MINING SUMMAIIY.

West Coast Times, Issue 232, 16 June 1866, Page 5

MINING SUMMAIIY.

By referring to the Customs' returns for (the month, and then glancing at the exportation of gold, it will be seen that the amount which paid duty is considerably over 40,000 ounces. This it must bo remembered, is the produce of one portion of Westland only, the Grey returns not being included. Not being able to obtain the amount of gold sent in to Hokitika by escorts from each district, 'wo can only give the lump sum : believing, however, that the Hokitika district contributes the greatest quantity, and that Okarita, Waimea, and Totara rank next in succession. We are led to this conclusion, inasnuich as in the first named there aro soveral important goldfields, which each carry a largo population, and of which tho Kanieri, and Hau Hau Creek are the principal. At tho former locality, the introduction of steam machinery ( is becoming very general, for on the flat alone there are three poworful engines at work, and two more are in tho courso of erection besides a waterwh^el of great power which drives two large elovatoi'Sj On an adjoining flat there aro two ongines } one of forty-five horse power, the other twelve. A detailed account of this field will be found in our " speoial's " report, whioh wo publish in another column. Wo, however, cannot help slightly commenting on the information contained therein, for tho account it gives of tho field is highly satisfactory, notwithstanding the serious drawback experienced by tho miners through rains and floods. Even lindor advorso circumstances, tho Kanieri alone yields 2000 ozs. weekly, and there is no doubt that when tho different companies got fairly into work this amount will bo much augmented. The Pioneer and United — the only head race companies at present in the district — are paying fair dividends. Tho former, especially, is doing remarkably well, and find it necessary to extend thoir works by cutting a now ditch from the head of thoir race into tho lefthand branch of th c Kanieri river. This was necessitated through the supply of water in the old race proving quite inadequate to supply the many miners who made application for box-heads. On the whole, we consider that the Kanieri district is flourishing, and that thoro is every probability that for years it will afford steady employment to a largo population. Within about throe

miles and a half (as the crow flies) from these workings is the now well known Hau Hau diggings, which, however, a few months back, were hardly recognised, save by a favored few who were quietly tracing a lead of gold that in any gold country would bo considered a rich one. Now, however, this place has become a household' word, for since then a rush set in, and the lead was followed over hills • and across gullies, its appearance and the " lay " of the country vividly reminding us of some parts of the old Eureka lead on Ballarat. At present the run is' being traced towards the Tucker Flat workings ; in fact, the outpickets of " shepherded " have penetrated so for, and inserted their pegs into the old ground. There seems almost a certainty that the Hau Hau lead will run through the flat, deep ground having been discovered there and a company formed to work it. The lower end of this lead is scarcely so rich as the upper and middle portions of it, although excellent wages are made by those who fortunately struck the "gutter." Besides this deep ground, there are many other parts of the Hau Hau paying remarkably well, of which the most important is the Three Mile Creek, along the banks of which the Blue Spur lead is being traced, and at. the head of the creek a great deal of shallow ground is in hand. Very excellent wages reward steady, persevering labor on these workings, which give promise of a permanency not to be fount! on too many parts of the coast. Sluicing is daily finding raoro favor amongst the diggers, and several ditches are coming in that will command some of the most likely terraces and a great deal of the old, deserted ground. The population of the Hau Hau may be estimated at 2000, and the weekly yield of gold at about 1500 ounces. Nothing particular has transpired during the month at Okarita, although the diggers generally must be doing very well there, the Bruce having brought \ip two shipments of gold, amounting in the aggregate to -.nearly 10,000 ounces. The different beaches in that locality are still receiving close attention and yield fairly, although their best days arc past. Humors of new rushes have been circulated which, however, never received subsequent confirmation ; and hopes are still entertained that the country inland will yet turn out a payable field. Nothing further has been heard of the prospector Hunt, "who so mysteriously disappeared after the collapse of the Bruce Bay rush, which nearly depopulated ■ Okarita, and the new ground which ho professed to have discovered, has not yet been found by any of the numerous parties that so diligently sought for it. A retrograde movement of some fifty miles brings us to the Totara goldfiold, which once yielded richly to the individual miner, but now is almost entirely iv the hands of sluicing companies, who are profitably working the old 'ground. Tlio deep load which was traced from Jones' Creek into the flat is at a stand still through excess of water ; but as a company has been formed (the Scandinavian) under the joint stock system, 1 for the purpose of introducing steam power, wo trust that in our next Summary we shall have the satisfaction of stating that it is once more in full work. From Donohoue's Gully — an outworking a little to the south' of -the ' main workings, very fair accounts havo reached us, Deep ground is being worked there which yields most handsomely, although the labor is anything but light. Good wages, from LlO to L2O per week arc, however, the reward of the lucky ones. Sluicing, also, is (as elsewhere) in high favour there, and many races qro in course of construction, which before they are completed, will entail a heavy outlay of capital and time upon the proprietors. Between the Hokitika and the Grey there is a scattered population, who occupy every available and likely looking part of the beaches. The cream, however, of these working has lorfg ago been appropriated, although a few fortunate individuals are yet making good wages. In the Waimea district there aro somo 3000 minors located, nearly all of whom are ongaged in sluicing, and although heavy fluds are uncommon, there steady labor is certain to obtain fair remuneration. A goldfield Warden is stationed at the Waimea, and| also a small staff of police So little intelligence has reached us from the Grey district, during the past month, that we have next to nothing to communicate concerning that locality. It still, however, carries a largo population, and exports a considerable quantity of gold. We shall conclude our " Summary" with the official report of Mr Warden Kynnersley from the Upper Grey. He states :— " The rush to Caledonia Crook has subsided, and a great many of the diggers have returned to the Little Grey, owing to the fact that the workings aro all iv the bed of thecreek, and there is too much 'water to contend with The terraces in the neighborhood of Caledonia Creek havo not provod as good as was oxpeoted, and until dry woathor tho oreok cannot bo worked extensively. At Wyndhatn' Creek the ground is proving very satisfactorily, and the miners are well contented with their prospects. The track recently commenced by the Nelson Government across tho Saddle has been completed, and on tho Buller side great activity prevails. A township has been formed at tho Inangahua, containing already nine stores, and two butchors' shops. The surplios are mostly brought from the Grey, across tho sadilo, c.s many as thirty pack-horses having

crossed in one day. There appears to bo no probability of the Buller river competing with the Grey as a- route for the conveyance of stores, as, owing to the rapidity of the current, and the dangerous nature of the rapids, only canoes can be used, and these can only convey a small quantity of goods. A few loads have been brought by the Buller route, but the cost of freight, L'4s per ton, has effectually put a stop to the trade in that direction."