CHARLESTON MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 345, 8 September 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON MINING INTELLIGENCE.

(fbom the four-mile.) Having been conducted by circumstances to the Four Mile, for the first time, lam enabled to detail some information, carefully, and I trust accurately gleaned, with regard to the few, important claims of that locality ; and as a matter of course, I must premise my re marks with an allusion to the all important Engine claim, of Mace and Greenwood; which claim, I may remark, has been the means of preserving the tone of the Four Mile for some time past ; as my informant laughingly assured me. This engine drives ten heads of stamps, and is worked by eleven men. Though the party have been crushing with tolerable plodding for the last month, no result has as yet appeared to bear testimony to the richness of the cement, or to remunerate them for their exertions I have no doubt but another month will bring about that desired issue (at least I have been informed to that effect). 1 only hope that the result will fully answer the expectations.

Adjoining this claim is the "Rise and Shine," belonging to Fox and party. This a water wheel with eight heads of stamps ; and though the past yield has not at all answered the original expectations, each shareholder, however, at present receives on an average, from ten to fifteen pounds a week—an amount not to be despised, considering that there is twelve months work in the claim.

The next claim, in importance, is that of Anderson and party. This*is a horse machine, and considering the want of speed connected with that slow institution, I consider the presentation of £25 to£3o a week, on an average, to each share holder no despicable offering. I rather think-there is about six months work still in this claim.

Next, I may mentiou the " Homeward Bound " claim, a rather poetic and felicitous appellation for a claim. It appears to me that the projector of this title has some nice blood in his veins, and a yearning for the old home of his youth. However that may be, this claim I fear will not send him thither; though indeed £l2 a week, without incidental expenses, would soon provide him with material for that pleasant journey. The waterwheel drives four heads of stamps there may perhaps be about eight months work in the claim.

The claim of Flanagan Bros, has lately undergone the operation of christening. It is a water-wheel driving six heads of stamps. The yield may average per share-holder, about sis or seven pounds a week. " Sterling Castle claim " reminds me of many a Scottish tale, and beauti ful legend. It especially brings to my mind the hero of Yarrow uavisited, who had seen from its turrets,

" The mazy Forth unravelled Had trod the banks of Clyde and Tay And with the Tweed had travelled." I am inclined to those bright Utopian scenes can be surveyed from this Stirling Castle, the average yield is about seven pounds a week. It must be considered however, that it is a horse machine driving four heads of stampers.

Next comes the United Miner's claim This is a horse battery driving four heads of stampers. The yield of this claim is much inferior to any that I have mentioned.

The Young London however deserves mention, and presents each shareholder with the respectable income of £2O a week. It is a water-wheel driving six heads of stampers.

The Frenchman's and Dick's sluicing claim also deserves mention, and I think that when I have added these to the list, I have brought my remarks of the few claims of any account in the Four Mile to a termination; but before closing I should allude to a water wheel claim in course of erection, and which will be known as the True Briton. I have ascertained that the wheel will drive eight heads of stampers, and will be completed in a month. I may also mention, before bringing my remarks to a conclusion, that many of the claims above enumerated are composed of various qualities of cement; the majority are composed of the hard cetnent which as a rule pays best, while the others are either of a gravelly nature, or the soft sand. It is expected that the Amateur Concert at the Four Mile, in aid of the Church of England, and which will take place on Tuesday night, will turn out a complete succes. NEW RUSH AT BRIGHTON. With regard to the new rush at Brighton, I forward a few particulars for the information of your readers. I have learned them from a reliable source, and I am satisfied as to their accuracy. The prospecting claim

is situated about four miles from Brighton, on the top of a spur, and is one mile inland. The physical features of the locality, however, present a very infelicitous appearance, and the country around assumes that broken character in -which it is impossible to detectthe semblance of a lead. It is the opinion of experienced miners who have visited the field, that there is no likelihood of gold being obtained in the immedite boundary, the prospecting claim being bounded on north and south by two very steep precipices, They however entertain the idea that gold will be ound on the numerous terraces contiguous to the claim. The prospect obtained is admitted to be very rich. I may add that my informant saw a prospect washed, and believes it to be one of the richest he ever saw, in the district. The height of wash dirt, is about 4 feet and consists of pure black sand. The people of Brighton, I am informed, are in a high state of excitement in consequence ; it cannot be wondered at, therefore, if property lias become somewhat enhanced in value. There are three-hundred mon on the ground. A party of six men started on an exploring expedition to Jackson Bay, in a surf-boat, on Sunday afternoon ; the boat being purchased from the Surf Boat Co. and fitted out for the hazardous trip. It appears to me, to be a very perilous undertaking ; as a matter of course, the daring little party were lustily cheered from the rocks. It is to be hoped that they may meet with every success, and may discover a new Eldorado—if they arrive at their proposed destination. The Constant arrivedon Sunday,from "Westport, with a general cargo, and started the same day on her return trip.

The Fairy also arrived on the same day, laden with timber, for Gibbons, and also the cutter Lizzie, from Taranaki. The latter braught sixteen tons potatoes, consigned to J. W. Jackson,

Prom a report issued by the department of Victorian Railways and laid before Parliament we glean the following particulars:—The repairs arid additions to the Essendon line of railway rendered indispensable to the safety and accommodation of the traffic along it, during the race meetings, held whilst the duke of Edinburgh was a visitor to the colony, cost £10,970. The gross revenue of the Government lines of railway for the past year was £552,031 18s 4d, and the working expenses £267,071. leaving a net revenue of £284,960. or a decrease, compared with last year, of £34,076. The number of passengers travelling during the year was 1,101, 583|, the gross revenue from which was £207,606. In 1866 the number was 1,132,275 passengers, and the receipts £217,613. The goods traffic for 1807 amounted to 384,438 tons, as against 399,559 tons the previous year. The condition of the permanent way and rolling stock satisfactory, and the expediency of forming a depreciation fund of their renewal is again brought under the attention of the Government by the Engineer-in-Chief.

From a return just published, it appears that durinS 1867 a total of 195, 953 emigrants departed from the United Kingdsm to various destinations. An analysis of this total number shows that 15,503 went to the North American colonies, 156,275 the United States, 14,466 to the Australian colonies and New Zealand, and 6709 to other places. As compared with 1866 there is an increase in the departures for the North American colonies, and other places, except the United States, and the Australian colonies and New Zealand, as to which adecrease is observable. A retrospect of emigration statistics during the past 14 years shows that the largest emigration to the North American colonies occured in 1854, ot the United States in 1843, to the Australian colonies and New Zealand in 1854, and to all other places in 1859, — Economist.

Speaking of the late achievement of the telegraph—"To San Francisco and back in two minutes! " —the Athencewm says : —" To accomplish this the wires v#ere 'joined up' all across America, from Heart's Content to the great Californian port. The message was gent from Valentia at 7,21 a.m. on the first of February, the acknowledgement was received at 7.23 ; the San Francisco time then being 11. 20 p.m. of January 31. The distance travelled by the message going and coming was about 14,000 miles. This is a large instalment towards the telegraph that is to stretch all round the globe, and bring news from New Zealand and all intermediate places at least twice a day."