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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 385, 28 July 1876, Page 3

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(From our own correspondent.) July 26tli. The fact of the Star of Otago Company hiving struck payable wash four feet in thickness is an event of no small moment to the parties particularly interested, bosides being 'an occurrence fraught with considerable satisfaction to the district residents in toto. When tho Company is fully agate it is contemplated to put on hired labor, thus affording skilled but perhaps unsuccessful miners an opportunity of making a "rise," by which they may be enabled to prospect the surrounding country. And I feel certain that the opening of remunerative auriferous ground is a matter only requiring patience, industry, and reasonable pocket power. Unfortunately most miners now-a-days who pome trying about partially abandoned diggings lack the. tiling that '.' makes the mare go," and are obliged to keep dragging on from hand to mouth, ; so that it is next to the miraculous if they succeed in opening a paying patch in new ground. If they do venture their luck in a comparatively unworked locality three or four months of unrewarded 1 oil leaves them, as they pertinently express, " stone broke," and back they must go to some stand-by, old ground, to keep the pot a-boiling. 80 .it continues generally, year after year, while actuaily fairly rich ground may be, and often is, lying availing but tho necessary means to compass its profitable development. This holds good especially where deep ground, such as that of the Star of Otago's, is concerned, and where, if not that the requisite capital was available in their case, the ground they have opened would, in all pi'obahility, lie perdu for years. However, thanks to hope, energy, and the " possibles," a new and prosperous era in mining in this locality is likely to be inaugurated. There is every reason, too, to believe that similar expenditure and perseverance by other parties would successfully demonstrate that fairly payable deep leads exist on many of the spurs in tho vicinity of Fullarton's. It is a well known fact that years back, during the stampede to the West Coast, patches, varying from 100 ounces to 400 ounces, were in many instances obtained, and, were* I to u-11 you

tales, well authenticated by those whoso credibility is beyond doubt, of the rich patches got in those .halcyon days my narratives might bo regarded as rather strong, so I forbear. But lam sure that, systematic and continuous labor wolild unearth a great deal of the yellow metal, provided that parties had but the sinews of war in the first place. I cannot now go further into detail with the Star of Otago's workings. This is the first blush of the news. In a week or so I shall be able, I hope, to communicate news of consequence to the whole of the Otago mining communities. In my last lelter I intimated that the Progress CominiUeo dealt with various matters of importance to the lieges her*. Amongst the*e I may mention that much dissatisfaction prevails in consequence of the gross neglect of the Public Works Department, in not having done a stroke of work in the way of needed repairs to the road between the Kyeburn, Hyde, and Macraes. By this route all our communication with the outer world is carried on, and when it is known that those settlers whose mea:ns of livelihood depend on carting their produce some twenty or thirty iniles on each side of Hyde to market are almost unable to do so, owing to the wretched condition of ihe highway, consequent upon the stoppage of labor for four 'dreary winter months, it will sot be deemed the Committee's action, in directing the Secretary's (of Public Works) attention to this injurious and disgraceful carelessness was cither premature or out of place. The Public Works' Secretary has therefore been written to in connection herewith, and an answer, undertaking to supply remedial measures, has been urgently and respectfully asked. Pending a. reply. from tho' Provincial Secretary relative to a change in the size of sections of block for settlement, the survey drags on slowly. Tho Government is aware the" land is required for crop this year, a;:d anything tending to negativesueh a result is most unfair aud disastrous to the district. There has been a misconstruction, fairly or otherwise, in regard to the survey bo far, and 'twere time the matter were speedily and justly set at rest. Tho Committee, too, have placed themselves in communication wii h Mr. de Lautour anent subjects of local and. general interest, the result of which will be made known to the community in due time.

A deputation of the Committee also waited on Mr.. Hobinson, Warden, &c., with the object of ascertaining whether land open on deferred payments can be entered and mined upon, and other work necessary to the prosecution of mining labor carried out thereon, lie received the deputation very kindly, but informed them there was nothing to prevent miners so doing. It appears a portion of the block open for selection is, and has been auriferous. On this some miners, are located; have taken tip claims in the usual manner, and have made the customary applications for water rights, races, &e. There is a gap somewhere in the deferred pay ment Act, with regard to em (lowering mining thereon. It is generally understood that great care is taken in the selection of such land, so as to prevent the clashing of mining and other interests, but in this particular instance no precautions whatever seem to have been taken to guard against such collision. 2000 acres of land, adjoiuing a rich auriferous area, are inconsiderately directed to be surveyed, without in any way acquainting the Warden with the fact. At least he should have been consulted, and asked to say'whether any portion thereof would-be likely to be sought for for mining. One of the creeks, too, intersecting it contains a lignite bed, which should be reserved for the fuel requirements of settlers. Mr. Eobinson promised to see that, if auriferous land were taken from the sections, he would recommend a full equivalent of acreage in lieu. As this will likely damage two sections for purposes of settlement, a new defining of boundary line for the block will have to be made near Main's pre-emptive, right. The Warden's and other Courts were held last Wednesday week. A case in the U.M. Court, Mr. W. Halley v. Rev. H. Flamank, was dealt with, and judgment given for plaintiff for full amount, £9, and costs £2. Some mining applications were heard in the Warden's Court.

The weather has been intensely cold last week and this, and the water supply —owing to the frosty nights and days—nil.