MINING IN OTAGO.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 37, 18 November 1871, Page 3

MINING IN OTAGO.

- FROM THE “OTAGO DAILY TIMES” CORRESPONDENT. At Lawrence everything was reported at the beginning of the month to be very quiet. One-sixth sharo in the Lawrenco Coal Mine was sold for £2O. A largo number of Chinamen are busy at work, and appear to be doing ivell. Quite a rush of Chinese from the Nokomai to the Dome Creek took place a few iveeks ago. It ivas reported that there could not bo less than 180 on the ground, and they are still coming. Up Winding Creek some very good gold ivas said to have been obtained lately. Mining at “ The Hill ” at Switzers is

reported as being very dull for the past fortnight, owing to the state of the weather. Gold comes into purchasers’ hands pretty freely, but is chiefly from the outlying districts. Reports from the Whitecombe are favorable, some very good samples of gold having found their way down from that quarter lately. Gabriel and Company of the Scrubby, have had “ bad luck,” and after four years’ hard work have been obliged to suceomb, and hand over their race to the parties who backed them up. There has been a small rush to Muddy Terraces, in consequence of good prospects having been obtained on the flat, not far from Perry and Co’s claim. On the 15th October, our Switzers correspondent wrote as follows : —“ I visited the rush, and found that some four or five holes varying from sixteen to twenty feet had bottomed on ‘good gold.’ A goodly number have pegged out and are now waiting to ascertain whether the dip is into the terraces or flat before fairly setting in. I visited Penny’s claim, which runs into the Terrace. The party arc now in about 300 feet or over commencing at six feet by about five feet wide, and dipping into the hill fast, up to over 13 feet at the end of 300 feet, and all through heavy washdirt. There are all kinds of reports about the returns, but I judge it must be a good paying claim, or the party (four) would never go to the heavy expense of timber as they havddone, if it didn’t pay.” From Waikaia and Gows,the reports are favourable, but from the Upper Waikaia the report is that the heavy water has interfered very much with work. It is computed that in the Waipori district there are at present 700 Chinese. Good accounts from the Port Molyneux beach diggings, were received on the Bth October. Brenchley and Co.’s claim and the Water-wheel Company's ground were turning out rich. There were about 28 diggers on the spot, and it is stated that there is plenty of room for more, with a little capital. A washing up has recently taken place in the Ocean View claim at the Canada Reef, showing the most satisfactory results. The shareholders are six in number, and the gold received for three weeks’ work is 1250z5. 9dwts. After paying wages, each shareholder has realised from £4O to £SO clear for the three weeks. On the Bth October several small parcels of gold were reported to have been re ceived at Oamaru lately, from Marewhenua, showing that the claims ivere beginning to yield. Thirty-five ounces ivere said to have been procured from one claim in 19 days’ sluicing, ivith a small supply of Avater. The Southern Escort arrived in toivn ivith the folloAving quantities of gold : ozs. divts. Switzers ... 892 15 Lawrence ... 1987 19 Waitahuna ... 355 13 Total ... 3,236 7 The Northern Escort arrived ivith the following quantities :

ozs dwts grs Queenstown 1921 18 16 Arrowtown 1322 9 0 Dunstan 1024 0 0 Cromwell 1625 0 0 Alexandra 599 0 0 Teviot 377 0 0 Blacks 656 0 0 Naseby 2094 0 0 Dunstan Creek 804 0 0 Total ... 10,423 7 16