KANIERI.

West Coast Times, Issue 64, 31 October 1865, Page 2

KANIERI.

(From our Special Reporter.)

That fierce excitement and untiring energetic restlessness, once so characteristic of tho miners of this field, has now (save when the bray of rumour's trumpet at some distant locality causes a few of the unsettled ones to roll up and follow the sound) entirely passed away, and men seem satisfied to settle down into n hum-drum state of existence certainly, but one which decidedly contains the pleasantest phase of a digger's life, when onco he has resolved to shut his ears to flying reports of distant rushes, and steadily prosecute the remunerative work he has in hand ; for however pleasant it may be to some restless spirits to bo perpetually following the delusive glaro of those will-o'-the-wisps, new rushes, that so often lead the miner astray, it is still more delightful, when such peregrinations have resulted in something tangible and profitable, to rest from wandering for a while, and diligently strive to add to tho figures on tho credit side of your banker's book, which, through a previous run of ill luck, have been woefully reduced. Moreover, wanderings in the bush of the West Coast arc not attended with those pleasant episodes to be found under like circumstances in Australia, for here we lack that magnificent champaign country over which it is no hardship to travel, and where camping out is not attended with those excessive discomforts which fall to the lot oi the explorer and prospector here ; and many an old Australian ranger who has pitched his tent pro tern, in this land of swamps, green timber, and impenetrable bush, and who once thought a gum-tree a nuisance, and travelling in Australia a weary pilgrimage, now has good cause to sigh for that sunny land, that Elysium of gold-diggers, and for thofo bright days passed away never to return, which when hold in possession were not half appreciated. Profound was the knowledge of human nature displayed by our greatest bard when he wrote, " Past and to come seem best, things present worst ;" for man's nature is prone to dissatisfaction, and Englishmen as a rule are systematic growlers, never under any circumstancesadmitting they for once are treated according to their closerts. It is, however, allowed on all sides that this is a country of pain and penance, although it is just possible (albeit we have not sufficient penetration to discover them) that even now we are in tho enjoyment of certain advantages to which wo are oblivious. Still in all probability, if you asked a man here what he was laughing at, he would answer he felt pleased to think he was alive, and sturdily repudiate any other cause. A well-built, comfortable hut, however, attached to a payable claim, aro blessings not to be lightly considered, and this seems to be the generally received opinion of the Kaniori miners ; for wherever one travels in this district evidences are to be seen of tho desire mon havo to settle down into that which, in minors' parlance, is termed, a>Bteady seat of work ; and truly the district gives promise of affording ample employment to those, who having a little capital to commence with, will be content with something less than the rapid acquisition of a pile, and who will allow good quarters nnd steady wages to be a set off against pounds weight off the bottom of a shaft and ounces to the tin dish. Not that it is to be inferred out district is a poor one, on tho contrary much really rich ground exists, some of it partly worked, some only just broken into, besides that which has never yet been touched, but which requires more timo and labor than is usually expended in ordinary mining to extract the gold from. The easiest wrought ground in the Avhole locality is to be found on tho Kanieri Terrace, and consequently this is n favorite resort of tho digger in an impoc\inious state ; all tho ground is usually in hand, and although often deserted is again taken up ; in many instances results tho most profitable havo been the reward of those who considered it worth while to try again. A remarkablo instance of this kind came under my notice tho other day, for on looking down a paddock closo so Boattio'B store, and in which a party of men were hard at work, I observed the end of an old tunnel somo six feet above tho level on whioh they were working. On enquiry I found this had been driven in by a party of men who had labored thero for three months without meeting anything like a remunerative veturn, and had afterwards loft tho claim in disgust, and yet tho present occupants can realiso their eight and ton pounds per week a man. Tho former holders had worked tho headings only, leaving' tho real wash-dht beneath them, but separatod by a layer of barren drift fram the upper auriferous strata. It is, however now universally admitted that this terrace is not tub and oradle ground, but requires a plentiful supply of wator for sluioing tho great oxtont of ground through which gold is distributed ; and most anxiously is the progress made by

the Pioneer Race Company watched by the terrace men, who are beginning to wonder whether the work will ever bo completed ; it certainly must be allowed that they are .taking their time, A very good lead of gold, about twenty feet wide, runs) from Steele's claim on the face of the terrace through tho abovementioned paddock and the next two 'claimfc adjoining it ; here it joins the wide patch thnt extends right across the terrace under Bpurling's store, anil out of which so much gold has been extracted during the past six months, and which, if wo may judge by appearnttces, promises to yet yield as much more. Just here tho ground is tremendously cut up, the terrace being nearly intersected by a deep cutting ; shortly it will be quite so, as Boswell and party are bringing up a tramway from its northern slope into their claim. The ground they have been cutting through is very poor, but during the past week they have again touched pay dirt.