ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 195, 16 March 1868, Page 2

ADDISON'S FLAT.

(mOAI OUR OWN - CORRESPONDENT.) The Queensland mania has, to a certain extent, relieved us of our surplus population, and, I may safely say, every miner located on this goldfield is now fully employed. The erection of water-wheels seems to be the order of the day, for since my last, two more have been completed—one by Jeffrey and party, the other by Holdgate and party; the former being of larger dimensions than any other on the lead. The whole of the flat where mining operations are carried on has a busy appearance, and every man is steadily at work; money is becoming more plentiful, and affairs in general have a prosperous aspect. Many objections have been raised with respect to the extended area of ground granted to Tounghusband's tunnel party, and on Thursday list Dr. Giles made it his business to visit the tunnel. After he had traversed about a thousand feet, he expressed his entire satisfaction with it; and by the quantity of water that was running at the time, he felt convinced that the surrounding parties must already feel the benefit. Mr. Adair and Mr. Beauchamp accompanied him, and pointed out that the various strata which had been passed through the execution oi the work was a fair indication of a large area of auriferous ground, which will eventually give employment to a great number of men. The Warden carefully examined the whole of the work, and observed that from the vast amount of labor bestowed upon it he considered they fully deserved what they had applied for. The Drainage Company is also progressing favorably, although they might have accomplished their task with greater facility had they not been so anxious to test the likelihood of a second bottom, having at present to drive through a solid reef; but if they had taken their level a few feet higher, there is no doubt but they would have got over their work with less difficulty. At the Shamrock Lead mining affairs are certainly looking well; every party is well prepared with timber, and a number of substantial huts have been built, showing that the men intend, in spite of the many disadvantages they have had, to master those obstacles, and work the ground thoroughly. There are now four water-wheels and three whims, and when fairly started, I have every reason to believe it will enable the greater part of the claims without further difficulty. One party assured me that they took twelve ounces from the bottom of the shaft, and many of the claims were almost as good ; but the former may be considered the best on the lead. The most important event on Waite's Pakihis since my last, is that of the starting of the first cement crushing machine, which was christened some few days ago. The name given was '' The Enterprise," indeed a most appropriate one, for every man in the party seems to have that quality in every sense of the word. The machine is now in full working order, and the proprietors informed me that they could not exactly say what it would pay at present, as they had only commenced crushing the day before, but from the appearance of the blankets he felt certain it would give from £l2 to £ls per week per man, There are at least 250 men engaged at various parts of the flat, some of whom are making only small wages, and others are doing remarkably well. The cement that I mentioned in my last, at the North end of the old lead, which was once supposed to be worthless, has been taken up by Green and party, who have laid down about 600 feet of a tramway, for the purpose of taking the cement to the creek, which they intend burning on the old system.