OUR GOLDFIELDS.

West Coast Times, Issue 591, 16 August 1867, Page 3

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

MLNIXC * SUMMA II Y.

» The fortnight just expired has been remarkable for a general dulnoss in mining maters, which is to be attributed in a .very great degree to the influence of weather, the greatest part of the period having been exceedingly wet, stormy, and cold. The mini's in consequence have been worked to » disadvantage, sluicing especially, having- been brought almost to a stand-still, as it is an open-air occupation. Those diggers who |hold underground workings have not hpen so much hindered, and have mainly contributed to keep up tho yield of gold which, all things considered, lias been well maintained.

The fortnight has been disturbed by many rumors of gold discoveries in the Buller district, but so far they are utterly wanting in confirmation. Our latest advice*-! tell of another rush to that most deceitful of localities the Xaramea, and that the p.s. Ly Helton Avas laid on at Wesiport for the conveyance of passengers. And yet the population, once tolerably numerous there, had dwindled down , to fifty ; all attempts to strike a payable lead or run of patches having failed. We have little faith in the Karamca district, and earnestly advise diggers to pause ere they again moA r e in that direction. No further extension of the workings at the Caledonia diggings has taken place, but the few claims on gold appear to be paying moderate wages, and the holders are hopeful of better things. Extravagant expectations are entertained of the future of Waito's Pakihi rush, at least by the correspondent's of the local journals who cry up the .place amazingly, and adduce instance after instance of success, aud how the claims are paying from L 5 toL2O per week each man. But from parties who have visited the locality we hear a different version, fcr it appeal's that the ground- is still full of water, aud in consequence cannot be proved until t'jc completion of tho tail race which has already occupied many weeks iv cutting. We are inclined to believe that the ground will eventually pay from the simple fact that several hundred men cling to it pertinaciously displaying an amount of faith that could not possibly exist without some foundation to rest upon. So far little

ov no gold has been sent down from "Wc'iles Pakihi. Pakiki proper lias returned fairly during the last fortnight, and when the many crushing machines, in course of erection, are ready for work, we expect to hear of a great increase in the yield of gold. Nothing fresh has been struck either at Pakihi or Fox's. At the latter place the population has slightly increased, many having left Waite's to seek a little gold elsewhere to meet present requirements. A rush is reported south of Fox's, near the Five' Mile, but nothing definite is known concerning it. We have little to record touching the doings of the Grey district miners during the fortnight, and that reaches us through the columns of the local paper, which says : — " Mr Warden Lightband, who was in town yesterday, fully confirms the accounts we had previously received regarding the improvement of thediggingsup the river.He informs us that the oldmining districts of Noble's, Duffer's, • Nelson's Creek, &c, &c, are recovering their population in a remarkable manner. The rush at Big Eiver — or Slatcy liiver, as it is sometimes termed — is proving very good, the gold being similar in character to that obtained at Moonlight Gullycoarse and heavy. The development of the quartz reef at the latter place is progressing. The' shareholders are sinking further down, with the object of fully testing the reef, and intend to get up sufficient stone to make a crushing that will afford an index of the average quality of the reef. There is some talk of aurifcrious ground having been found between the Ahaura and the Amuri, the- whole of which district is spoken of as presenting excellent indications of mineral -wealth". An experienced miner and explorer who has recently extended his peregrinations amongst the ranges to the northward, expresses his conviction that there is jet a. vast extent of auriferous country awaiting the research and labor of the digger." The same paper also informs us '" that one proof of the quality of the ground lately opened at the head of Moonlight Gully is afforded. ; that a few days ago Smythe and party found a nugget of the respectable weight of thirfcy-eight ounces. This nice little sample is not yet in to^Bi, but is expected during the week. We have received a few details concerning the rush up the New Eiver. About 250 •men are at work in a creek, the eog.iomcn given to which is the 4 singular one of " No Name Creek. 1 ' The workings extend for alout a mile and a half to two miles, and it is stated that the ground is paj'ing moderately ■well, giving good wages in fact. Nothing has been found in the terraces as yet, but they are being actively prospected. The lower portion of the creek is flat, and it is difficult to get a tailrace in. The upper part was worked some months ago. There are two stores on the ground— those of Messrs Hanlon and Egan, and Messrs Card Brothers are erecting another. Mr Pridgeon has opened a butcher's shop, and quite a lively little township is springing up. Stores arc to be obtained at moderate prices, and fresh meat equally so. There is a d-rect road to the diggings from Butherglen, three miles to the New lliver, the track then follows up the New JJiyer to the crossing-place at Hanlon's receiving store, about half a mile up, thence the diggings are abouL a mile distant.' 1

The ground in hand in the Waimea district lias paid well during the fortnight. The workings at Quinn's rush. Piper's Flat, have, and still are extending, and the ground is turning out very rich. It is, however, wet in many places, necessitating constant baling, which, somewhat retards the development of those claims on gold. The lead is "treacly proved payable to a quarter of a mile in length by a width of three claim--, a^d the prospects obtained may be quoted 'at; from three grains to one pennyweight the dish, out of a sloup of washdirt from '-'one. to three feet in thickness. We can adduce an instance of marked success in the case of a party of men who secured a claim containing three feet of washdirt that will prospect half a pennyweight the dish throughout, the yield per man for the last fortnight being LSO. At present the gold is lost at both ends of the lead, but as many diggers are seeking for it, wo believe it will be again discovered ere long. On the fourth Scandinavian Teriv.ct a rush named Fin's has been in progress for some time, and is turning out satisfactorily, if early twenty claims arc on gold, which has been traced to the second ' Scandinavian Terrace, where a party have .struck bottom at forly feet, and a foot of payable gravel resting upon it. Tho older workings in this splendid district are holding out wonderful.y, and t'ov years promise to maintain thriving communities. The crude method at first adopted to work tlie ground has been abandoned for surer and more economical processes of gold extracting. A new rush of rather promising character took place in the Xanieri district a day or two after the publication of our last summary. The locality is the eastern side of the Big Paddock where some diggers struck a payable vein of wash dirt in an abandoned tunnel running into the face of the terrace formed by the fall of the large elevated plateau known as the "Paddock," into which the gold was traced, aud afterwards struck by several shafts put down on the line of the then supposed lead since umnistakeably proved to be one. It is, however, not very rich, tliere being only from two inches to six inches of wash dirt that will pay from half an ounce to one ounce to the load. The lead is shaping to the S.W., and its line is taken -up to the bush on the opposite side of the Paddock. We may state the width of payable ground is not more than twenty-five /eet, and the depth of sinking Lo the false bottom fifty feet. The Three Mile is still a bustling diggings, although it lias been opened, and closely " held and worked, for nearly two years. Much of the Blue Spur lead, its main dependance, has been worked and deserted by the first hands, but is taken up in extended claims and leases, and, worked on a liberal system, promises another golden harvest, scarcely less bountiful than the first. Head-races have been brought in from the more convenient creeks, aud tail-races constructed to carry off the debris produced by groundsluicing, and, taken altogether, the place is really flourishing. These companies, having only just completed preliminary works, havenolyet received any returns excepting in one instance v hioh is very favorable, as the shareholders declare the ground will pay high wages, and expect twelvemonth's work out of it. A small rush has taken place at tho head of the Blue Spur lead, and wo hear that the prospec-

tors and one or two others are obtaining a nice sample of gold in fair quantity. Some little distance up the Three-Mile Creek from tho township there is an extensive flat called the Arahura. It was partly worked many months ago, and deserted, but being shallow and the ground of a clayey nature, some enterprising diggers considered it a good site for a puddling machine, and erected one accordingly. The result warranted the spec, andsoon three other pug-mills foundaplace on the same flat, and pay theiv owners well. Considering the difficult nature of the work good progress is making by the company, which is bringing in from the Arahura the large head race we have several times alluded to in former summaries. It will, however, not be completed within the nexb twelvemonth. The old Hau Ha\i lead turns out a goodly quantity of gold week by week, and the diggers say that when the above race isfinished, and^ plenty of water available, they will, by'the aid of the potent sluicebox, make it pay almost as well as it did in its palmy days. Outside runs and patches arc at work on the three Cement Hills and Ballarat Hill, and give good wages — the shareholders confessing to LI per day, and some to even more. The lower end of the Hau Hau lead from, the Little Paddock to Tucker Flat is still held by first workers, who, after exhausting the main bottom opened out upon the false bottom above, and found it very payable indeed. One or two claims are worked and deserted, but the majority are still held, and some will last for two and three years. The Great Western and Victorian Companies at the Five-mile are progressing apace. The latter has one engine at work winding dirt, and will start the second in a week or two when the pump is in position. No returns have yet been received.

The Totara diggings maintain a wellearned reputation, and are regarded as the most permanent in the district. The steam companies pay w^ll, the Scandinavian especially, as we see it now pays a weekly dividend of LlO the share. A splendid return truly, and one that will amply remunerate the shareholders for the original outlay and risk they incurred. The Morning Star Company is also paying, and shares rule at a high figure. Mining in the Okarita has slightly improved during the month, but nothing worthy of special notice has transpired. The Haast district is deserted.

T!ie yield of gold during the past fortnight may be quoted tor this district at 10,4000z5., and 550000z5.5 5 000ozs. for the Grey, being a total of nearly 16,0000z5. This "shows a decided increase upon last months returns, and compares very favourably with many which preceeded it.