CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 671, 14 June 1870, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

(from OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.) June 9. The miners of this and the Brighton district are exceptionally busy, all parties having an excellent supply of water from the late rains, and although we hear occasionally of some claim, famed in the past for its gold producing qualities, becoming exhausted, as a set off' to that, new leases are being applied for, with every prospect of their being remunerative. On the Deep Lead, Candlelight, Fox and Green (whose claim is known as the " Corn in Egypt"), are having erected the largest water wheel, without exception, in the Nelson Province. The contractors for the erection of the entire plant, are Messrs Francis and Giles, who have previously erected many other mining plants in this district. The wheel, which is nearly completed, is forty-six feet in diameter. This claim is at present being worked by ground-sluicing, but the best dirt being cemented, they are leaving it underneath until the wheel and plant now in course of erection are finished. Messrs Woodcock and Taylor's fortyfive feet wheel, and also their wooden battery, ha:> been steadily at work for some time past, and the late scraping up of the two batteries, was the largest that has occurred in Charleston for some time. Greenslade and Goodall's ground-sluicing claim has turned out the Nonpareil of Candlelight, and the shareholders expect still better returns at their next scraping. The excellent position of this claim affords facilities for washing greater quantities of dirt, at a less cost of labor, than any other I have seen. Birch and Cams have purchased the lease formerly known as King's, and in connection with it have also bought the old plint and water right of Burnß and party, which they intend to refit, and also to drive a tunnel to connect their ground with their battery. This lease and water-rights are considered good property. Tiller and party, on Jones's Terrace, have been crushing very good dirt, and are altogether satisfied with their prospects. Haines's large reservoir contains an immense quantity of water j

it is rumoured that several parties who are anxious to obtain water from this source are about to unite and extend the present race tothe highest elevation, embracing all parts of Candlelight, Hargreave's, Ballarat, and probably Sardine Terraces, an expensive work, as the fluming required will be very high and of considerable length. The sooner an extension is commenced the more beneficial will it be to both the miners and the public generally. The Nile bridge is rapidly approaching completion. The coach crossed for the first time on Tuesday last.

In shipping nothing has been doing during the past week, the late rough weather having deterred our coasters from putting in an appearance. For the security of vessels frequenting this place, I think the Government would do well to furnish strong warps for the safe mooring of the crafts, as in event of heavy weather they are very liable to receive serious damage.