MINING REPORT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2110, 4 June 1883, Page 2

MINING REPORT.

[By our Special Mining Reporter.] Monday, June 2. So the welcome and long-wished-for rain has come at last, and that in abundance, the supply to the Government race being more than could be utilised, whilst two out of the three dams belonging to Mr Holmes are filled; bis third dam, at the Christchurch road, is about half full. It would be advisable and profitable to Mr Holmes were he to spend a few pounds in constructing catch water-races, so that in wet weather the supply of the third dam would be increased ; otherwise, unless in very wet weather, the carrying capacity of this splendid reservoir cannot be fully utilised—at all events not more than three or four times during the year. The Long Tunnel party have had a fair supply of water during the week, and have made good use of it. It is a pity this party have not had better luck—or, to speak plainer, it is to be regretted that owing to mismanagement and internal dissensions amongst themselves—a large amount of labour and capital has been wasted. And yet all the bitter experience of the past does not seem to profit them. At the present time one section of the shareholders desire to construct a second dam on

Sandy's Terrace, whilst another section oppose the making of a new dam, and consider it would be more economical to raise the embankment of the dam in existence. When matters arrive at the unsatisfactory stage they have done in the Long Tunnel party; the best course to adopt is to wind up, and, by putting the property in the market, more capital, which is the principal want at present, would be forthcoming. More water must be procured, or otherwise Long Tunnel dividends are a long way off. CJp the Lead all is bustle and activity. Before daylight old Davy is at his post,' and gauge after gauge is fixed, and the water ganged to a nicety ; and so correctly does this valuable Government servant gauge the water that the quantity given in excess would not fill a. two-quart billy in a month. The lights in the various huts at once point out those who are on the first shifts, and ere it is properly daylight, the crashing of the falls of earth, and the rattle of the stones in the boxes, or the rolling of the boulders down the stone-heaps, prove that the day's sluicing has commenced. To those fortunate individuals whose circumstances do not require them to get up before 8 a.m., I would recommend for once that they should take a trip up the Lead at 6.30 a.m., and if they do not appreciate their next morning's extra turn in the blankets, why I'm no judge of what a sneezer means; but, as one of my mates said after getting an involuntary bath from the nozzle, " What's the use of growling ?—we can't expect to have a Yankee stove in the paddock." As they call me the gas-pipe, I suddenly turned deaf and dumb, or I should have rejoined that—lt would be more economical if he had washed his face at home in lieu of doing it in the paddock, and then using obscene language to the bnllockhide piping. The sludge-channel has worked very well during the week. In the morning there are no blockages at all; bat in the afternoon, when the water gets slack, it does not work so well, and there were one one or two stoppages of, an hour or so until things were put to rights. Charley Harris is not likely now to be saved by the prayers of the sludge-channel claimholders, for their vespers are all bestowed upon Johnny Bo.urke and the long ex of the X division. One most eloquent pleader for blessing wound up his oration by saj« ing "It was a pity he ever left the foorce;" and that "if he were the manager of the sludge-channel, that he would recommend Government to give the long fellew rank of sergeant, and thereby coax him back again; otherwise the tailing room at the mouth of the sludge-channel will all be blocked within six months." Knowing the party alluded to was and is the best heavy-stone putter at Kumara, I think there is something in the suggestion. Netzbrand and party washed up last week, and had the welcome return of 70ozs. of gold. This is the first real test of the Mignonette Flat ground, as they are the farthest out in the flat. The adjoining claimholders are in great spirits, and consider now that there can be no doubt whatever but that the whole of the flat will pay well for sluicing. Our old friend Ambrose Creber, who is a shareholder in Netzbrand's claim asserts that there is just as much danger of " a camel going through the eye of a needle," or something to that effect, as there is of there being any duffer claims on Mignonette Flal", And I simply say Amen ; and verily believe he is not very far wrong. The new road is commenced, and there is quite a township springing up at the south side of the flat. Creberville is to be the name, but the formal christening will not take place until after the next washing-up.