MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 275, 16 December 1865, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Accounts from all portions of the Wakatip represent the miners as fully erilploye<] making preparations for the Christmas holdays, and very few claims are washing up just now. The accounts generally are favorable, and the change to settled fine weather is another incentive to activity on the part of miners. We believe the Christmas holidays will extend over eight days, and no doubt be much patronised if the weather only continues propitious. Our Maori Point correspondent, writing 15th instant, says: — " At the reefs affairs arc brisk, and some parties are busy making preparations for their quartz-crushing machinery, which is expected to arrive shortly. The various sluicing companies at Skipper's are working hard, the majority of whom do not intend to wash up till Christmas. Watkins and party are reconstructing their framework for leading their flume across Skipper's Creek. Parties in the creek are also busy ijow fine weather has set in, and are doing well. Moore and party, at Skipper's Point, have their wire rope stretched and the water flumed over the creek. They will commence sluicing next week. "In affairs social, I may mention that Mr Fisher, of the Aylmer Hotel, Skipper's, is actively engaged preparing for the Christmas sports. Mr Nicol Brown is about building a targe hotel at the reefs. This is a step in the right direction, as travellers visiting that locality will thus find good accommodation a want hitherto very much felt. "At Maori Point the sluicing claims are turning out well, and all parties are satisfied. One or two have lately left to join their friends at the West Coast goldfield. They sold their shares, however, at good figures, thus proving the permanence of the terrace workings about here. "An accident occurred to Mr Bordeaux, the storekeeper, on Saturday last, when proceeding to the branches of the Shotover with loading. A portion of the track gave way, and two valuable horses were precipitated into the river. lam glad to say the horses escaped, uninjured, although nearly all the loading was lost."

In the R.M. Court the business has been unimportant. The case of Rees v. Barnett is postponed until the 18th. The only case of any interest was that of Bowes v. Silk for £l, legal services rendered in the matter of a dispute between defendant and an hotelkeeper about three pigs. The defendant denied having en. gaged the plaintiff, who, however, swore differ, ently, and called two witnesses who gave their version of the case. The defendant also called two witnesses. The Court gave judgment for the plaintiff, remarking that according to defendant's own admission he had poured out his troubles for half an hour to the plaintiff, and had received advice, and he could hardly expect if he went to consult a physician not to pay a fee. The costs for witnesses were not allowed. At the licensing meeting no new applications were made for publicans licenses, but several wholesale licenses were granted. The fall in the price of gold from 3/ 17s to 3/ 15s 6d has given some dissatisfaction to the miners. The Bank of Otago raised the price to 3/ 16s 9d, beyond which figure this bank refused to advance. The Union and Bank of New Zealand gave 3/ 17s, and would have gone, it is said* even higher. As the miners sold at the highest price the Bank of wa§ shut out of the field, and an agreement has since been entered into not to permit the cost of gold to exceed 3/ 15s 6d. It was said previous to this reduction that the bank which first rose the price intended making the standard. 3/ 16s 9d had they met encouragement. The following is copy of a letter in answer to memorial from the residents of Skipper s, &c , which has been handed to us for publication . « General Post Offica, Wellington, December 2, 1865. Gentlemen,- With reference to a memorial signed by you and other residents of Skipper's Creek, praying that the lender of Mr Henry Sprake, the present mail contractor foi the services between Queenstown and Maori Point be accepted, I am directed to inform you> that Mr Sprake's tender was so much in advance of others that it could not be accepted. 1 have the honor to be, &c.,-G. Eliott Eliott, Secretary— Messrs E. Fisher, A. Murdoch, and others signing the memorial." The Expert steamer, while coming u*> from Kingston yesterday, bad a narrow escape. A rope washed off the deck got in the screw, but fortunately, Mr Cameron, the engineer, observed the strain, tyid stopped the engine before the shaft was damaged. The vessel was then put under canvas, and after some hours, with great difficulty, she was moored in calm water near Rees' Woolshed. Previous to this the firewood was thrown overboard, and once or twice Captain Pritchard despaired of saving the boat. After a great deal of trouble the rope was cut into pieces, and the steamer reached Queenstown shortly after ten last night. The Dunstan Hospital Committee have decided " that the names of all persons receiving gratuitous relief from the Hospital shall be fur* nished to the Committee by the House Burgeon in his monthly report, and that such names be published."—' Dunstan Times.'