BULLER RIVER.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 486, 3 April 1869, Page 2

BULLER RIVER.

RUSH TO NEAR THE rNANGAHUA. (FROM OTTIt COTtItESPONDEST.) There are about sixty men now upon the ground here, the greater part being from the Lyell direction, the remainder from Westport and Addison's. " Spanish Charley," the prospector, bottomed a paddock about thirty feet in length along the bank of the Buller and took about six ounces of gold. The next claim took about two penny-weights per man, and that next to them eleven pennyweights, but the two latter had not reached the bottom, nor have any of the other claims, about twelve in number, done so, so that the real extent of payable ground is not yet definitely known. The terrace is about a mile in length, and, if proved to be payable, will afford employment to two or three hundred men. It extends from the river Dee to the Inaugahua. All the available streams are taken up, but plenty of water can be brought in from the Dee, which has sufficient fall in its course to prevent long races being necessary. The prospectors have erected a substantial weather-boarded house, as they are quite certain of their ground ; in fact, every hole which they have sunk has proved remunerative. The depth of stripping is sixteen feet, and that of the gold-bearing strata, or " washdirt," is four feet. A store is needed here very much, as crossing the ferry to Christy's, or going- up eight miles to the Lyell, must be resorted to for everything required.

Your readers will remember that, some time ago, I drew the attention of miners coming up the Buller to this ground, instead of passing it by, and all making for the Lyell. There are also many very likely terraces between the Dee and the Lyell which they would do well to try, and where water for sluicing is also plentiful. On the Upper Buller, Albert and party have nearly completed bringing in a water-race about three miles in length, and which contains about five thousand feet of fluming—a good proof of the value they place on the ground. It is a great mistake that claims worked by ground-sluicing are not contemplated in the Gold Fields Regulations, as they are so quickly got through by this means, when the depth of stripping will admit of it. Ordinary ground of GOft + 60ft must be very rich indeed to pay the cost of races, boxes, hose, and all the necessary outlay, as working by sluicing requires a much greater quantity of water than mining by shafts or tunnels. Noble and party are also actively engaged in bringing in their race, about half-a-mile of it being now completed. In about four weeks they expect to have water on their own ground.

The bailiff was placed on Dublin Jack's claim, but Jack thought better of allowing it to be sold, and at once settled all demands against him. A piece of ground of about ten acres in extent has been applied for, close to the junction of the Buller and Lyell, for agricultural purposes.

Messrs Anderson and Co. have an

excellent ginger-beer and cordial manufactory in full operation. In* deed, the article turned out in it would do credit to Westport. They are also preparing to start a brewery, which, in connection with their manufactory, should pay well. Scott and party, who sold out to Pringle's party, have taken up another claim on the south bank of the Buller, or the opposite one to their " big nugget" claim, and about four miles higher up the river. Another party, with one of the former claim-holders, have resumed work in the Manuka Flat tunnel, of which they are still sanguine. A few parties occasionally direct their attention to the quartz reefs on the Lyell, but none have taken active steps to try the reefs as yet. If we only had a local government lam very sure that active measures would soon be instituted to open that district by tracks, and afford facilities for prospecting, which miners are debarred from doing by the impossibility of getting more than a couple of days' supplies at a time. Mr Dobson, the District Engineer, is engaged surveying the proposed improvements in the Buller track, and I understand that the contracts will be out in about a fortnight.