ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1156, 10 May 1869, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Wfl DO NOT IDENTIFY OTTBSKLVES IN ANT WAT WITH THB OPINIONS BXPBBSBKD BT OITB ' OORBSBPOKDENTS. ♦ LON&WOOD WATER RACE AND GBOUND SLUICING- COMPANY* ~(tO TSB BDITOE OP THE BOUTHtAifJJ TIMES.) Sie-^-As there are a few- shares not taken up in the above company, I forward herewith the manager's report of the 3rd inst., showing the progress of the work up to that date, and thej advantages to be derived, not only by the district of Riverton, but by the Province at large from the undertaking. — Your's, &c, Obejuki.

Rvertori, 3rd fttay, i 869: To the Directors of the Longwood Water Race and Ground Sluicing Company. G-entlemen,-*-I have the honor to report that the works of the Company's Water Race are progressing favorably. The original contractors have sub-let the greater portion of the works on which there are now twenty-one men employed. The" levels along the Race are found to be quite accurate. I expect the work will be finished in a month from this date if the weather permits. t ■ , I submit a map of the district through which the Race will run, by which you will perceive that it heads every gully (numbering twenty-one) in its course. Four of these gullies have been partially worked, and with very little water have proved .payable as far as it was practicable to work them with the imperfect appliances at the command of thoae employed. As much as half-an-ounce per man per day has been thus obtained. The I other gullies, I have no doubt, will pay when the water is brought to bear upon them. - ' ,

The gold obtained is rough and angular and frequently intermixed with quartz. In some of the gullies, large quantities of quartz are found, some of which has been broken and found to contain gold ; as much as two pennyweights of gold have heen obtained from a small piece. It is therefore evident that gold must exist in reefs, and thoße not far off j and it is very probable that in cutting up the tail races and sluicing the spur.B and terraces* reefs will be laid bare. This was also the opinion of Dr Hector upon his late visit to the locality. One of the contractors (iv section No 2), informed me that, in cutting the race, he found a well denned quartz leader, about four inches thick, but he has not yet had time to prove its value. I would also bring under your notice, that if a portion of the race were taken about two miles further round the spurs, some of the finest timber in the Province would be available for sawing purposes, t&e machinery for which would be driven by the water supplied by the race, and the timber when cut could be easily taken to Riverton down the river Puro-puro-kino. In the route which the extended portion of the race would take, for the above purpose, some old workings would : be passed, which could be profitably worked, as the parties who were once employed there, could only work in rainy weather, when water could be collected , in dams, and only then a few hours per ; day on an average. -^-1 have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedient servant. B. Bebndtson, Manager.