WELSHMAN'S GULLY, ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 258, 13 February 1874, Page 3

WELSHMAN'S GULLY, ST. BATHANS.

One of the oldest Goldfiolds. in the Province—the discovery of >4 »\vhich is popularly attributed to'the late-filr. John Jones, who sent up prospectors whose efforts led to its discovery—deHen es some share of general notice. For the last ten years the miners working at the Gully have participated in 311 all round prosperity that is al-most-unknown in other localities, very few earning lues than £5 to £G a week. .The limit to the gold produced from these workiugs is alone reached by the water-power available. The best sup-

ply comes from the' (jrock, •and is in clio oi' u -ami-party enabling them to wm-U n : ;nid d;iv: The workings at. prm-iit are oil the flat, which is beiny sluiced up in a uniform face the full widrh o'f the gully. T,he face,, on an average about fifteen feet-in 'height, presents a very rough At the bottom is a threat quant'tyJbf:■ -rough stone the stone v diminishing in size towards the top, where a few iveins of finer river wash and sand are clearly marked. The s1 one does not-.- present any appearance of having been -conveyed far : by river action, being singularly rouy;h—nothing like as smooth as the stones, and. pebbles observable now 011 the surface .'of the . present river beds of the. Manuherikia or Dunstan Greek. The deposit appears to us to have been caused more by the melting of snows on the ranges liberating blocks ©f ice,to theiirslide down by? gravitation; car•ryfcgk •picking,.a (>,••. a nd-gri ndi ngfthersur-.--face, rocks of the mountain The glaciers melting at the. base of the mountains would naturally deposit the larger stones first, the.finer - drifting •farther down. Subsequently, when a more temperate climate was in existence, the finer river wash would.be deposited without any great water power being a necessary, condilion. It should be remembered that, a very few degrees more cold than we - experience -in win - ter. w quid,-with a greater rain fall;'give all the surface characteristics of glaciers and glacier action to be seen now • in existence at Mount Cook. About forty Government heads of water are available for working the flat, or about an average of- two heads per man. Thus it will be seen that, with regard to water supply, "Welshman's is well favored. There are four claims on the face, all the shareholders in which appear to be getting good returns..The ground is -very expensive to work, -as, in spite of the fine wp.ter supply, the stonejaas all to be forked into; the" back ' paddocks. ■ The "only ground at all equal to it in roughness we know of, at present being worked, is at the Upper Kyeburn, and Messrs. Botfcirigs' claim at Maerewhenua. Considerable timesis'iiet-essary to -get' away any extent of ground, an acre being a year's work for three men. Ground 1 that, notwithstanding these difficulties will pay from £4 to £6 per week- per 1 man, must be very good indeed-: lirown and party, who employ*a large length of hose;; being able to get on pressure from the hill side intend, we hear, shortly to go in for iron piping. At present the hose has to be renewed about "every six months, so that-iron | pipes . would very soon pay for them-.i selves, : besides: accelerating the work. There are seyeral.nice hou«es dotted up the Gully towards the coalpit/and a well-built wooden school, ; which;? by the bye, would be the better,' before the wet weather sets in, of three: coats of paint. The cost would soon save itself in wear.and tear. The resident Patterson) conducts tlie school-.mth credit, ; giving general satisfaction;

The original coalpit, now in the hands, of Mr. Washer, has sent out large ..quantities of good bur.ni ng<; coal, the seam being at least fifteen feet thick as-it dip* into the hill. Mr. Caleb .JQongee has, since--the first lease was granted, obtained another from the Waste Land Board, contiguous to' *Mr. and is sending a large supply to the 'Creek and elsewhere. Mr. Washer sends coals to. Blacks, jDrjbread, and Tinkers, a market -that? must increase with the advancement of settlement. ' • ' , Mr. Griffiths and Mr.. Washer offer every inducement to travellers in the way ,of accommodation, and'supply the residents . with the necessaries of life at very low prices indeed, i ! The population;"*'miners and others,, is estimated at about ninety—a. population sing ul arly contentedhappv, andi prosperous.

: It is not very, creditable that no postal conveniences have yet found their way to the. Gullv —mails taking their own sweet will, unhampered and unmolested. ; When it is understood, as it should be, that the progress of communities depends a great deal uponithe postal facilities afforded them, important districts such as Welshman's Gully will- no longer be deprived of the right of regular' mail communication.. . Two shares, in claims.changed bai\ds last week, the one at £305 and the other £295. Both shares were third ■shares. into consideration that the ground' is'riotpatchy, and that £250 per -year may be counted upon,' : these prices appear singularly below the real value of the shares. ■ Such property should "be worth three years' purchase..