MINING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 168, 27 April 1871, Page 6

MINING.

Scrip at the Thames has, been sold at the following rates : — Caledonians, £150 j Thames, £19 to £2d% Pride of J Kapaka, 3s 6d; Berkel^- (jpbtle, 2s. Buyers— Una, 21s ; City W Dunedin, £5. The Alta Company, Bendigo, cleared up last week with a result of one hundred and thirteen ounces from one hundred and fifty tons of quartz, or an average of about fifteen pennyweights to the ton. — " Dunstan Times." We learn from the "Bruce Standard " that the tributers of the Table Hill Quartz Company's Reef, are confident of success in the prosecution of their enterprise. The reef they are now working gives promising indications of yielding well. The result of their last washing brought down on Monday, was 55ozs, lldwts. of gold from 250 tons of stone, or at the rate of odwts. per ton, a considerable improvement on any previous yields. We trust their expectations of the future will be realised. A correspondent, writing from Longwood on the 10th inst., says that during the week a small rush had taken place to a locality, known as Young's, lying above Lake George, between Orepuki and Colac's Bay. Several parties had got prospects which induced them to take up claims and apply for water rights. Water is said to be easily obtainable, so that the character of the ground should soon be definitely ascertained. There are many likely-looking gullies in the neighbourhood, and hopes are entertained that something good will be got out of them.—" Weekly News." Mr. Warden Borton, writing on the 14th inst., reports to the Secretary for Land and Works regarding the state of the district under his charge (Mount Benger) as follows : — I have the honour to report that druing the last quarter tin's district has been visited - by that terrible scourge, scarlet fever. About fourteen of fifteen persons have been attacked, and three deaths (all children) have taken place. I am glad to be able to state that the disease seems now to be dying out, and I am in hopes that if proper precautions are used the coming winter will eradicate it altogether. — Since my last reporb, the Hercules Water Race Company have been vigourously prosecuting their woi m k under every 'disadvantage, both in regard to the ground through which they are taking the race, and also the road over which, they are obliged to convey their timber, &c. The company anticipate a completion of their labours in a few months' time, but I doubt their being in a position to avail ; themselves of the probable low state of the river during tho coming season. — The crops in this district have all been harvested in capital condition, and the yield on the average is better than in most of the down country districts. Considerable interest is still evinced by all classes in the throwing open of blocks for settlement under the Agricultural Leasing Regulations", and the choice parts of the land so opened are applied for almost as soon as declared open. The population still remains steady at about a thousand, but probably a considerable number of Chinese will shortly arrive from other districts to cradle along the banks of the river. The riches of Hartley and Riley's Beach are matters of history ; and it is a matter of fact that a portion of the rich terrace on the east bank of the Clutha Rivei*, which yielded such splendid results to the two early prospectors whom we have just named, still l'emains un worked, because the present coach road passes over the well-known auriferous ground. We, . understand that two miners, Messrs. Barker and Strahan, ai*e so impressed with the value of the piece of ground in question, that they intend to memorialise his Honour the Superintendent and the Provincial Council to have the present road diverted, causing the traffic to pass over the old route. Messrs. Barker and Strahan have been working in the locality for seven or eight years, so they ought to be able to estimate aright the character of the ground. In consequence of the construction of the coach road, about four years ago, they were compelled to abandon Hartley's Beach, having worked the same as far back as. the District Engineer (Mr. Greeri&w) would permit. Since then, they have prospected the terrace of the river from Hartley's Beach to Cromwell Bridge, and have failed to find any ground as rich as that of which they have been deprived. They are ready to assist in the works which would be necessary for carrying the road over the old track. If the ground be really as rich as it is believed to be, it would certainly be desirable to render available a piece of land over a quarter of a mile in length, and running some hundreds of yards back from the river. The part of road wished for is one of the worst pieces in the road between Cromwell and Clyde. It is calculated that after the working of the upper seams, the ground would give permanent and profitable employment to a large number of men. Th» petition will be placed in the hands o£ our local member, Mr. Hickey, -wh» t we understand, has already a pretog good budget of wants and wishes^P advocate immediately the Provincial ! Council meets. — " Cromwell Argus."