EPITOME OF MINING NEWS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 98, 6 April 1864, Page 3

EPITOME OF MINING NEWS.

NEVIS. From the Nevis we learn that the miners are, in some instances, realising splendid returns from their claims, as much as two and three pounds weight being taken from a small paddock. Those parties who possess claims where the river is turned are in most cases realising their most sanguine expectations, while many others, from the low state of the river, have no reason to complain of the small amount of the golden treasure acquired by them. MANUHEBIKIA. The river still continues to go down in a very steady and satisfactory manner. The fall for the last three days has been at the rate of four inches during the 24 hours. That well-known sign, the rock just below the junction of the Manuherikia, which is always taken as a guide that a number of the beach claims are workable, is now uncovered by the water to the depth of a foot, after remaining so many months unseen. Miners are coming in from all directions, where they have been spending the summer months, and are taking up their old claims again. The river now is not more than two feet above its lowest level of last winter, and we think we may safely calculate that in a fortnight hence, or even less, all beach claims that have ever been workable will be so again. At the Half-mile Beach some of the ground is yielding splendid returns. One claim has already been in work for the last fortnight. It is a three-men's claim, but held by one individual, who employs nine others, himself making the tenth, all of whom are busily employed extracting gold in such quantities that, if the river keeps down for a moderate length of time, the employer of the labor will realise quite a little fortune. The claims at Golden Point and Prospector's Beach are all in work again, but no gold has been got out as yet, the parties being employed cleaning out races and adjusting waterwheels. By the time this is in print most of these preparatory arrangements will be complete, and the auriferous gravel be yielding up some of its long pent up treasures. — Dunstan News. Hamilton's. The quiet of Hamilton's has been lately much disturbed by the rush near Fullarton's. Considerable numbers of the dissatisfied and late arrivals immediately packed away to the new field, much to their discomfiture, as not more than three or four payable claims could be secured. Some of these are exceedingly rich; one is said to be producing 50 ounces to the load. Many who have been disappointed in this last rush, will doubtless meet with payable ground either in its immediate vicinity or in the neighborhood of the Eightmile rush. The population of the Eight-mile has been considerably increased during the past week. The Dunstan Creek is also commanding a large share of the miners' attentior and industry. Hamilton's itself has been rather dull during the last few days, in consequence of the excitement produced through i the rich prospects obtained on the new fields. | Already, however, considerable numbers who had left it are beginning to return and take up their old claims or sink upon new ground. A shaft 98 feet in depth has been bottomed | on the hill under the land slip, the prospect I being one ouuee to the dish; the ground is | wet, but not very difficult to work. The races | are fast progressing, and we may expect about ! the latter end of the next week that the Pigburn will be winding its serpentine course round the mountain sides on to the busy scene of digging life, where it has so long been desired, instead of musically rippling over its old stony bed, through the peaceful and quiet vale where sheep alone have hitherto been benefitted by it.—Daily Times. THE WAIHOLA FIELD. The latest accounts from this newly-disco-vered field inform us that more than one hundred persons were at work, making satisfactory earnings; and that should the w rkings now being attempted on the sides of the gully and the spurs prove successful, that there will be room for a much larger population. Until, however, something positive is known on this latter subject, we cannot advise those who may be on the look-out for new fields to make a rush to the Waihola, as the present population is reported to be quite as great as the discoveries hitherto made will afford room for. The sitution of the diggings is behind Mary Hill, on land immediately adjoining the property of Mr Duff. The gold is throughout of a heavy, shotty character. The sinking is from five to ten feet. THE SERPENTINE. The new rush at the Deep Gully, distant about six miles from the township, is turning out remarkably well. The course of the creek has been turned for a distance of nearly two miles, all the bed of which is now being wrought. In parts there is very little washdirt, merely a gravelly deposit in the crevices of the rock; while in others it varies from one to two feet. The gold obtained here is

very coarse and nuggety, much the same as that obtained at Campbell's and entirely different in either quality or texture to any found in the vicinity of the Serpentine Valley. At Golden, Crinoline, and German Jack's Gullies, the population is very much scattered, but all appear to be working steadily, and appear satisfied with their gains. The race party are pushing ahead famously, and have nearly three miles of their work complete. They intend erecting a good substantial hut, and laying in a stock of provisions, so as to stand out the winter if possible, which here is very severe, on account of the altitude of the workings, which occupy almost the highest point of the Rough Ridge. A line of snow poles on the road to Drunken Woman's Creek would be a great advantage to the inhabitants, and, perhaps, be the means of saving life, now that the winter is fast approaching, as only on Tuesday week last the ground was covered with snow to the depth of six inches, and traffic, for the space of twentyfour hours, entirely suspended on account of the fog that accompanied the storm. THE MOLYNEUX. The river continues to fall steadily, and keeps up its old rate of decrease—about four inches perpendicular in twenty-four hours, daily laying bare a large amount of beach. We have little doubt that ere long the banks of our noble river will again be the home of a large population, Tho, if appearances prove true, will not be disappointed this season in their golden expectations.—Dunstan Times.