DUNSTAN.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 243, 18 April 1866, Page 1 (Supplement)

DUNSTAN.

(Condensed from a Correspondent of the Dunstan , Times.)

Vitality in mining matters throughout the Dunstan district is weekly on the -increase, especially in connexion with the Kawarau and Molyneux rivers. Up to the present time the workings were mostly confined to beach and river claims, particularly those oh the Molyneux, which were at all times liable to be interfered with by floods. In countless instances valuable claims no sooner had become workable than they were suddenly submerged, and the hopes of many months blighted in a few moments. The miners at present are directing their energies to the terraces overhanging the above-mentioned rivers, therefore are enabled to bestow labor, remuneratively in working the beach claims only in the proper season of the year. The original sluicing claims- at the Kawarau G-orge are at the present time yielding handsomely. The shareholders in the claims here are constantly in receipt of very satisfactory dividends. In addition to these claims, new ones are being opened with every prospect of a sunny future. The Mountaineer Water Kace Company have opened their claim and sufficient proofs have been obtained to show that the ground is equally as valuable as any yet opened. Another new claim of a highly promising class is that of KitchinghamT- and party, situated iv a block of ground which has been left untouched between the Ballarat aud Greaves and Wilson's claims, This company, some weeks past, tunnelled the ground so as to test its value before undertaking the arduous task of sluicing off the top stuff necessary to reach the washdirt. The third new claim is that of Wrigmore, TNeedham and party, contiguous to the claim of Greaves and Wilson. This company, unfortunately, are not in command of hydraulic appliances. These disadvantages, however, do not seem to have discouraged them, for they are proceeding to extract the precious metal from it by tunnelling — the gro.und being of such a nature that the drives will not require timbering. The Gorge, on the whole, is at present in a more healthy condition than it ha^ been since it first became the scene o% mining operations. The~ terraces of the Molyneux, from Cromwell to Clyde, are being much more extensively worked than at any time since the river became a goldfield. On both sides of the river, claims are being taken up and worked wherever water can possibly be procured. The Pioneer Water Eace Company have just completed the enlargement and general renovation of their race. On the western side of the river, sluicing the terraces is also being carried on in- various parts, with satisfactory results. Below Clyde, on each side of the Molyneux, the hopes entertained of the "good time coming 1 ' seem about to be realised. At Mutton Town Point, Sandy Point, Coal Point, and Poverty Point, scores of sluicers are at work, and one and all seem confident of

success,

The river is going down fast, and some of the claims that cannot be worked without a fall into it for their tail races may now. be worked. The All England Eleven Claim at Sandy Point, is one of the most important of this class. Wages men are scarcely obtainable. The large claims at -Alexandra will require a hundred men in less than a fortnight. The district may now well be considered in the highest state of prosperity.