MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 241, 13 April 1866, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

OKAEITA, We glean the following items of interest from the' Oharita 28th Rlarch: — The still exciting topic is the Bruce Bay rush. In no parts of the colonies bas a more perfect " rush," in- every sense of the word, taken place, than has occurred here. The number of persons who have wended their way to the new field is variously estimated, but taking a moderate view, not less than two thousand men have gone from this district by land and sea. As yet, of course we are quite in the dark as to the value of the discovery, but" we may candidly state that there can be little doubt of some good ground being opened. At the. same time it is perfectly certain that already the place is overdone, and cannot support the population now there, and that will shortly go there. Business sites in the Bruce township have already attained a monstrous price, and sections have changed hands at from- £30 to £120. The usual fever of excitement has set in. The official description of the locality copied in our last issue was partially incorrect. It stated, that the diggings were the Waitemati river, whereas it appears that the proper name for the stream in question is the Oinamaka. Bruce Bay is exactly seven miles from it on the south. The latter has no dangerous bluft intervening, but the bush is very dense, and it will be very expensive to cut a track. At the present time the greatest turmoil, confusion, and riot may be naturally looked for at the new goldfield. There are no police, no local authority of any kind, no warden, no post-office, nothing in fact, and complete anarchy, unless averted by the sound, sense of the main body of the diggers, must prevail.. Having given so much to Bruce Bay, we may revert to Oakarita, and are glad to say, that though the numbers that are gone are sadly missed, no sign of despondency is visible amongst us. Indeed there is no reason for such a felling, inasmuch as our own circumstances are brightening very materially. It has long been known that gold existed in the ranges, but 'during the past few days small parcels of rough gold have come to hand, got inland, and within a few miles of this place. With the exception of* the uneasy feeling consequent on the rush that has unsettled the miners, and the suspense arising out of the fact of new ground having been found in the neighborhood, that as yet is undivulged, we have not much mining news to oifer. The northern rush has proved a confessed failure, or rather the portion of the beach tested has not answered the expectations. At the PiveMile a change has taken place in the numbers seen around. Only a short time ago scores of waiters on Providence might- be seen hanging about, but now, with the exception of those busily engaged " in work not a soul is visible, and an idler is a rarity. The consequence is, that men being scarce, wages have advanced, and plenty of employment is still open. The yields are as good if not better than ever, and the rich claims are almost excelling themselves. We had in our hands a parcel of 216 ounces got by a party of four from the second terrace. They only landed here about three weeks ago, and a week or more was occupied in making preparations for a start.