THE SHOTOVER.
• : (From the Wakatip Mail Correspondent.) Some heavy rain must have fallen up the country, for on Tuesday the river began to rise slowly. ■ As' is : their custom, the Defian-e party (Sullivan's) left their carpenter to watch the wheel "at. night, when in a short time he brought the party hastily together, but too late to save theiy .claim from inundation. A paddock had been sunk by Harvey and party, near to the pumping paddock of Stuart and p.irty, and the rise of the water caused a breach in their dividing wall, and instantly filled the space with sand. On Wednesday the water was stiil rising, until all the claims along the river were submerged : the miners are therefore idle. The Defiance party took out of their thrice- worked ground 46 ounces last week, and 69 ounces the week before. Harvey and party took out of one paddock adjoining the Defiance 16 ounces. The Perseverance (Stapleton's) obtained 100 ounces for their last week's work, ant refused to sell their gold as they could not obtain more than £3 15s. per oz. for it. I visited their claim on Tuesday last, and could not help admiring the works. Their wheel is one of the neatest and most freely working machines I have noticed on the river, and all their appliances are of the most perfect character. The wheel is an overshot, worked by a stream brought from the Deep Creek, by damming up its waters to a height of eight or ten feet, and then led by a Hume race along the bank to the wheel, from whi-h a ponderous rope, some two hundred and fifty poundweight, runs to the opposite side of the river, and tarns a drum, which keeps two powerful pumps constantly lifting water. Tim party are by this znca.-ia able to work their ground in the only manner tiiat I consider possible for thoroughly securing the gold, viz., by face working and" clearing everything to the reef. Just below the Perseverance party is Cameron's claim, which is now deserted — their line wheel, fluined race, and all necessary gear of no use to anyone. It has been said that they left because the ground was all worked out, but I am credibly informed that it is not halt' worked, but has only been wrought in patches here and there like most of the 1-fvcr claims. This is becoming so generally known that parties are again taking up deserted ground, and intend to work every part of it. This Fs the case just above Barrett aud party, Jones and party having bought the wheel "Shining Jenny.*' which has been idle for months, and got the claim granted to them by the warden this day. On the southern side of Deep Creefc, in the Queenstown District, a large enterprise is bum." brought to a finish. Duncan and party, known as the Criterion, have built a large wheel, 25 leel in diameter, and only await the arrival of the ironwork from Invereargill — where it has been cas f, — to put the wheel together and work the r valuable claim. Such parties as these admit that the whole river throughout its e.itire course will handsomely repay for working, and will unquestionably be worked, as not a tithe of the "•old has as yet been taken out. This reminds me of one great fact, which is that, literally railed ol' the viver are unoccupied. From the Fevsovovance (Stapleion's) to Pleasant Creek, not more than nine or . ten parties of from leu to twenty men each are working at aIL and not one of thesi' is in any doubtful position, as all are obtai- ing gold or have their works so far advanced as to be sure of obtaining it in ash >rl- time. Never, in any country, 1 believe, have better and more certainly remunerative mining engagements bean entered" into Than these. Wo need no fresh population unless they are nun determined to work the river, as the parties now here are working it, then all must grow livh — there is no mistake on that point. The quartz reef at Skipper's is not being worked at present; all hands are actively engaged in crushing the stone already raised, and good returns arc made. The Aylmer Race Company will wash up on Saturday, when I have every reason to believe a largo amount of gold will be obtained — not in ounces, but by the pound weight. Parties still continue to tunnel under the site of the old Union Bank, and obtain good gold The wire rope company are nearly ready with tlieir hoso to commence sluicing Grerman Sill TeiTsxee. One of the slmrelio..lers sold out i'or £70, to be oil' to some new rush, just as they are ready to reap the reward of ail their toil, when, had he remained, there was every probability of his obtaining as much in a fortnight. Skipper's still keeps its name as the richest district. The escort took hance 412 ounces on Tuesday last. Mr. Justin Aylmer seems to be gaining in popularity every week, as is shown by the miners wishing to honor that gentleman by naming their possessions after him. I hear that the people who inhabit what is known as Bluetownaregoinjf to re-name tkat thriving borough, and cu>U it Avimevtown. Harvey, whom 1 mentioned in nay last as having met with an accident, is able to attend to Uis daily duties again.
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Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 70, 9 November 1864, Page 3
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909THE SHOTOVER. Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 70, 9 November 1864, Page 3
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