CHARLESTON.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 87, 9 October 1869, Page 6

CHARLESTON.

(Erom the "Herald.") Some good parcels of gold were brought in during the past two days. Amongst the principal were those from Hunter's claim, the Enterprise, and Nile. The aggregate quantity- from these three claims amounted to close on 13000z5., which returns are for the month's crushing. Ryan and party's claim, which was sold by order of the Resident Magistrate on Tuesday last, realised -the sum of £240. Messrs. Dwan, Hennelly, and Co. were the auctioneers, who knocked the property down, to Messrs. Kennedy Bros. Messrs. D. Isaac and Co. disposed of by public auction one-sixth share in Messrs. Mace and Greenwood's claim, Pour-mile, on. Thursday last, , for the sum of £240. The share was knocked down to Mr. S. Highway.- "We are informed Mr. Crewdson subsequently became $he purchaser :at $he s^me figure. There -is a probability shortly of Charleston- being able to boast of auw iferqus quartz reefs. Some two .years ago Yankee- Charlie and others, who were prospecting up the skirts of the Nile river, brought down some specimens, which at that time very little ! notice was taken of. Some of the same was examined on Tuesday last, and was found to contain particles of gold, ! not op. #& surface only, but ifceough-

out the, piece that was crushed. For tho present we forbear causing any excitement, but await the return, of Murphy and party, who have proceeded to the locality. We may, however, mention that the specimens were obtained some fifteen miles up the Nile river, close to the foot of the range at the back of the township.

Pox's Peak.— We learn' that Thew and party have returned to this locality fov the purpose of carrying on their prospecting work of tho quartz reefs discovered there in tho autumn. A party of three men who came from the North Ldand by the last steamer, also left Timaru on Sunday morning for the same locality. It seems that these three men received information from an old mate of theirs, who had been shepherding for some time in the locality, which induced them to leave the North Island for the purpose of prospecting about Fox's Peak and Burkes Pass. Wo fear the fall of snow on Monday night last will for a short while stop them from testing the reefs they desire to lay bare, — " Timaru Herald," Sept. 29th. The Bendigo Gully reef near Cromwell, continues to maintain its high reputation. According to the " Dunstan Times," the crushiug lasfc week of Goodger and Co.'s claim gave 213 ounces among tho four shareholders. £10,000 might be taken for a onefourth share with no anxiety to sell. On the same line of reef at Bendigo Gully as Goodger's, two Qther claims have' been taken up.

Some weeks ago it was announced that a tremendous rush had taken place to tfie Coromandel diggings, the number of men composing the rush being somewhat vaguely estimated as "from 6000 to 10,000." Even the smaller number, it appears, was about ten times more than the true estimate of the rush, for we find a correspondent of the " Southern Cross," writing from the spot says :—": — " There are still not more than six hundred men hero; were there six thousand, as I have seen it stated, they would have to eat each other. Sleeping aceomodation is still scarce ; there are five publichouscs, two of them being half store half hotel. The stores are more than a mile apart 5 but several stores, and I imagine a sly grogshop or two, are going up nearer the diggings. The police office is locked up 5 there is no police-constable here, and there is no Warden. There may possibly be a Justice of tho Peace, but I have not hoard."

A quartz reef, described as " very likely," is reported to have been discovered in the neighbourhood of Fox's Peak, Canterbury. The "Timarn Herald '* of Saturday last says : — Thew, of the party of Thew and Thurgood, arrived in town yesterday, and reports having made the discovery of a largo reef with every indication of its being gold-bearing. Pyrites thickly abound in the reef, which is taken as an indication of gold. Besides, in tho ground in the immediate vicinity of the reef, the colour is found in every dishful of earth. A company has already been formed by the station masters in the neighbourhood, consisting of six sleeping shareholders and six working miners, the former having engaged to pay the men a sum weekly whilst working the reef, and also to find them in tools, <fee, for a term of three months. Mining on this reef will soon be commenced on a, regular system, as Thew has been in Timaru to get men, provisions, &c, and will start away with a thoroughly organised party almost immediately. ,

The following Australian items are from the "Daily Times" telegrams: — Melbourne. — The Ministerial elections are causing . great excitement. Mr. Vale is opposing Mr. Reeves for Collingwood. Mr. Eolfe is opposing Mr. Byrne. The running of third class railway carnages has been resumed. The continued dry weather is causing great uneasiness. The Lord Bishop of Melbourne has proclaimed the 7th of October as a day for special prayer for rain. Elour is at £17 to £17 10s. for country, and £18 for town brands. No wheat is offering. Maize is at ss. 3d. for trade parcels. Oats are steady at ss. 4d. to ss. 4|d. Numerous arrivals of the new season's teas have taken place. Sydney, — In reference to the enquiry into the circumstances attending the seizure of the schooner Daphne from the South Sea Islands, His Honour Chief Justice Stephen has expressed the opinion that ' the Islanders found on board of that vessel were neither slaves nor intended for slavery. Intelligence has been received that Count Van Atterns, whose swindles caused such great sensation hoth here and in Queensland, has been I sentenced to twenty -two months' imprisonment at SoUrabaya. It is re r ported that a diamond weighing fiftytwo carats has been found in' Verelli. The Bank of New South Wales; at Maitjand, N.S.WV has-dismissed Wo clerks in consequence of the recent loss of notes.

The new Victorian Ministry are as follows \ — Chief Secretary, Mr. Mac.pherson; Treasurer, Mr. Byrne; At-torney-Greneral, Mr. M'Bonnell ; Soli-citor-General, Mr. Kerferd; Lands, Mr. M'Keam; Customs, Mr. Cohen; i Mines, Mr. J. T. Smith ; Eailways, | Mr. Longmore ; Public Works, Mr. I peeves ; Postmastor-Cf-eneral, vacant.