SHAG VALLEY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 30 January 1873, Page 8

SHAG VALLEY.

(From our own Correspondent.) Your own must admit being in a bit of a fix this week, owing to the want of news to make up his usual letter, but I suppose I must send a little news, or else the people here will be making a row, for I have noticed several times when your own has missed a week or two, the cry has been, what has become of the correspondent, he surely must be getting lazy. It is a great pity that we have no gardens here, or else I might be able to send you tx.n account of a mouster cabbage, or a large gooseberry, &c. But having no gardens, I must needs fall back on the reefs for my quota of news. Miniug matters in general are very quiet, the miners not having yet properly settled down to work after the holidays, and a great number of them having left for the harvest, the high wages given proving a great attraction. But, when the harvest is over, I expect things will resume their usual activity. I was in hopes ere this to have been able to have sent you an acj count of the starting of the Perseverance Co. battery, with the result of the crnshing, &c. But although the battery has been completed for some time, its start is delayed waiting the arrival from Dunedin of a piece of piping, in connection with the water supply. It is also waiting for coal. I expect a start will be made next week* The men are busy engaged getting quartz. lam informed the atone is still looking very well, I believe better than any they have yet came across. There are only five or six men employed at present, owing to more not being obtainable. Mr. Campbell and staff are fully and busily employed with the Shag Valley Freehold Co's machine, being determined if possible to get it completed this month. From wl.a 1 . lam abe to judge, Mr Campbell seems a thorough practical man at the business, and evidently means to add to the reputation already enjoyed by his employer, (Mr. \V. Wilson, Ota^o Foundry). There is no doubt Mr. Campbell has had many drawoacks to contend with. Still he has proved himself able for them, and is now ia a position to make some show with his work. He commences I believe fixing the large boiler in its position to-morrow. I mentioned in my last that it was contemplated getting the boiler examined after the accident. It was surveyed on Tuesday last, the result being that the two plates I stated as being dented, was the only material iujury sustained, which some dozen or so new rivets remedied. There is no question that when the machine is finished, and handed over to the company, it will reflect great credit on all parties concerned in "its erection — not even forgetting the poor laborer, whose part you will see was no mean one, when I mention that the site excavated wvs about 60 x 25, and some 25ft. in depth, the whole of it being through solid rock. This Co., (S.V.F)., have just completed their large reservoir. It is certainly a splendid piece of workmanship, and will | hold an immense body of water. When once full the company by pumping back the water after leaving the battery, can calculate on having a constant supply of aqua pura. The embankment is about 19ft. high, and about 120 ft. in length, the base being some 100 ft. in width, and will therefore resist almost any amount of pressure. It is without exception the largest and most substantial reservoir in this district. The company have only 3 or 4 hands employed just now, the most of the men having gone harvesting, and the manager, Mr. Bell, having no work for them until the battery is ready for crushing. The company are now engaged laying down a tramway to connect the mine with the machine, sinking pits for the tailings, cutting shoot 3 for the quartz, &c Cooper and party have got their water wheel erected at M'Cormack's creek. The battery I hear, Mr. Wilson was to have ready for delivery to-day, (17th inst.) They will commence as soon. as i$ is

erected. They have a large lot of stone ready for crushing, which is expected will turn out very well. The Shamrock Co. are still raising stone, which looks well. The farmers are now fully employed with the harvest, and there is plenty of employment but a great dearth of labour. Although the farmers are giving £3 per week, with board, still they cannot get sufficient hands. The crops on the whole look remarkably well —wheat especially, yet I observe some few patches of oats looking anything but well. In short, there is every prospect of the harvest being a good one. Potatoes, cabbage, turnips, and other root crops, are looking splendid, and are obtainable in any quantities and at reasonable prices. Fruit is also very plentiful and cheap. The weather for the past week has been very changeable, some days regular scorching, others quite the reverse During the last two weeks, there have been very few days but what we have had rain, quite sufficient to stop the farmers, but enough to benefit the miner. It is now raining at intervals. To judge by present appearances, the weather is anything but settled, and we might yet have a good supply. We were visited on Monday evening last by a very heavy gale of wind, which did a deal of damage to the fruit trees and the farmers, whilst several buildings in the valley were completely um-oofed. I also hear that it blew Ned Devine's coaoh completely over at ths Pigroot Hotel. It was fortunate that it was at early morn before he started for Dunedin, or else the consequences might have been serious.