THE WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 572, 25 July 1867, Page 2

THE WAIMEA.

(FJIOM OUB OWN CORBESPONDENT.)

. July 24 The present week has been remarkable in the rapid extension of successful mining, both at the Fin's Hush and Quinn's Terrace, Piper's Flat, the former becoming richer as it approaches Stafford Town, and the latter growing into a good general diggings capable ot maintaining a large population. At the old workings in branches of the Waimea Creek, large quantities of gold have been washed lately, and the* next escort will have a good deal of treasure to convey to town. At the LAMPLOUGH, several parties have availed themselves of. the recent rains in washing their 'auriferous dirt, which in many instances surpassed the most sanguine expectations in richness ; Curtis and party, Parkes and party, Lang and party, and many others obtaining an average result of from ten to fifteen ounces to a load. On a Terrace near the Paddock several shafts are being sunk in a compass-line with the main Scandinavian lead. Two parties have bottomed at a depth of about thirty feet, and found gold of a coarse sample in sufficient quantities to pay wages. Several other shafts will be bottomed in a few days. At present, progress is much retarded by the wetness of the ground. One of the golden claims on the main lead, about the third in the Paddock, was christened on Tuesday last, several ladies and gentlemen being present. After the difficulty of lowering the ladies dpwn the shaft had

been overcome by the holders of the claim, Spade and party, the company comfortably seated themselves in the golden-canopied drive, and Miss Swift pouring a bottle of champagne around, gave the claim the practical but not very euphonious name of the " Kip and Tear." The healths of the fortunate claimholders were then duly drunk, and the christening party brought again to the surface. The dray road from the beach is, I regret' to say, being very slowly made, and will not be completed at the present rate for at least a fortnight. Certainly the weather lately has been unpropitioua, but even when otherwise, the opportunity is not at all times taken. The fin's hush is gradually growing of greater importance as claims give even better prospects as they are bottomed some distance tojthe south of the prospectors than those afithe northern end of the lead which is now proved for fully half a mile ; Baird and" party bottoming a shaft on the side of a creek at a depth ot forty-three feet on Saturday-, and obtaining two dwts to a dish, while two parties still further south tit a depth of fifty-four feet found prospects equally good. Between these claims and the prospectors a great many payable shafts are sunk, among which may he mentioned that of the Swiss party, who at a depth of fifty-six feet have obtained over a foot of dark brown cemented washdirt on the blue clay f eef, with a prospect which they say is quite satisfactory to them. Abreast of this claim another party have succeeded in striking payable wash, so that the lead widens in this part or else there are more leads than one. A township was surveyed near this spot on Monday. Only a few of the business people availed themselves of it ; however. I suppose because the lead or leads is or are likely to be long and narrow, and therefore the population scattered, and stores and butchers shopsswill have to be erected right along the run of golden ground. A track is also being surveyed to Stafford Town, and will, if , properly made, be of great public service. At the NEW BUSH, in v, line with the Fin* a Rush, between German Creek and the corduroy d Waimea Track, Hess and party sunk to a depth of forty-nine feet in five days and nights. At forty feet they reached blue clay intermixed with a little gravel, but not considering this to be the bottom — as several holes had " been put down twelve or fifteen feet through similar stuff, and then washdirt giving three or four grains to a dish reached, near German Creek months ago, when Scandinavian Hill was rushed — they continued working. Further progress was, however, stopped, as the shaft, which had not been slabbed, caved in at the lower end. They now intend sinking another hole, which they will securely timber, as they arc very confident that a continuation of tho Fin's Lead .will be found as far as the Waimea Creek, close to Piper's Flat. M'Kinlay and party are taking great pains in sinking and puddling their shaft, which is not yet on the reef. A good many parties are sinking, while others are merely " shepherding." The workings on the terrace at the sea beach end of the WAIMEA TEACK are notlooking promising. Boyd and party, at a depth of ninety-eight feet, are on blue clay which looks very likely bottom, but which they think or hope is not sp as they have not found a payable prospect on it. They are still) sinking, and • should they fail to strike gravel soon, will drive on the blue clay. M'Lachlan and party hare not made much headway, as thev_ar(3 few in number and the water is troublesome. The next party have bottomed at a depth of 106 feet without being rewarded with payable washdirt, so that I am afraid the gold is confined to the flat below, tnd along the edge of the terrace. Probably good ground exists on this lull, but'the chances are that if such is the case it will be found at a greater distance back to the eastward of the flat. At quinn's tebbace, pipees' fiat, six holes have been bottomed during the week on payable wash. Taylor andparjy who bottomed on Saturday last, succeeded in getting over five ounces 'in three days. Ramsay and party, to the south east of the prospectors, have bottomed at a depth of 60 feet and obtained a payable prospect, which they believe will improve as they drive more in a line with the parties now on gold. Further to the southward Spence and party at ' sixiy-one feet struck payable wash, * and although they have not taken the whole of the bottom off, washed on Monday 1 oz 16 dwts of tho precious metal. To name the whole of the parties now on gold at this rush, would make a very long list ; but I can with confidence say that a very good and extensive field is opened here, one which will, in all probability approach very near to the Arahura river. prospectors, Quinn and party wore busy washing both "on Tuesday and Wednesday, and, having a good supply of water, run through a large quantity of - stuff. They take five feet of wash which gives between 4 and 5 ozs to the load, as on | Tuesday to five loads of dirt they obtained about- 48 ozs of gold. A serious accident, which in all probability will' terminate fatally, happened to a miner named Thomas M'lntyre. He was working in a claim on the Tunnel Terrace, and at 4 a.m. on Saturday-last, when lowering some timber down a forty foot shaft, slipped, and falling on his feet to the bottom, gave his body such a severe shaking that internal hemmorhage resulted for two days. Dr Wheeler's as1 sistance was obtained without d«lay, and he succeeded in stopping the inward j bleeding. He then advised the removal of M'lntyre to the Hospital, to which place the unfortunate man was conveyed I on Monday afternoon. Another accident' occurred at Piper's flat on Tuesday last. A" miner named Minahan fell down a hole between thirty and forty feet deep, but escaped with a fracture of the ankle joint. Dr Wheeler is attending the patient, who is in a fair way towards recovery.

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