MINING- MEMORANDA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 202, 14 December 1871, Page 6

MINING- MEMORANDA.

A correspondent of the " Aitow Observer " says he never saw better indications of the existence of a lead of gold than in Whitechnpel Flat. Ho h sno doubt that in less than 12 months from 100 to 150 miners will be at work there.

The " Nelson Examiner " states that there is little of special interest to chronicle in Collingwood of late, beyond the steady advance- of mining enterprise of all sorts consequent on the drier weather with which we are favoured. The dredging - companies will soon be at work. The Nelson company's apparatus is quite complete, and work will be commenced in three or four days, another company (William's and Co.'s) will follow shortly. The second trial crushing of the Can terbury Company's quai'tz, from the reef near their caves, not having proved satisfactory, this lease will, most likely, be given up, and prospecting commenced by the company in their ground near the Preseverance, The

leaseholders of alluvial claims are now in high hope that the. ensuing . summer will prove to be the " tide in their affairs which, taken at the &ood, will lead to fortune," as this season is decidedly the culminating point of long effort with the majority of them. Among the old and well-known claims may be mentioned that of Richmond Hill, tbe present lessees of, which are I Mersrs. Washboume and Sons, who, after a long struggle, are now beginning to- reap +he fruit of their patient and well devised plans. The Glerfgyle party have a lich -but intractable claim • they are now getting through the last slip which <:ame on their workings. Messrs. Caldwell Brothers have finished their race after many months labour, and will have a perennial supply of water. Ernest's claim is reported to be doing well of late, and the adjoining one (Haynes and Druggan's) is in good working order. Peppprall's claim, at Golden Gully, is one of the few that thrive well in wet weather, and has been peculiarly favoured during the last winter. One or two of the claims on the- Slate River are also doing well, while the continued industry of the parties on the Rocky River and Quartz Ranges speak for the y ; eld or prospects of their claims. On the whole, there appears good gronnds for believing that this summer, which will bring all or nearly all our mining enterprises to the test, will be a very successful season for the miner.

At Buninyong, Victoria, a miner named Anderson recently picked up a nugget weighing about 911 b. "It seems" says the " Buninyong .Teiegraph," of the Bth inst, "that Anderson and a man named Foley were working at the top of the Alexander last week but being unsuccessful Foley parted company with Anderson on Saturday. The nugget was found about 18in. under the surface, among the roots of a sapling."

A Sydney paper, speaking of a eaka of gold received in that city from, the diggings in New Caledonia, says: — It was of rather a dull color, and appeared more of the character of New Zealand gold than the produce of Australia."

The Hyde correspondent of tho " Waikouaiti Herald" says: — During the last few weeks a rush has set in at the head of the Sowbtmi race, and several old Hyde and Hamilton diggers are up there trying their luck. I know from a reliable source that one patty is making £\o to £20 per week, and I was speaking to a Ilydi'ito who earae m for '• tucker " on Saturda}', and he informed me that he had just struck gold, and the prospect was l^dwfc. to the dish. The«e diggings have the advantage of being reached at a depth qf two or three feet, I understand that Mr. Bre inner, of Hamilton, proposes buikliu-j a store there. The diggings avo only available for summer work, as the snow prevents all work in the winter months. Mining matters are very quiet here* the want of water having put a stop to most of the Companies working.