SWITZERS. (From our own Correspondent

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 235, 1 August 1872, Page 8

SWITZERS. (From our own Correspondent

The weather on Switzers for the last ten days has been, considering the season, really splendid ; the days warm and genial, the nights with little 'or no frost, Should such weather continue for a short time longer, "grim visaged" winter will have departed from amongst us, leaving every indication of an early spring. In mining matters I have nothing extraordinary to report. All the ditches are now pretty well repaired after the slips occasioned by the heavy falls of snow, and running full and bye. The miners, are pretty well all at work, their labor, I believe, yielding average results. It is said some of the claims, especially towai'ds, Welshmans Gully, are turning out better than heretofore.

On Muddy Creek, another party of four have bottomed on payable gold. A great deal of difficulty has to be encountered here in opening up claims, fall not being obtainable in any direction for sluicing; consequently, the claims have all to be driven out and timbered. The bush is a good distance from the workings, and a heavy expense is to be incurred before a claim is put in thorough working order.

From Gow's Creek I hear of some new ground being opened, with fair prospects, further up the terrace than yet worked. There are no doubt parties here and there in the district who are doing much better than wages, but as miners generally have a strong objection to have their individual gains made public, I think their scr«ples have a right to be respected.

Our mail for the first time for many a month was delayed last Thursday, at the Pomahaka, owing to the flood in that river. I can not say how other places are treated, but when we are lucky enough to get a piece of road or bridge made, the Executive always chose midwinter as the proper time to have it executed.. Instance the bridge across Wendon Creek. Some twelve months ago the contract for this work was let for the sum of £240, but it ultimately cost the country £600, owing to the quantity of water to be contended with in sinking for centre piers. Now, we have the Pomahaka bridge in exactly the same fix, and will have it completed no doubt b) the time a man could safely cross the river in water-tight boots. Considering the state of the

roads, and floods in creeks and rivers, with which he has had to contend against, I think Mr. Matheson deserves great credit for the punctuality with which he has hitherto delivered our Tuapeka mail.

One of our resident surgeons, Dr. Lake, has left for the Mount Ida district. We have, howe^ e•, still a worthy disciple of EscalupiuF, in the person of JL»r. M'Crystal, iv our midst. It is a consolation that when disease or accident occurs to any of us, it will be professionally encountered by one who has hitherto been very successful in his treatment of many serious cases which have occurred since he has been a resident amongst us.

I notice that I drop in for some vigorous remarks from Mr. H. N. Sim son, relative to my report of the unfortunate accident in the Break-em All claim, given in my letter of the 4th ult. In reply to these attacks, I may be permitted to remark that I deferred writing on the subject for three weeks for various reasons, but principally thinking that some one connected with the claim would have reported the occurrence. Having done so, however, and after a careful re-perusal of my own letter, and Mr. Simson's reply, I am sorry to say I have nothing to withdraw, as the evidence adduced at the coroner's inquest and the rider attached to the verdict of the jury, fully iustified my former remarks. — " That the body might have been extricated in a much shorter period than six weeks, considering there was only five feet to drive, and that principally through solid ground," is now, I believe, almost universally admitted. As to the libel on the miners of Winding Creek, my letter had no reference to them whatever, as in this case, as in every other of the sort, the owners, and they alone (be they workmen or not), are held responsible. Mr. Simson's comparison of my jottings with those scurrilous reports which appeared in the " Bruce Herald," some eighteen months ago, and which were equally discreditable to publisher and writer, was to say the least in very bad taste. I cannot help thinking, had the authors of those letters had the reporting of this case, Mr. Sim son would have found the unfortunate affair very differently represented, and materials to hand for reapplication for the next six months.