HYDRAULIC MINING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 209, 1 February 1872, Page 6

HYDRAULIC MINING.

(To the Editor.)

Sib, — In your issue of the 18th inst. I see a letter signed " Settler," Evans Flat, on a subject that I am pleased at all times to see brought before the public through your paper, which is so largely circulated on our goldfields, viz., that of New Zealand mining. There is au old saying that doctors will differ, and so will writers ; and it is perhaps well they do, so, as we then get the jpr-o and con. I agree with '• Settler " in all he has written, with one exception, and on that point I beg tq differ with him. As a miner, of eigh|; years' experience in California, and during that time having bsen principally engaged iv hydraulic washing, I must say that so for. as. the New Zealand goldfiejds are concerned, the benefit of hydraulic working has not been' properly proved. jnstfad of loose sandy ground, as the ..writer would .lead us to understand i§ ojjiy

adapted for. hydraulic, I intißt inform' him that 'l worked with hydraulic pretty hard cement with success in California, ' The cement workings at the Blue Spur, and a few other places that 1 could mention in New Zealand, might 1 probably be exceptions,; but then, as far as the Blue Spur is concerned, I hold that the hydraulic could be worked there to advantage, as the water could be directed to the different places as the stuff was broken up, and thus save an amount of extra labour, and a good deal of the surface ground could be washed away with little or no trouble. I may further add that I consider the hydraulic well adapted for our goldfields, both for bringing .down the stuff and washing it away, at one-half the present cost. So far as water races are concerned, I quite agree with " Settler " that it is the only means of developing our auriferous ground.; but then, let us use the water to the best advantage, and that I maintain to be the use of the hydraulic for ground sluicing. — I am, &c, California^ Miner. Evans Flat, Jan. 28th,