WAIKAIA BUSH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 22, Issue 277, 22 May 1873, Page 5

WAIKAIA BUSH.

(From our own Correspondent. ) When I last wrote you, I mentioned two claims' as having struck payable gold in the new ground on the Waikaia river. Since then, one of them (Duncan and party's) has turned out surprisingly rich. They have not as yet crossed the deep ground, and the western reef, which is supposed to be richest, is still untouched; so the party may even get richer ground than they have as yet. Up to the present time two paddocks, each 15ft. square, have been taken up, the one yielding 84 and the other 138 ounces — making 224 ounces altogether ; and as the ground, although rough, is only 9ft. deep, I consider it a splendid claim — in fact, a fortune to the lucky owners ; and it only takes three men about three weeks to take a paddock off. The gold is pretty evenly spread over the ground, but the side towards the resf, which is not yet worked, is the richest. In taking up the washdirt occasional rich patches are seen, which yield several ounces to the • l iah. I saw

one dish with eight oimces, another gave as high as sixteen. And here I have to thank the owners for their courtesy in supplying me with information that may be relied on. This claim was taken tip by an Englishman and a Swiss about eighteen months ago, who named it the AngloSwiss claim. As showing the uncertainty of a digger's lot, I may mention that neither of them are now shareholders in the claim. One of them sold out a few weeks before gold was struck for £10, and the fortunate purchaser has received upwards of £200 for about two months' work. The claim is a two-acre one, situate about a milo above Fielding's home station, and held by a Scotchman and an Irishman, who have had their share of hard work and ill luck on the diggings, but have now a prospect, if so inclined, of seeing their native country again. The other claims on the river are pushing on a3 fast as they can, and expect to be in the deep ground in a few weeks, and I hope to have to report equal prospects to the one above. There is nothing fresh from the Whitecomb and surrounding gullies. In matters social, I must not forget to mention we had a gathering of the clans at D. Orang's, when good fellowship reigned supreme ; song and toast following each other in rapid succession. Mrs. O. provided a first-rate luncheon, which, with a drop of " mountain dew " at intervals, was done full justice to, and highly appreciated by the fortunate recipients, who appeared all bent on passing a jovial evening — which they did, reluctantly leaving at cock crow in the morning ; and. so passed one of the pleasantest evenings I have witnessed for some time. The weather is delightful, in fact, a late edition of summer weather. The river is low, with every prospect of remaining so ; but we may expect a heavy fall of snow any day, still, the season being so far advanced, 1 think it will lei on the ground till spring.