MINING INCIDENTS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 547, 26 August 1869, Page 2

MINING INCIDENTS.

QTJAETZ NEAR NELSON. Considerable excitement, saya the Mail, has been created in town by a rumor that some pieces of gold-bearing quartz had been brought in from Aniseed Valley, and on inquiry we find that the specimens were taken to Mr Drew, who succeeded in extracting about a grain of gold from them. "Whilst earnestly hoping that payable reefs may eventually be discovered, we are compelled to say that at present nothing has transpired to justify the somewhat extravagant expectations that have been formed. GOLD FEVEB IN CANTEBBinBY. Every issue of the local press contains paragraphs on gold news of some kind. Numerous specimens are exhibited from different localities. Eumor says that gold has been discovered

on Mr Rhodes' pre-emptive right at Purau. Also that two Frenchmen have come in from Akaroa with four ounces of gold, and intend to apply for the reward. Also, on a flat near the Hurunui, about 100 miles from Christchurch. Prospecting on Banks Peninsula is still prosecuted vigorously, and Government has made a further reserve of 14,000 acres on the ground. Eighty acres of land on the Malvern Hills passed into private hands at a recent land sale, to cover a quartz reef of some promise, it is said.

More fortunate still, Canterbury promises to produce precious gems. The Ashburton mail carrier brought in some crystals which are thought to include a diamond and several rubies which he avers to having found in the Malvern district. The rubies are not expected to turn out genuine. The Times, in a subsequent issue to the one announcing the discovery, says:— " There is some reason to believe that the stone described in our Tuesday's issue possesses more of the characteristics of a true diamond than was at first supposed." MINING IN OTAGO. The work in connection with the deep shaft at "Wetherstone's, Otago, says the TuapeTca Press, is still being actively proceeded with. A meeting of the committee took place lately, when the contractor announced that he had struck the rock, and it was resolved that the contractor's offer to follow the rock (which is still dipping at a considerable angle), at the rate of £3 per foot, should be accepted. The sinking has been through blue cement, and the color of gold has been obtained several times. Mining news from the Upper Shotover is encouraging. The returns from the reef claims, although at present comparatively trifling, promise to be very fair when the frosty season breaks up, and the batteries are got to work. The present prospects of the Phoenix Company are good, and gold is freely seen in the stone being brought to the surface. The Otago Company are prospecting the ground from which the 500oz cakes came, with the expectation of striking some more good stone. Arrangements are being made for the vigorous working of the Nugget claim. The Cornish Co., on the Nugget Reef, are getting on good stone ; but intend to wait till spring before they commence to crush, while the shareholders in the El Dorado claim, on the same reef, are geting on payable stone, and have commenced to pack it to the machine, uusn to steward's island. Great excitement exists at Invercargill on account of the gold discoveriea on Stewart's Island. Some specimens of quartz from the island are considered to be first-rate, yielding from sozs to 2oozs to the ton. One brig and twelve boats left the Bluff for Stewart's Island, and the Phcebe was laid on. A reef is also reported to have been found on the main land. COEOHANDEL. Auckland papers report that another gold-bearing leader has been struck in the prospectors' claim, from which good specimens have been taken out. About 400 men are on the ground.