WAITAHUNA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 212, 13 August 1862, Page 5

WAITAHUNA

August 11, 1862. From Waitahuna there is little of interest to report. Those who are digging Bcarcely stir irom the old spots, and. there is in consequence, but little prospecting going on. Occasionally there is a small rush to some outlying piece of ground, but no new discoveries of any importance have .been made lately. A rush of this character took place last week to a piece of ground on the edge of the flat adjoining Waitahuna Gully; Very good prospects have been obtained, and should the present indications continue to be favorable, I have no doubt a large number of persons will settle down in this locality. There is an 'almost unlimited quantity of ground whose surface has not been touched by pick or shovel, all of it. what is termed in mining phraseology, "likely looking ground." Tho late severe weather Ims proved unfavourable to those who have engaged in puddling ; and one of the machines has, I observe, stopped working. The iieavy roads, the broken weather, and the high price of horse feed, tell severely on those who are engaged in this system of extracting gold. Indeed, during the winter it would be better for the owners of puddling machines to commence carting on the roads, rather than continue to.feed horses that are earning nothing. The severity of the weather , is a great hindrance to all kinds of mining, but I more especially to those who are engaged in puddling.

The Deep Sinking Association are still engaged in carrying down the shaft in the neighborhood of Maori Gully. They liave reached a depth of over 80 feet, and are very sanguine that something good will be struck in the deep ground. The stuff passed through is a blue slaty clay, intermixed with pieces of quartz, more or less angular. Should their present expectations be realised* and the deep ground turn out well, there is plenty of room for several thousand men. The Waitahuna River is at present very high, and it is exceedingly advantageous for both drays and horsemen to be able to cross by the newbridge at Hill and Smither's, instead of risking a wetting on the one hand or damaging the loading on the other. The party who are working the j old bed of the river have at last got their dam a j sufficient height above flood-level to defy the heaviest storms. These men have been remarkably persevering. Time after time has the river swept their dam away, yet, as fast as it was broken down, so rapidly has it been built up. The washdirt continues to look well, but the bad weather has sadly interfered with their continuous working. I believe a sufficient number of names have been attached to the petition, praying for the establishment of a Mining Board ; and it has, I am informed, been forwarded to the Provincial Government. I presume, therefore, that Waitahuna and the Woolshed will soon rejoice in the possession of a Mining Board, but it is to be hoped that the Government will make better provisions for the return of the members than was the case in the election for the Tuapeka Board. The Woolshed diirviujfs has drawn a considerable number of persons from this locality, and great hopes are entertained here, that Avith an increased population it will be one of the first gold fields in the country. Various- fabulous reports are in circulation as to the earnings of the diggers,but I heard of two reliable instances where men had been making from £10 to £18 a-week, and this during a period of six weeks at a stretch.