OPHIR.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 668, 27 December 1851, Page 3

OPHIR.

Noybmmb 24. —1 am happy to say, for the miners’ sakes that the weather appears to have ‘ taken up,” as the washerwomen say, when they have done with the water. A more’ beautiful night— yet rather frosty—than the last, when the new moon arrived, 1 have rarely witnessed. The hills, but more particularly the valleys or lowlands around Ophir, are covered with sweet herbage and innumerable flowers, which latter, for beauty and variety, would cause a blush upon the Bay of Botany, so celebrated for its beauties. But it is not of green herbage, or golden grain that I should employ my pen, the intelligence you more particularly require, is in reference to our “diggings,” and I think this week’s collections have been by no means behind any of its predecessors. I have heard of some parties making their ten to twenty ounces a-day, in good sized nuggets, varying from a quarter of an ounce to fourteen ; and these for the most part the solid metal. One party of three, near Newtown, shovelled up about twenty ounces to-day—one nugget, I was informed, weighing about ten ounces. Another party, near the junction, have been very successful duuug the week ; the share of one individual belonging thereto heino rjf ounces. I could enumerate many others, but I must conclude with Northwood’s, which breaks up the end of this week. They have collected, and sent by this week’s escort, upwards of 67 ounces; one nugget of which weighed about ten ounces, and another nearly fifteen ; —this last was taken out of the Blind creek, facing the claims which have been thoroughly turned over, and is part of the same water course from whence the nugget of eight ounces was picked up by a lad about three weeks ago.