HASTINGS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) June 6.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3399, 8 June 1868, Page 3

HASTINGS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) June 6.

The Golden Valley Claim are m»king preparations for sluicing. A great deal of mullock, having been taken out from the vicinity of the leader, is found to contain a good deal of free gold. The Blabbing of the sh»ft has been carried up to the surface, and the water has been considerably got under. The claim of D. Sellars and party is still turning out capital st<me. The claim is situated about six or seven chains to the north-west of the Golden Point Claim. The workings are situated in the d*rk shale, but in the lowest drive the blue rock has been struck. Gold has been got in nearly all of four or five drives which have bpen carried into the face of the hill, at different levels, mostly in a northerly direction. In the main drive the leader is now taking an abrupt turn, bearing north- vre^terlv, but dipping at about 60 degrees to the eastward. They have got a considerable quantity of crusbiug stuff out of each drive. The gold in the upper drives is studdJDg the outward sides of the stone ; but in the lower the gold is found in the interior of the stone. About k can be obtained to the dish of mullock from the vicinity of the leader. There has been much disagreement among the party in consequence of two of them having registered the claim as the Comet, whereas the majority of the party wiih the claim to be cal'ed the Britannia, and they are now making application to hare the latter substituted for the former. The cutting for the site of the crushing maohine of Gibbona and Co. is completed, and the blocks for the building are now being placed in position. The works are now almost at a standstill for want of timber. Some five weeks since the company had a quantity of timber on the ground ; but, not immediately requiring ir, they left orders with the manager to dispose of it if he could do so at a profit, »nd other timber would be ordered. The timber was accordingly sold, but the order for the other timber was not given until just lately ; and the result has been another exemplification of the pennywise and pound-foolish policy. This battery, when complete, will consist of fifteen stampers, in three boxes of five stampers each. Only one complete battery of five stampers has been received ; a portion of the machine, to complete another five-stamper battery, is supposed to be now lying at Shortland ; and the other battery is to be received as yet from Sydney. It is folly expected that ten stampers will be at work in six weeks' time. The * Clyde ' steamer, has arrived three times during the week from Shortland, and two schooners and one cutter from Auckland, with passengers and full general cargoes. A large quantity of bricks was brought; for the erection of Another bakehouse, which i« much required, as bread is now selling at 7d. per 21b. loaf. The number of passengers who have arrived during the week coastwise is about 100, and the departures but very trifling. Some have arrived from Kennedy's Bay, who report that things are very dull there. Very few are now left there. The colour of gold is obtainable, and that is about all. Very few shares are changing hands. Forty pounds was refused yesterday for a sleeping half-share in the New York. Numbers of fresh claims are being marked out daily, and the new workings are being carried on with much pluck. Night and day the work is being carried on in shifts, and hopes are bright now that the direction of the principal leaders is pretty well defined. No minister has arrived to conduct Divine worship here to-morrow.