OKARITA.

West Coast Times, Issue 290, 28 August 1866, Page 3

OKARITA.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPCNnEST.)

August 19. Since writing to you last I have had the opportunity of witnessing a thorough tria of Wilkinson's Patent Amalgamating Ma' chine, with the black sand of the beachand the result has been an utter failure., Messrs Williams, finding their ground too stoney to give the machine a fair trial, entered into arrangements with Berne and party to test the machine in their ground, which hitherto has paid very well by the aid of eluice boxes only, tn this claim there are three feet of black sond} with hardly any stones* also a head and tail race, so nothing wds wanting for the success of the experiment, if the machine answered the expectations of Messrs Williams, in regard to its gold-saving qualities. When the machine was got to work last week it was found to haye 'too little incline, as the black sand formed a coat over the upper plates, which of course prevented the gold from getting amalgamated with the mercury ; it was accordingly lowered a little, although it was found mercury would esdape in quantity out of the troughs, as at the former incline several globules of mercury could be seen in the , tailings. . The result proved that the mercury was carried away in large quantities, also several portion's of amalgam. The machine was then raised and lowered, and tried again and again at oiuC"C nt elevati «> ns j but always with the same result-large Quantities of emicksilvet,being carried 'away in the tailings. The quantity of &ater iised was reputedly increased and diminished as was deemed advisable, but nothing that was done could prevent the loss of the mercury. The action of the revolving brusVes prevented the sand, in a great measure, from running through the machine, a dam or ripple being formed in the, water which greatly retarded the exit of the §ahd. £he brushes also appeared to file to bfe the jjrineipal cause of losing the ( rherquryj as their action tended, in a great measure, to scatter the iriercury into globules, 1 which quickly found thfeir way to the tail of the machine. At nightfall the machine was removed, as all that could be done was done, and it \\ as the- unanimqus, opinion, ol those, present that it wag not adapted for working black sand as the sand is of too heavy and dead a nature — so much unlike light, lively quartz tailings for working which the machine was evidently intended. Could improvements be made so that the mercury would be kept in the machine, I am of opinion it would come into general use for working poor ground, as it is capable of putting through as much dirt as a man can shovel into it. Some miners present at the trial said they believed the water was too cold for the mercury to act properly, but my opinion is the machine wants to be entirely remodeled.

The remains of some unfortunates have been picked up at the Bluff, immediately north of the Waiho. Last week, a boot washed ashore, and in it was found the ankle and other bones of a human foot. The boot was a common watertight, and did not appear much worn. The police at the Five-Mile, have the boot in their possession ; but it is very improbable anyone will be able to say who purchased it. A notice has been posted on the Gamp, informing the public that Mr Price will not be back until the 24th inst ; all cases are therefore, postponed until that date. Sttch a state ot imngn »» ir ~ - .-.. rilonstrous: 1 know soine parties who have how been waiting from Ml* Price's departure in order to have somebody to lodge dh application with for extending claims, bvit nobody being here to receive such application, the applicants have been compelled to , remain idle, and very probably somebody will in the meantime take up the ground they wished to apply for. Some debtors were also summoned to appear on the 15th ult., and they accordingly put in an appearance,, after a journey of from ten to twenty miles, and [ to ihkir gr<?at disgust werq very coolly informed by the sergeant of police that Mr i Price had not returned.

I have heard very little from up the Waiho lately. On 'Saturday, one party came into the Five Mile, and sold six ounces of very nice shotty gold. They say a great deal of labor is nfecessary in order to get at the wash-dirt, and in nearly every place the immense boulders have to be blasted iri order to get rid of them. The account the party alluded to give is, on the whole, not as encouraging as I would wish.

The tiny steamer Woodpecker is to be withdrawn, her owners finding this port will not pay her to remain. A rush took place at the rear of the Police Camp, at the Five-mile, last week. The prospects obtained are very encouraging, but at the same time there is very little ground available, as the rush is almost on the edge of the lagoon. The water is very heavy, but the washdirt is very thick, so I suppose the good will counterbalance the bad.

The Catholics of this district have welcomed with great pleasure the arrival of Father M'Girr. The reverend gentleman has since celebrated Mass at the Fivemile.

The p.s. Bruce is, I suppose by this time, in Dunedin, having left Okarita a week ago; and I saw her steaming away past Hunt's Beach in first-rate style. From the different beaches to Bruce Bay I really cannot send you any news, except I invent some. Dullness icigns supreme over all the southern beaches, and even the king of beaches— the farfajned Five-mile— is beginning \o hide its diminished hefid,