MINING.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 16 July 1864, Page 3

M I N I N G.

THE LAKE COUNTRY. The correspondent of the Lalce WaJcatip Mail. writing from the Arrow, on 17th June, says : — Very inclement weather has prevailed here during the past week ; snow lias fallen heavily, the ground having been covered in the township, and adjoining low-lying places to a depth of four inches. On the river, at Bracken's and the TwelveMile Diggings, mining has been much impeded, and the tracts to those places rendered almost impassable, although the contractors are doing their best in pushing on the cutting of the new tracks to the latter place. Travelling to the Oadrona is now a work of danger and difficulty, and should another fall of snow set in at present' parties residing there will be cut off from all communication with the Arrow. The unfortunate man, Smith, generally known as Yorkey, who met with a serious accident lately on the Cadrona track, was brought in on Sunday last by a party of volunteers, and is now safely housed in the Hospital. A remarkable inBtance of the sagacity of a dog occurred in connection with the accident. After Smith fell from his horse, he was found lying on the ground by some travellers, who carried him to a tent some distance down the creek, and the saddle on which he had ridden was left by them lying on the ground. Meanwhile a dog, belonging to the unfortunate man, 'which he had previously left tied up at tho Cadrona' 'township, had got loose and followed the track of his master. On coming to the saddle the animal recognised it, and remained on guard for three days, defying all comers to remove it, and only deserted his post when driven to by hunger. Mining news from the Cadrona does not speak of any very important .yield or fresh discovery, except a vein or bed of lignite near the township, which yields the miners an abundant supply of fuel. It is said to be most easily obtained, and must prove an invaluable boon, in.' a district bo very thinly -wooded. At the Roaring Meg and (Gentle Annie section of the Main /Trunk 1 3Joad

operations have been nearly entirely " suspended", the Grovermnent. having discharged about 200 men last week, and the only work now in hand .is the completion of a small sub-contract, on wliich about twenty men only are employed. Storekeepers on the road, who had laid in heavy stocks in anticipation of the works being continuous, are woefully out ;in their calculations,; and the public will have yet to wait a littlelongerfor. the first arrival of the promised coach from Dunedin to the Arrow. ■ The snow has caused a delay in the work of improvement to the townshig street, and the unfinished places in it are now perfect glue-pots j but a few fine days will .see the task completed, rto the increased comfort of every resident. I have heard that manifest indications of a quartz reef were N discovered during the survey of the 12-Mile track, existing at the head of the Saw Pit Grully, distant about ; four miles from this township, but no explicit information has yet come to hand. Our police, doubtless, finding nothing to do — a wearisome occupation when carried to .extremes^— have lately busied themselves in compelling our hotelkeepers to keep lamps biirning at night outside their doors, and have also been down upon sundry j of our bonifaces for keeping late hours. A burning and a shining light is, doubtless, an essential requirement to a thoroughfare during the long winter nights, but it seems somewhat absurd to suppose that any publican can always for a certainty know the exact time carried by any overzealous policeman, and regulate the hours of closing and opening his house thereby, when no standard of time can be said to exist here. In a recent case brought before the Arrow Cpurt, the complaining constable utterly, failed to prove the charge of " being open after 12 p.m.," a3 he could obtain no witnesses who agreed in their statements as to the actual time of the alleged offence. I have heard complaints made that trivial charges of this kind should be brought on such uncertain grounds against a class of traders who cannot just now afford to lose any chance of doing a legitimate business. It has been suggested that if the G-oyernment would erect a clock at each camp or post-office, to be regulated on the return of each escort from Dunedin, an obvious void would bo filled up, and a standard of time established which would prevent in some measure the repetition of complaints against the oilicious interference of the police. En passant, the unusual sight of a member of the Otago constabulary force, in uniform, has deen noticed here during the last day or two. For a long time past, the beauties of the navy-blue jumper and Bedford cord continuations "have been completely enshrouded in the garments of mild swelldom ; an improvement to the outward man in some respects, perhaps ; but in the event of a lively street row, how would Mr. Policeman, mingling in the crowd in citizen garb, preserve Ids identity ? The same correspondent, under a later date, adds : — The reports wliich have been lately current as to some heavy yields of gold being obtained on the Arrow, from claims which were previously considered as only paying indifferently well, prove to be fully authenticated, The quantity of gold lately obtained from several claims has much exceeded the usual average, and the opinon often expressed by Arrow miners that the treasures of the river are by no means yet exhausted, has been indisputably proved to be correct. The heavy frosts now prevailing prove a hindrance to work in some instances, but generally speaking a fair amount of activity prevails in all mining undertakings. In some cases, where the frost has prevented all hands in partios from following their usual mining avocations, they have filled up their spare time in prospecting various terraces and points previously untouched by pick and shovel, and levels have been taken in readiness for bringing a supply of water for sluicing operations in the coming spring. I have heard spots described as indicating beds of wash-dirt ilfty and one hundred feet in depth, only awaiting the cutting of waterraces to become most valuable property. Should this prove correct, and of which there is little doubt, we may yet see brisk and stirring times on the river. At the Eight and Twelve Mile diggings all interests in water-rights are jealously guarded, and not a single claim exists in which a share could be purchased, except at a tolerably high figure. An accident occiu-cd at the Eight Mile a few days since, by which a miner named James Day was seriously injured. Whilst working with his mate under a facing in their claim, a quantity of earth slipped suddenly from the top without the slightest warning, upwards of a ton weight of which fell on the unlucky man, crushing his leg and foot in a fearful manner— two or three of the party only narrowly escaping a similar mishap. He was brought into the township by his mates, and, under the care of Dr. Douglas, is now favorably progressing towards recovery. On the Kawarau River, some distance below the Twelve Mile store, on the Dunstan-road, a very narrow escape occurred recently to Mr. Douglas, the manager to Mr. Hill — at present superintending the erection of the line of telegraph posts from Dunedin. In crossing the river in a boat with two men, the craft became unmanageable from the strength of the current, and was dashed to pieces against a projecting rock, and it was only by a severe struggle that the party were providentially enabled to gain the shore again uninjured, except from the effects of their sudden ducking. _ From the Cardrona district, at rare intervals, solitary travellers come in who report the track there as being almost impassable. The population on the Creek is said to be increasing, and in several claims water-wheels are being erected, and mining matters generally are said to be improving. Provisions have, as a matter of course, increased I in price there, and the Btocks held by the storekeepers are barely sufficient to meet their requirements. Trade on the Arrow is still quiet, and there scorns very little chance of its improving during this present season. Meanwhile, as a favorable sign of the times, I may notice that a new hotel is being erected adjoining the premises lately occupied by Mr. Max Mendershausen ; the fiddle and the bow is in constant requisition in many of our hostelries, and, considering that the township population can now be reckoned by scores only instead of hundreds, a considerable amount of loose cash is in circulation. The improvement to the main street is now completed, and Mr. Butcl.the contractor, is fairly entitled to the thanks of the inhabitants for carrying out his contract faithfully and to the letter. The subscribers to the fund may all congratulate themselves on having received full value for their money. The minors at work on the flat may be assumed to have struck a patch lately, as they seem to have declined to accept the money collected some time since to assist them in erecting an additional water-wheel to lessen their labors—the money, after laying idle for two months awaiting its disposal, having been lately returned to the subscribers. A communication has been received here from Sergeant Lynch, intimating that the Government, and also his immediate superiors, have completely • exonerated him from all blame in the case of M'Tavish v. Lynch. To the worthy sergeant's friends and admirers this will doubtless prove satisfactory news ; but, as a general rule, all interest in the affair has long since died out here. One of our earliest Arrow residents has turned up on the northern goldfield. I appond the following from the Raveloch Mail of the 15th inst. — " Canvas Town : Mr., Ghistavus Aymer has opened the Golden Age Hotel, a spacious and commodious establishment, strongly indicative of ' comfort and good cheer." Gus. of the Golden i Age, Fox's, will be known to nearly all your readers. Par parantliese the friends of Mr. William Fox are actively employed in obtaining signatures to a petition for a mitigation of his sentence, but what ultimate success will attend their efforts has yet to be determined. We are informed that a party of miners are at present in town for the purpose of purchasing the requisite material for the erection of water- wheel machinery on the Nokomai G-oldfields. They report that there are two companies, of twelve men each, about to ooimmonce this system of mining enterprise there; and' they' are full , of hopes that rich ■'' bottom finds await them. Should this plan

b uceeedf as they 'tfitlly"expect - it^wil^'lihß'iNokoinai*' Diggings jwill undoubtedly rush ; more -into , publicfavor than ever; .. . : ,' . v.. •: ':.-•:•: We are informed: (says. ,the Wakatip Mail) oi .two instances f of success, very common in this district, and both, . on the Shotover. ■ A party 'in-, abandoned, ground,; above Maori, Point, .recently obtained.from a-sniaU paddpck;2so pzs.,, and other, trials have led to the belief that the ground is very . rich. The, other is"also an abandoned- .;claiin, . and . its value has likewise^ been recently ascertained ; it yielded, 49 ozs. to a small-paddock also. ■„,•,-.. ; : , < r The; Daily Southern Cross (Auckland) . mentions that Dr. Hector, has, paid,a visit to;; the % gold; .diggings at Corbmandei, and that he confessed himself extremely piizzreH^oTfindfi^bin^he nature of the coun^^ffiafrgoldiHadvbeen fpundrtherefin such quantities as it has been. 'The linteUigence; from >the Shotoyer^ is- foil of promise. : At 'Maori-Point many;parties {are, work-' ing ground that was abandoned, and are well' recompensed. The Picton ; miners, are returning daily, and most, of them are expected as soon. as. they can muster the. wherewithal, to; payrtheir^. passage. The Perfect. . Cure Company, who had lost the lead for a time, have again got it, and the 'washing up is expected, -.t0, -turn out, as golden-as before. The .United . Company,, at 01d Butcher's, Point, are getting very good yields. ...Last week qhey secured between 90 and 100 ozs., "and this, splendid yield is . expected again this /week. .There is considerable animation as regards water-racesj which frequently, however, cause, a,, temporary stoppage to operations. For this; , reason^ .the claims on.Stapletpn's .are at a stand-still' until the race from the Deep Creek is completed, .. which will not bo for another fortnight. .-.■■ > : From the Lake; District we learn that gold :has been discovered at least 1,000 feet above the, Creek, on the hill side of Ben Lomond. , The , population of Moonlight Creek has greaily decreased, the frost and snow being so severe. The few who are hardy enough to remain are doing well. Moke Creek is still being extensively worked, and gold is being found in good paying quantities amongst the debris of the former workings. _ . , The Wahatip Mail believes that the pieces of copper which are being from time to time picked up at Moke Creek fully prove the existence of a rich lode there, and states that a well organised company would show that it will eventually prove one of the richest in the southern hemisphere. The following notice of a white crystalline statuary marble, found in several of the Sounds on the West Coast, is taken from Dr. Hector's report : — " It occurs in concretionary masses, included in chlorite and hornblende schist. Unfortunately, this marble, which is of very superior quality, was only observed to form small masses N that have the same small size and irregular shape as the concretions of quartz found in contorted mica schist ; but from its purity and fine sparkling grain, were a large quantity discovered, it would undoubtedly command a high commercial value as an ornamental stone. It was not analysed, as it consists of pure carbonate of lime, but occasionally it is speclded in the most beautiful manner with scales of brown mica and lead colored graphite or plumbago." The Queenstown correspondent of the Otago Daily Times thus relates an interesting anecdote of the late prospecting tour to the newly discovered gold country. It was, he states, communicated to him upon unquestionable authority : — " When the gallant three came in view of Lake Wakatip, and from a distance mistrusting their fortune, thought that they had reached by a circuitous route, the inhospitable shores of Lake Diamond, they came to the stern resolve, that their favorite dog, the companion of all their wanderings and privations, must fall a sacrifice to the imperative demands of appetite and necessity. Accordingly one of the party was despatched to bring water for the inevitable ' billy,' pending the execution and culinary preparation of their favorite ; fortunately, in Ms search for the pure clement, he ascended a rise, which gave him a view of the stores and tents of the head of the lake settlement, and returned with the joyful news to his companions ; so the faithful dog still frisks in joyous ignorance of the fate to which he was so nearly condemned." Referring to the subject of the discovery of the new gold country beyond Lake Wakatip, the Mail, of the 18tk June, adds the following additional particulars : — " Mr. Eees' yacht Pearl has just returned from the Head of the Lake. Captain Cole reports the men to be too ill to travel, but that one of them desired to come on to the Hospital. Reports that their legs are much swollen. All previous accounts confirmed. Men rather more reserved, but still confident, and will lead a party when recovered. An appeal that we intended to have made on behalf of the prospecting p.irty who have lately returned from the West Coast, was omitted in o\ir last publication, and we regret that any selfish interpretations should be placed upon its absence. We think all will join in rendering ' honor to whom honor is due,' and we trust the district will not be behind those who reside at the Head of the Lake. Immediately, and almost without solicitation, £15 was subscribed there. Other portions of the district will surely not allow themselves to be behind in generosity. The men are not in prosperous circumstances, and it will be some time before they can regain their strength. Any contributions forwarded to us will be acknowledged through our columns. It is not charity that is asked ; for such men as these would scorn it. We do think the district will render a graceful homage to their efforts to openupforsettlementanewportionof the country, and that public approbation will resolve itself into a substantial token of recognition. We need not say another word to claim a warm and hearty response to this appeal." The same journal states that " the question has been put to us several times, how will the newly discovered country towards the Province of Canterbury be supplied with provisions ? That portion up the Rees River will, when a passable road is made, draw its supplies from the Wakatip, but to a very large district, Jackson's Bay will be the depot. It will benefit the Wakatip in many ways, especially if safe tracks are cut at an early date. The most permanent benefit will be the opening up of the country in that direction." We extract the following notice of severe sufferings in the Mount Benger District, from the Otago Daily Times of 9th inst. : — " In the letter of our Mount Benger correspondent appears an account of the death, from exposure, of one member of a party of miners, the rest of whom had to suffer terrible privations before reaching succor. Whilst crossing the ranges, one man named Wm. Pitts broke down and was unable to proceed. His mates set off to procure some food for him, but on their return they found their comrade dead. After information of the occurrence had been sent to the police, a constable named O'Ueil was despatched to see the body buried. TVo days' travelling over the ranges, amidst snow drifts and over a frightfully rugged co mtry brought hhn to the spot where the dead, man lay, and after a coffin had been hastily constructed from an old sluice box, and the body placed in it, the dreary burden was dragged across the snow a mile and then buried. On the return journey, the party, three in number, : suffered frightful hardships, and narrowly escaped losing their lives. Says our correspondent — ■' On this return journey, they were soon overtaken by a snow storm of a terrific nature, during which they had to forsake their swags, containing all their provisions ; and had it not been for the intrepidity of one of the party, a miner named If eal, all must have perished. ■•• This man appears to have supported both the others,- or nearly so, for a. considerable distance— till; at last, they reached the. Shelter Shed, •■ six miles from the Gorge. This they found half\full of snow, without food of any kind; and as a place of shelter, perfectly useless! To remain in it was certain death. It was then Bnowing a perfect hurricane ; but proceed they must and, did, and at length reached the next shed, two miles from the Tothor, frost-bitten;; •now-blind, and thoroughly done up. -''Here, they^ found four' men, who had some bfe"ad, butter, and tea, which scanty fare— oh ! how welcome— rsaved their lives.' All praise say we to the intrepid constable and his equally intrepid bravo come panions ; such deeds as theirs deserve publirecognilion and reward."