KANIERI.

West Coast Times, Issue 230, 14 June 1866, Page 2

KANIERI.

(From our Special Reporter •) Since my last report on this field, which was taken some ten weeks since, a very marked and perceptible change has taken place in the outward appearance of the town and workings. The former has very considerably extended in the direction of the camp, which may be mainly attributed to the progress made by the Commissioner's Plat miners, and the construction of that useful work the Kanieri tramway. To thoroughly realise the progression of the Kanien-ites, whose movements though sure are slow, it ia necessary to abstara from visiting them for a month or two,'retaining, however, a lively recollection of their condition at the close of the last sojourn, and having done so, I must needs confess that the advance they have made warrants my opinion of their untiring energy and perseverance. In a former report iTstated that the district was undergoing transition— that the day of more pick and shovel digging had passed away, and that henceforth the further development of the Kanieri must depend upon co-opera-tive labor, and the introduction of steam and water power. This assertion has been fully borne out by tho turn of events, for the system advocated and then only introduced, has made immense strides, and is daily being regarded with greater favor by that class of men who, in every gold country, have ever been found ready to cry down that which they choose to terra — monopoly. Nature and the common sense of others has opposed them, incontestibly proving that these puny efforts of the individual or individual parties to be quite inadequate to reach those treasures placed beyond the reach of other than skilfully-directed and united labor. The principal workings in the Kanieri which were once situated on the old Flat and terrace, are now found on Commissioner's Flat where sevoral steam-engines and a large water-wheel are erected, and a considerable population located. Wonderful are the changes effected on the flat during the past twelvemonths; for then it was unclaimed bush, almost impenetrable, tho haunt of wild pigeons and othor forest birds which made their nests in the branches of the tall majestic trees that lifted their stately crests heavenwards. Beneath, all was a mass of marsh and decayed vegitation, through which tho prospector wearily plodded and delved through, hoping to reach those treasures that past experience and the instinct possessed by every true digger taught him lay hidden there. How those pioneers labored and persevered, the present state of the flat must afford ample testimony even to those who knew it not in tho days I have alluded to above. It is almost unnecessary to state that it is entirely occupied by companies, of whom one, tho Kanieri Steam Drainage Company, is registered according to the act. Their workings were the first I visited, and felt pleased to observe that after all their misfortunes they have at last succeeded in erecting a splended engine, which in my opinion, is the best contained in tho district. It is a portable double cylinder of fourteen horse power, and does tho work required of it well and smoothly : the excellent condition it was ' in, the perfect cleanliness of all its parts, on which not a speck of rust was visable, attest to the care and close attention of tho drivers. The company' have sunk, a) large paddock, which is down to tho washdirt, and are at present draining their "ground by tho aid of a californian pump, the largest I ever saw, its length being j52 feet, with a bpre, eighteen inches by five inches. It is, however, inadequate to overcome the immense body of water in the drifts ; aud th.Ov(/Qtupany have, therefore, sent to Melbourne tor a double action force- pump, which they

expect will arrive in the course of five or six weeks. In the meantime, they propose removing the large bed of washdirfc already uncovered, and we believe that the old pump will be sufficiently powerful to keep down the water while they are so employed. Although these men have been hard at work during the past seven months, not one shilling — in the shape of returns —have they yet obtained out of the claim. Good prospects can, however, be washed out of the top layer of washdirt, varying from £dwt. to £dwt. the dish ; and as the bed is estimated to be eight or nine feet thick, they are hopeful that the paddock now in hand will nearly cover the expenses already incurred. To carry off the water discharged by the pump, a tunnel has been driven out of the paddock some ten feet from the surface into the small creek, which has cut a passage through the Flat; and the consequence is, that when the river is flooded, the water is backed up into the claim, and all work thereby suspended. To avoid this delay and inconvenience, it is purposed, when the new pumps arrive, to block up the tunnel, and lift the water to the surface, where it will be discharged into boxes, and conveyed to the river. This, I feel certain, is the only way to get rid of it, and thoroughly work the Plat, tail-races (^although very useful in their way) being in this instance rather a drawback than otherwise. There are thirty-six shares in this company held by as many working men, who occupy between them four 90 x 90 feet claims, and a special site for the machinery.

(To be continued.)