THE LAKE DISTRICT.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 531, 1 August 1866, Page 3

THE LAKE DISTRICT.

(From the " WaMtip Mail," 25th July.) The very Lard frosts have seriously interfered with, mining operations. They so harden ground, as to prevent any actual work being really done so far as gold producing and washing-up is concerned. The season is, however, rapidly approaching when active operations will "be resumed and that too with, almost unexampled vigor. Everything points to a a very splendid spring opening, and it is cheering to note the unabated confidence that exist in mining circles. "We have to chronicle several applications for leases in alluvial ground. Two of these are for areas, at Arthur's Point, for sluice working and entail the bringing in of water from a distance, and the employment of a number of wages men. In fact one claim purports to employ about twenty wages men. The Ariel Sace is to be diverted to this quarter. The other applications are for alluvial ground adjoining Small and party at the Twelvemile Lake. Small and party are said to have t truck a rich lead, and as many have always held a very favorable view of this ground, and entertained the belief that a deep lead existed in that direction, quite a rush took place, and some sharp manoeuvres as elsewhere noticed, took place. At Skipper's in what is known as the Prince of Wales gully, an alluvial application has been made ; the applicants intend to pile up and crush the immense number of boulders that occur in the drift, all of which contain gold. We hear they also intend to sluice the gravel and save the tailings for crushing. This is the site pointed out as suitable for the formation of a township at Skipper's. Of course that idea is nipped in the bud. Moke Creek is attracting notice, and its presumed deep leads are shortly to be tested. The Perseverance Company, Big Beach (alluvial), have done on the whole very well lately. Arrangementa regarding the Big Beach Company, are not yet completed. Lower down some parties have set into work at Tucker Beach and are making wages. In quartz mining two companies have obtained very flattering results from prospecting their ground; the Prince of Wales, Skipper's, having in their lower tunnel, and. the Criterion, Arrow, in. their deep shaft, both cut through very rich stone. In both claims — so far removed — the stone is full of gold, each piece showing the presence of the auriferous metal. The other quartz claims are not doing much at present. The shareholders in the Scandinavian are directing their attention to erecting machinery. Bond of the Otago Company has sold his interest (1-5), in this well known claim and machine to Lis mate Antonie, for the sum of £1,500. The price is said to be very low, the claim being valued at £10,000, but it is understood to have been a sudden and unexpected sale, and w?^ not offered to the public. Tae escorts have again been low. Prom Queenstown; 237 ounces ; from the Arrow, under 200 ounces. This was expected, and causes, on the spot, no depression of feeling.