HAMILTON.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 134, 22 September 1871, Page 3

HAMILTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

Seeing that my old friend " Thiggin Thu " is defunct for the present, I have come to the conclusion that you might have room for a few lines from this neglected place. There has been so little to report in mining matters for the last few months that I was content to wait, especially when I found that you had so many clamorous for space in your valuable columns. lam glad to say that, notwithstanding the very unfavorable winter just past, necessitating the stoppage of work in the majority of claims for a space of from four to eight weeks, we have now a good prospect of a plentiful supply of water until Christmas, and in consequence everyone looks cheerful and hopeful. The snow, which fell a foitnight ago, although nearly all gone in the vicinity of the diggings, is still deep on the top of the range, and is likely to be for some time. A pretty severe frost followed the fall, which was the heaviest we have had for the last three years—averaging eighteen inches —andtaking into consideration the thaw going on at the same time, I calculate that we had a solid fall of thirty inches.

The race proprietors had some trouble in cleaning out their races, owing to the hea\y wind which blew a few days after the snow fell, thereby drifting the snow into and filling the races. However, on this occasion—being, I believe, the first—some of the Tucker Flat men volunteered to give a hand, and it was soon done.

I should ere this have given you some account of the diggings on top of the range, which were opened by a man named Cambridge last autumn. But as I did not do so at the time, I was waiting until they went up again to be able to give correct news ; but hearing it is reported that we are keeping it quiet, I have determined to tell what I know at present. The diggings are situated on the top of the Rock and Pillar Range, and are twelve miles distant from the Sowburn, the road only being fit for pack-horses, and I would not advise anyone to attempt going there for at least a fortnight, because the party who was there last year went up previous to the last fall of snow, and had to return to the Sowburn, which they reached with some difficulty, after being in the snow for some eight or ten hours For all that, I question the policy of their starting when they did, in the storm, seeing that they had plenty of provisions. The diggings were opened by Cambridge last autumn, who worked by himself for a good many weeks, when two other men went, and the three stayed there until the winter became too severe, when they returned to the Sowburn. It is reported that Cambridge averaged as much as £8 per week, but I believe I am pretty near the truth when I say that £4> or £4 10s. per week was the average. The other two men, I believe, were unsuccessful in making wages, owing to the lateness of the season and their being unacquainted with the ground. The ground itself partakes more of shallow paddocking or " crevicing" than digging, as the gold is found in the gullies on the rock bottom, and is totally free from the action of water, being ragged and nuggetty. Any parties going there will find it best to make the Sowburn, where they will be shown the track ; but unless t'lere be a rush, they need aot depend en getting provisions nearer than Hamilton. However, I hear of several enterprising persons who intend taking goods there so soon as there is a prospect of any demand.