MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2057, 3 April 1883, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

, —+ [By our Special Mining Reporter.] Your readers wondered, perhaps, what became of the Mining Reporter and his report last week. Were I to say I had been to a prayer meetiug, or that I had been recruiting for the Salvation Army, why the chaps up the Lead would not believe it; so the best thing for me to do is to plead guilty to having been on the spree. Not being the only one, and seeing the Dillrnan's Knight of comb-and-cut fame could not resist the temptation, that in itself ought to be sufficient excuse for poor Phil Garlic. EASTER RETURNS. The Easter washings-up were very good—only two duffers; and even these claims, were water a little more reasonable, would pay wages. The best return was from Jones and party's claim 250 ounces, whilst several averaged from 80 to 100 ounces ; the lowest, and only one at that, gave 35 ounces. Roughly, the gross returns from the field may be put down at 1500 ounces of gold, or about £l7 per man for every miner on the field ; that is, if it were equally distributed. Worse luck, it is not, for I know to my sorrow that I didn't get £l7, or perhaps I might have been on the spree a little longer. Most of the claims got to work again by Wednesday last, and although there would not be much done, still the little odd jobs required after a washing-up were put to rights, and sluicing will be in full swing in the course of a couple of days. AT THE CHURCH BAZAAR. The many yarns spun amongst the lads as to their experiences and fun during the holidays are amusing. The Church Bazaar was quite a novelty, and took the diggers fancy; many expressed their regret at having stayed at the races too long, and not having cash enongh to meet the demands made by the ladies in charge of the stalls. And many were the excuses made sooucr

than admit impecuniosity. The best, as related to me, happened thus. Madam No. 1, in charge of fancy goods stall : "Oh ; G— where have you been to 1 I fully expected to see you on Monday night ! You bad boy ! You deserve a good talking to ! Now, I wont scold you, provided you make amends by purchasing this pretty doll; in fact, I have kept it purposely for you. See how prettily it is dressed 1 the dress alone is worth the ten shillings asked asked for it." "O, yes!" chimed in Madam No. 2, "do buy it! for, by practising to dress and undress it, you will make a most handy papa. I hear you are soon to be married, so the sooner you commence this most necessary part of a husband's duties the better." G— (with a knowing look at No. 2): "Oh ! there might be plenty of time for that sort of thing after marriage. Mrs No. 1, there, is three years married, and there's been no christening yet !" Mrs No. 2 : "Oh ! that's an exceptional case ; come now, no joking, but take the doll ! it is dirt cheap at ten shillings ! Just look at this pretty dress, and this skirt, and this—and this !" as she turned up each article of attire. Poor G— had to express his adiniratiou as each article of dress, in turn, was displayed; but was at his wit's end what excuse to make. To plead poverty, and he in a pile claim, would never do. A happy thought struck him, for though he lacked personal experience in nursing, still he noticed the doll lacked one vevy necessary, although never mentioned, article of attife. " Now," said he, " Mrs No. 2, do you call that doll fully and perfectly dressed V " Certainly." "Well then, I dont; w here's its j nex — what do you cull 'em 1 Have it properly fixed for to-monow night, and then I'll give you the ten shillings." That doll got rough handling afterwards, was thrown on the stall, and, No. 2, turning to No. 1, exclaimed : "Well, I never! only just fancy'! .a bachelor digger commencing to teach doll-dressing! for two pins I'd have boxed his ears !" Now the doll bride was perfectly dressed, and great was the pride and trouble taken to see that of all brides at Kumara, it should be the' best attired. O how it made the mouths •water of the many girls it was shown to, and even some of the young gallants in their hearts wished they were the happy possessors of it. The fates however, decided otherwise ; for J. Pearce, or " Man-of-War Jack," in his old age, is the happy possessor of the prettiest bride that never graced Kumara. NEW ROAD TO LARRIKIN'S. Last week Mignonette Plat was visited by the Public Works Committee of the Westland County Council, their business being to inspect personally the new road to connect with the Larrikins Road. The miners from the several claims mustered in strong force and pressed upon the committee the urgent necessity of at once constructing the road. One of a party of miners who was carrrying timber for the claim some three hundred yards, bared his shoulder, and by illustration proved that timber carrying was not conducive to the growth of skin, and expressed a wish that some of the councillors would do well to give him a spell. There was no response to this quaint yet forcible style of argument, and the committee decided to recommend the work. Councillor Jack tried a prospect out of the face of wash in Davie Moore's claim, and got a grain of gold to the dish. He admitted that beat Humphrey's Gully; and on being told that in Creber's claim he could wash two grains to the dish, he remarked that he was " agreeably surprised at the grand prospect there was in store for the Kumara miners," and that so far as he could, he would assist in gettting any necessary works constructed, and felt satisfied that if those councillors who had objected to the road had only done as he was doing—seeing for himself—there would be no more opposition to making the proposed road."