CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 376, 14 October 1868, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

MINING- INTELLIGENCE.—OLD DARKIE'S TEIIKACE.

Not only on the Darkie's TeJrace, but indeed in every part of the district mining matters are much altered within the last few weeks. This is entirely owing to the copious fall of rain which w t o have had—a necessary consequence from which is an abundance of water. The " Southern Cross" too, which I reported as idle from analogous causes is again in full working order. This Gold Mining Co. Registered, comprises twelve shareholders. The party started crushing in June last, and have now a lease of six acres. Since that period the gold returns amount to the hand* some sum of £3OOO ; of the last five week's yield I can speak authentically, having seen the returns which was £llsO. The engine, a neater specimen than which could not bo seen, at least on the Coast, is of 10 horse power, and drives two batteries of eighteen stamps, two of five stamps, and two, os four stamps respectively. I may mention that the two five-stamps won the prize at the late Melbourne Exhibition. The tables are thirty feet wide, with a depth of 10 feet. The washdirt, the average height of which is 7 feet, will be abundant for the next three years, and yield between four or five dwts, to the load. The water supply is obtained from a reservoir, but principally from Hunter and Party's large water race, whose inability to supply during the recent drought, caused the suspen- ■ sion in operations already referred to. Too high praise could not be passed upon the very satisfactory manner in which everything is conducted in the claim. By advertisement, I perceive that a full share is to be sold on Tnesday by auction.

The Nile Cement Company Registered, have suspended crushing operations, and are engaged in taking down the frame of the wheel and batteries. It is to be replaced by something more substantial and the whole arrangement will be completed in about three weeks. The stamps of these batteries are I believe, the heaviest in the district.

Hunter and Party have completed their alterations. They have now two new iron batteries lately imported from Melbourne, four stamps in each. What with the large water race, which is a great source of wealth, there can be little doubt, but that this party are in a fair way to independance. A case of some importance (M'Grath v. Hartneth), especially to proprietors of houses, was decided some days ago in the Warden's Court. The defendant, who was the tenant of the Shamrock Hotel, Princes-street, the property of M'Grrath, was summoned for not paying rent according to agreement. Complainant got a verdict, and on the strength of a distress warrant, the bailiff seized on whatever remained in the house. An interpleader summons was immediately taken out by a sister-in-law of the defendant on the ground that the goods had been transferred to her. M'G-rath then offered to let her take away the goods provided she and defendant quitted the house. Instead however of this offer being accepted, M'Grrath was served with a notice to remove the house off Hartneth's business site, meaning thereby the section on which the Shamrock Hotel stands, he having in fact jumped the ground. The interpleader summons failed, and the last feature of the case, a summons by M'Grrath to Hartneth to give up possession, was decided by the Magistrate, who looked upon the affair as an attempted swindle giving judgment for plaintiff with costs with an order to defendant to quit the premises within 24 hours.