THE FAIRDOWN.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 687, 21 July 1870, Page 2

THE FAIRDOWN.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 13. This usually quiet district was honored yesterday by a visit from Dr Giles, our worthy Warden, who saw this portion of the Northern Terraces in its best color, the day being quite an exception to the bad weather which has of late been quite characteristic of that experienced by the pioneers of the Coast. This extensive flat, on a bright day, with its prettily distributed patches of fine timber, has a very pleasing effect to a visitor, and is worthy of a I etter approach than the present track which is very bad after crossing Dcadman s Creel?. Should a road be made from 'his poinl along the foot of the terraces, as far ax Waimangaroa, a large area of groun . would be opened up, which, with good communication, would give profitable

employment to several hundred people. At present the locality can only boast of four or five claims being worked Blackmore and party, who have made application for a lease, have nearly completed the erection of a of about 20 feet diameter, hy the aid of which tkey hope to overcome the difficulty of keeping down the water which has hitherto prevented the resources of this ground from being developed. The fall towards the sea is so inconsiderable that it would require a tail-race, by tunnel or otherwise, of about 3000 ft. to drain the workings ; and the branch of the Wareatea which runs down this part of the flat is estimated as holding its course above the level of the gold, which, in Blackmoro's ground, is about twenty-five feet below the surface.

The claim until lately known as White and parly's has been opened by a prospecting tunnel—put in with much trouble, through heavy boulders, a distance of about 300 feet, and promises to repay the present shareholders well, judging from the prospects which they have obtained, though only about two inches of the four feet of dirt can be considered as rich. I believe they have made application for a i extended claim. Hurst and party have a groundsluicing claim. Here also the boulders have hitherto been a great obstacle, their chief difficulty, however, seems to be in disposing of the tailings on account of the slight fall. Smith and party having completed their head-race and other appliances, have commenced washing aud 1 expect, in my next report of these diggings, to have a very good account to give of this portion of the lead —which is situated about a mile north of the other ground that I have mentioned. There are rumors of payable quartz reefs having been lately discovered, but, great and permanent as would be the results of good reefs in this district it is, I think, prematurejto mention any particulars of this discovery, but I shall have special pleasure in giving publicity to any such benefits that may be conferred by Graham and party in a special report at some future date.