KANIERI.

West Coast Times, Issue 232, 16 June 1866, Page 6

KANIERI.

(rnosr our spkciai, corhesfondent.)

Since my last report on this field, which was taken somo ten weeks since, a very marked and perceptible change has taken place in the outward appearance of the town and workings. The former hns very considerably extended in the direction of the camp, which may be mainly attributed to tho progress made 1 by the Commissioner's Flat miners, and the construction of that useful work the Kanieri tramway. To thoroughly realise the progression of the Kanieii-ites, whose movements though sure are slow, it is necessary to abstain from visiting them for v 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 madt warrants my opinion of their untiling energy and perseverance. In a former report I stated that the district was. undergoing transition — that the day of more pick and shovel digging hud passed away, and thaj henceforth the further development of the Kanieri mnst depend upon co-opera-tive labor, and the introduction of steam and water power. This nsse'tion has b( en I 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 term — monopoly. Nature and the common sense of others has opposed them, incontestibly proving that these puny efforts of tho 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, aro nowfoundonCommissioner's Flat where Bevcral stcam-engine-*nd a large water-wheel are erected, and a considerable population located. Wonderful arc the changes effected on the flat during the past twelvemonths; for then it was unclaimed bush, almost impenetrable, the haunt of wild pigeons and othor forest birds which made their nests in tinbranches of tho 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 truo digger taught him liy 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 the days I have alluded to above. It is almost unnecessary to state that it is entirely occupied by companies, of whom one, the Kanieri Steam Drainage Company, i» registered according to the act. Their workings were the first I visited, and felt, I loaded to observe that after all their misfortunes they have at last succeeded in, er cting a splended engine, which in my opinion, is the bet contained in the district. It is a portable double cylinder of fourteen horse power, and does • tho work •required of it well and monthly '• the oxcollent condition it was in, the perfect cleanliness of all its p<irts, on which not a' speck of rust was viable, attest to the care and closo attention of the drivers. The company have sunk, a large paddock, which is down to the washdirt, and ar<j at present draining their ground by tho aid <f a California!) pump, the largest I ever si; w, its length being 52 feet, with ub re eighteen inches by five inches. It is, however, inadequate to overcome the immense body of water in the drifts; and the Comnany have, therefore, sent to Melbourne for a double action force- pump, which they expect will arrive in the course of five or six weeks. In the meantime, they pro pose removing the largo bed of washdirt already uncovered, and we believe that the old pump will be sufficiently powerful to keep "down the water whilo they arc so employed. Although these men have been hard at work during the past sevoh months, not one shilling — in the shape of returns — have they yet obtained out of the chum. Good prospects can, however, be washed out of the top layer of washdirt, varying from |dwt. to -Jd'wt. the dish ; and as the hed is estimated to )e 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 inconvonience, 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 fed certain, is the only way to get rid of it, ami thoroughly work the Flat, tail races (although very useful in their wny) 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 machineiy. TJie claim of the Independent Company is situated next but one to that of the Westland Steam Drainage Company, and is held by two parties of miners, who united for the purpose of purchasing an engine, which drains both claims. It was the first at work on the Flat, and is an excclliiit piece of machinery of 10-horse power but a single cylinder only. It, liowever, works well, driving with much ease a double-action force pump, worked by two connecting rods, having a centre swing. The pump has four feet stroke, and can discharge with ease 500 gallons of water per minute ; ar.d even when the Flat is flooded, is still able to keep the claim dry, if coal instead of wood is used for fuel. It is unnecessary to expatiate on the superiority of the former as a steam raiser, and it is much to be regretted that a seam of good steam coal has not been found in the neighborhood, for the imported article when landed on the claim would prove an insuperable objection to its general use by mining companies. Liko their neighbors, however, the Independents burn wood which, notwithstanding its sappiness, keeps up a sufficiency of steam for ordinary work, and something to spare besides. This company have sunk an immense paddock, out of which they have already taken a great quantity of wash dirt, and much yet remains to be broken up. Touching the

quality, however, they were exceeding y reticent, but admitted it would pay well, us there wns a thickness of fourteen feot of gravel containing gold 5 and as tho bed rock lias not yet been reached, they are sanguine that heavier deposits than any yet discovered in the claim will be found there, providing the under drift can bo drained. I/ike the Kanieri Company, the Independents keep all their gear in good order, and certainly possess the most perfect " plant " that is to be found on the Kanieri. I^believe Mr Gordon superintended the erection of the pumps and also the engine of the Westland Company, and much credit is due to. him for the perfection of all the arrangements ; and next to the Independent Company, a 12-horse single cylinder engine drains the ground hold by Phillips' party by driving a large Californian pump, which, although fixqd in a perpendicular position, keeps the water down. Payable wash -dirt was struck in this claim fifteen feet from the surface, and although the top layer is the richest, gold is found distributed through the bed of drift as far as it has been penetrated. Prospects from a .j-dwt. to 1 dwt. to the diah con be washed out of it. Work, however, has been much retarded lately, ihrousrh the sides of the pump-well caving in, and the consequence was that the paddock was partly Hooded until a new one (which is not yet quite finished) was put down. I noticed a very great convenience on this claim that must save the share • holders a great deal of time, and wjiich the other companies would do wellto in* troducc :— attached to the engine by adriving belt is 1 S l f circular used, of course, for .general purposes;] but chiefly to cut firewood, into leflgttlir ready for the furnace,, , . MuoJx ■ labor is ( saved by this contrivance, &n&jjx>Q£e $0$ lie-crossing the Independent Company's claim, the large water«wpeer'er£cted i by Caldwell, Smith, and parfcXijtoJefto^ed. I gave a full description of ang,^sJeel and flume in a former report, which wns then not quite ready for work. Now, however, the elevators arc in position, and the wheel kept constantly going ; and although work is not so far forward as Texpected to find it, very fair progress has been made. The motivo 1 ower to drive the wheel is supplied by the United Water Race Company, for the consideration of £15 per week. Water, however, becoming scarce through dry vr afcher and frosts on the high lands, it was found tlinfc nearly three limes thnt figure could be obtained elsewhore, so the company endeavored to break through the agreement which they had signed, and about three weeks ago cut off the' supply. Su< h a proceeding was objected to by Culdwell and his mates, who at once instituted legal proceedings ngainst tho race men, and obtained a verdict of damages for loss of time, and thnt the agreement was ceituinly binding. A fortnight was lost to the water-wheel pavly through this occurrence, who had only re-commeuced work a day or two before my visit. They are now sinking the well deeper, and state that the claim will pny well, ns there is fourteen feet of wash dirt resting on a sandstone bottom that will pay all through. Newer in to the Terrace, a cluim was bottomed lnst week, oul of which good prospects were obtained, and a little higher up the flat nnother party sunk a shaft which promised to 1 ield good returns for the labor expended.. I must not forget to mention Grant and party, who were amongst the flr«t to set into the flat last year, and certainly the first to introduce machinery, in the shape of a handy little overshot-water-wheel which works a Californian pump. Under ordinary circumstances this power would have been found amply sufficient, but. the underground lake, subsequently pricked into, proved too much for it, and now the shareholders intend to erect mnnps which will ho worked by the Independent Company's engine. Nearer the river, four parties have amalgamated under the name of (he United Sleam Drainage Company, and purchased the engines and boiler once belonging to the old Wakool, and nve now employed getting them into position. The company consists of thirty working shareholders, who intend registering under -the act. Payable prospects 1-nve been obtained out of this claim; As it is now believed that the gold runs from the terrace across the flat in the direction of the river, a great deal of that which was once considered to be outside ground, has since been taken up, nnd is now closely held. Attempts were made to bottom it by hand, which resulted in a fail urn, although I heard that small prospects had been obtained out of the lowest vein of grnvel reached. There is no doubt this /rround will pay when systematically worl'ed, The present state of the old Konieii Flat is not calcnlaled to create fivorable impressions in the mind of a visitor not well acquainted with the distiict, as the late heavy rains so raised the river that nearly every claim was flooded, and work in consequence almost entirely suspended. Tho two stenm engines are al«o idle — tint of tho Star Company, through some hitch in the elevators, whilst the Westland Drainage Company are busy erecting nnother nine inch lift-pump, as one was found insufficient to overcome the water. This Company possesses a very excellent and valuable pant, hnvit'g a 40-horse power engine, a corresponding boiler and pumping gear to match. Sulk atantial wooden buildings are erected over all ; and Ihe orderly, clean appearance of every part of the works denotes how careful is the supervision exercised. A large paddock, 40ft. s 40ft. has been sunk to tho top of the wash, nnd the v stripping' 1 is stilf being .proceeded with ; a tramtvay having been lnid down from the culfing to tho end of the v tip," on which a horsetruck works and conveys away the surface mullock. I was not able to discover whit prospects hnd been obtained out of the paddock, but was given to understand thnt they wore payable. I am sorry to say that the Star Company are compelled to incur another heavy outlay in providing new pumns, as the elevators hitherto used are a failure, the expense of keeping them in repair being soni"thing enormous. An order has been accordingly forwarded to Melbourne for two powerful iron lift pumps, which may be expected to arrive in about a month or six weeks Two of I the claims drained by this Company are • paying remarkably well ; for out of Itntter's lOOoz. weekly can be obtained when it is in full work ; and the Eureka will yield rfßnrly as much. Tho Blue Jacket claim is, so far, no good ; but the shareholders intend sinking on to the main bottom, on which tho rich bed of drift is supposed to rest. On tho bank of river only thrco claims are now nt work, Hawkes and party having worked out and deserted theirs. Of these, Townsend's is supposed to be richest, although, the

Cumberland party are making excellent wages. The latter haye a long spell of work before them, having bought the Old Ballarat Company's Claim, which was worked on the false bottom, and now haß to be ro-worked on the main. I cannot say that mining on the old terrace is in a very flourishing state, for the ground being poor and the price of water very high a great many claims have been deserted. There are, however, a few still paying go6d wageß, but the majority yield "from " tucker" only, to L 5 and L 6 per week. It is, however, likely that an improvement in these returns will take place, as the Pioneer Company intend reduoing the price o{ water to sluices. Amongst the Kanicri improvements, the tramway for supplying the town and diggers with firewood must not be forgotten, It extends from the centre of the township, across Commissioner Fiat, and some distance up that terrace which bounds it on the eastern side ; and is forming a great boon to the inhabitants, and a source of profit the proprietors. According to the provisions of the Act, it is under the supervision of the Government, which has decided on a scale of charges that in my opinion aro somewhat of the lowest. The population of the Kanieri district may be | estimated at about 3000, and the weekly return of gold at from 1500 oz. to 2000 oz. Trade is moderately brisk, although storekeepers complain sadly, as, in fact, they always do, undef any circumstances.