MINING.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 7

MINING.

THE SHOTOVEK-. (From tJte Wakatip Mail Correspondent.) As ia their custom, the Defiance party (Sullivan's) left their cai-penter to watch the wheel at night, -when in a short time he brought the party hastily together, but too late to save their claim from inundation. A paddock had been sunk by Harvey and party, near to the pumping paddock of Stuart and party, 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 still rising, until all the claims along the river were submerged : the miners are therefore idle. The Defiance pavty 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, and 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 flume race along the bank to the wheel, from which a ponderous rope, some two hundred and fifty pounds weight, runs to the opposite side of the river, and turns a drum, which keeps two powerful pumps constantly lifting water. The party are by this means able to work their ground in the only manner that 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 fine wheel, flumed 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 half worked, but has only been wrought in patches here and there like most of the river claims. This is becoming so generally known that parties are again taking up deserted ground, and intend to work every part of it. This is the case just above Barrett aud party, Jone3 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 Creek, in the Queenstown District, a large enterprise is being brought to a finish. Duncan and party, known as the Criterion, have built a large wheel, 25 feot in diameter, and only await the arrival of the ironwork from Invercargill — where it has been cas t to put the wheel together and work their valuable claim. Such parties as these admit that the whole river throughout its entire course will handsomely repay for working, and will unquestionably be worked, as not a tithe of the gold has as yet been taken out. This reminds j me of one great fact, which is that, literally miles oi' the river are unoccupied. From the Persever- j ance (Stapleton's) to Pleasant Creek, not more than nine or ten parties of from ten to twenty men each are working at all, and not one of these is in any doubtful position, as all are obtaining gold or have their works so far advanced as to be cure of obtaining it in a short time. Never, in any country, I believe, have better and more certainly remunerative mining engagements been entered into than these. We need no fresh population unless they are men determined to work the river, as the parties now here are working it, then all must grow rich — 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 are made. The Ayhner Eace Company will wash up on Saturday, when I have every reason to believe a large 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 their hose to commence sluicing Grerman Hill Terrace. One of the shareholders sold out for £70, to be off to. some new rush, just as they are ready to reap the reward of all their toil, when, had he remained, there was every probability of his obtaining as much in a fortnight, i Skipper's still keeps its name as the richest district. The escort took honce 412 ounces on Tuesday last. The Maori Point correspondent of the WaJcatip Mail, '■writing ; on the 4th inst., gives the following particulars of the yield of gold from the bed of the Shotover Uiver :— -" The Perseverance divided about £200 between them for their fortnight's work. The following amount divided in this company for the last two months or so will give your readers some idea of the richness of the Shotover river bed : — £1,650 amongst twenty shareholders gives five dividends of £330 each. Were the work of turning fe he river, building their wheel, forming their flume, &c, to be contracted for; I don't believe ' the whole affair would have oost £600,.be8ides which, they have now proved ground that will take them a year or two, to work out, arid make every man in the party rich, 1 if -he bo careful. This, is an illustration of what may be doneby capital on, the Shotover, for miles of euoh ground lies untouched; all equally rich ia gold, ihere is just above this party the whole: of Wilson's Beach, high and dry, proved ground, but cannot be worked without a wheel. Now, were a company to bo formed in Queenstown, who would buy up Cameron's wheel and flume, cut a race along the bank, and round a point of rook, altogether about 600 yards, which at .contract price roav be done and the -wheel fixed ready for work, for "about £359 or £49Q— ttiey gould t»Ka up ttW \rtwte of this waste rich ground. This is the iond of enterprise that every m,wa "Who haß £50 to fin* vest should, embark in, aa there will be no rwk •^h*fcve* in ftq a%i^ %s gold, u|o \$ $Wms

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