will average 60 feet, with a splendid drop for tailings, and plenty of water ori the face, besides being a good working crowd. There is a bright future iri store for the "Ancient Briton's" party. Agnew and Party.—Five Men's Doublearea Claim.—This claim is in full swing,and paying handsome dividends; They have their own tail-race and ctoiie tunnel; Included in this party's double area is Moran's ever memorable claim, it being the first where gold was struck across the 1 Break. The average depth of dirt sluiced is 50 feet. There are no shares for sale j that looks healthy. Fraser and Party, or the Dunediri Claim.—Eight Men's Double-area;—This claim is in full swing, and the way the 5 ground disappears is something marvelous. They have their own tail-race, and haul up the stones to the surface by means of a whim. "The use of the giant nozzle was first introduced by this party atr Kuraara, and is a great improvement on the canvas or leather hose. If its use 1 were more general, more profits would ; accrue to those who invest. This party i say it saves labor and water, and prevents ' forcible adjectives being used, as they can ' throw a larger and more compact jet of water-on to any part of the face without giving any of the mates an involuntary shower-bath. The returns from this claim are very good ; quotation for shares; £4OO. , ' Baas and Party, or "The Snobs"" Claim.—This party are in full work, and have their own tail-race and stone tunnel, and are travelling oyer the ground mighty quick. The ground averages 30 feet, with a good sluicing prospect from top to bottom. The' ptoty are well satisfied with their returns. No' share's' have changed hands for some time. Healey and Party.—Five Men's Ordinary Claim.—This claim is being worked by hand-stripping, and the dirt trucked to the front of the terrace and paddockwashed. The returns per' week per man average £4 to £s—very fair returns indeed for the very primitive' method of working the ground. It would have been a splendid sluicing claim ; but it is now no use complaining, the shareholders are satisfied, and so I must be the same. dillman's road. Whinnery and party are trying Browri and party's old claim, but the returns are very small. Clime and party are making very good headway, and are well satisfied with their returns. O'Loughlan and party are working on the Teremakau side of the prospectors-' dam, and the ground is paying them fair wages. Our old friend "Billy, the Butcher" purchased a share in this claim at Christmas for £IOO, and seems well satisfied with his bargain. Were it otherwise, it would not disturb his equanimity much j he is a second Mark Tapley. Hanna and Party. Extended Claim, Four Acres.—This claim is situate behind the Church of England Reserve, and the ground should pay well for sluicing. They have driven the tail-race a distance of 1200 feet. Another month should bring them the required distance. They will then commence the jump-up, and, after boxing the tail-race, sluicing operations will commence. Six months hence should see the first washing. This party have had very great difficulties to contend against, and deserve to be well rewarded for their energy and pluck.