MINING.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 203, 17 January 1866, Page 3

MINING.

From the Kiverton ttola-neici our aavices are of a most encouraging nature. A party of three came to town on Saturday last, for a supply of provisions and disposed of about two ounces of gold. They declined to state -what were the prospects obtained, unless paid for the information. It is however, tolerably certain they have struck payable ground. One or two parties havo since start.-d for the locality. There can be little doubt that ultimately an immense extent of auriferous country will be opened up, but this can only take place when a sufficient number of miners undertake to cope with the difficult nature of the country — covered as it is with dense bush. Recent accounts from Jackson's Bay state that mining prospects are looking much brighter. We learn that there are between one and two hundred men on the ground, and that the average earnings are about £1 per day per man. A store was in course of erection, and it was generally thought that large finds of gold would be discovered at George's River, about twenty-three miles south of Jackson's Bay. From the Longwood diggings, near Riverton, favorable reports continue to reach us. Parties who have been working there some time have obtained steady wages. The Wakatip Mail of Dec. 30th, has the following r — At the reefs, and, in fact, at Skipper's, and on the Shotover generally, things are quiet, as all work is suspended for the Christmas holidays. Another new reef has been discovered by Mr. Sorenson and party next the Prince of Wales claim. They have named it the Advance, and have applied for a lease. The machinery for the British and American and Southbsrg and party, are expected daily at the reefs. Mr. Brown's new hotel will soon be completed. Several places are being budt by the reefers to guard against winter. As 1 stated in my last letter, there was a general washing up last week among the miners, and a large parcel of gold found its way to Queenstown. deverai miners are holding their gold for a higher price, and only sell sufficient to meet their present wants. On Boxing Day the usual games were indulged in ; Aunt Sally coming in lor a good share of merriment. At the Oriental Hotel (Jennings and Gladding's), Skipper's Point, things passed off very pleasantly. At Maori Point the miners assembled on Christmas Day at Mr. Goodwin's hotel, and partook of a dinner. The chair was taken by Mr. Spooner, and a pleasant evening was spent. The agitation which recently took place in favour of the introduction of the Chinese into this province (says the Dunedin Evening Star) is likeiy to result in a successful issue. By the South Australian, Ho-a-Mee, an influential representative of the Chinese miners in Victoria, has arrived, and it is understood that he is deputed by Kong Meng, and other Chinese merchants in that colony to inspect the mining districts of the province, and report as to the advisability or not of a number of his countrymen coming over here. The Otago will bring six or seven of his countrymen, experienced in mining matters, and there can be little doubt that their report will be the means of a large exodus from Victoria to the dio-o-ings of this province, which are actually yearniug for labor. The addition of a few hundreds of that industrious section oi the miners would soon cause a vast alteration in our escort returns ; and it is to be hoped that the pioneers we have referred to will have every facility afforded them for obtaining reliable information as to the prospects of the intending immigrants.