TUAPEKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 14 June 1862, Page 5

TUAPEKA.

(from our own correspondent.) June 12th, 186 a

At the Tuapeka river a considerable amount of activity prevails, but the parties at work are scatr tered at wide intervals over a large area of ground. It is therefore impossible to determine the exact value of the work going on, but judging from the yields obtained by various parlies whem I came across, I should say that those who are digging here have very little reason to complain. It is, however, to be regretted that such a large amount of ground should have been rushed over, and then only worked in patches, as it gives it the appearance of having been thoroughly tested, and thus deters many from settling down in this dirrction. The amount of country, whose surface is yet unbroken, but mixed up with, and lying contiguous to the present workings, is of sufficient extent to support a larger population than has ever been on Tuapeka. From the erratic way in which the ground has been dug upon, it seem? a? if the workers had scarcely bottomed when, hearing that some one further down the river was doirg hetter than themselves, they had>ushed off, leaving the former portion comparatively untried. The work going on is principally confined to sluicing the banks and bed of the river, with here and there an occasional party who have set in on the points of the spurs that abut on the flat through which the Tuapeka flows.' The party who have fumed the river at its junction with the bottom of Monroe's gully are very sanguine as to their prospects. They have, however, been unfortunate enough to lose their dam by a freshet in the river, caused by the late heavy rains. After the completion of their dam, they had just sufficient time to make one or two trials in the drift, in the old bid, and from the prospect then obtained, they are confident that it will pay them sometliing more than mere wages. A large number of those at work are doing very well, averaging from £i to £7 a week. Tney are, however, very liable to be swamped out, as the ground receives the united waters flowing from Wetherstone's, Gabriel's, and Monroe's. I am of opinion that it will be in this direction that the returning population will settle down, and I have no doubt but that'they will do well.

From Wctherstone's therois not much to report. The principal work is tunnelling and puddling — the slucers having as yet, scarcely commenced operations. The parties who are tunnelling are conducting their operations on a somewhat gigantic scale, as much as £40 worth of timber being sometimes employed to support one drive. This is rendered necessary from the rotten nature of the ground, and the fact that several of the tunnels are being carried through the old workings. From what I can learn, some of the parties engaged in this kind of work are doing remarkably well, but the majority express themselves as being able to "knock out a living." The late wet weather has told severely on the puddlers, who have in many instances been brought completely to a stand-still. After rain, the roads, formed in many instances over old holes, become almost impassable. Horses get, in consequence, lame, and incapable of work, and men become dissatisfied with the large supply of the liquid which in Victoria they could never have enough of. Those at work are as a rule making fair wages, and in one or two instances, something more. The weather during the week has been very severe.

Boisterous gales, accompanied by driving showers of rain have made sad havoc amongst the, teute and claims of many a miner,