MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1866, Page 2

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

The rush to Blackman's Gully to which we alluded in our last issue is becoming one of undoubted promise, and a large extent of new ground is likely to be opened. During the past week several parties, each comprising from eight to a dozen men, have taken up ground, and are engaged in constructing tail-races of immense capacity, which, when completed must prove sufficiently effective to make the working of this extensive auriferous area a matter of comparative ease. Tents and other digging habitations are being numerously erected on the ground, while the indispensible " shanty" is already there ready to dispense all the orthodox comforts to those who may have the cash to purchase them. "We again state that there is no opening whatever for "hatters" as the ground can only "be worked by companies able to aflbrdtime and capital to construct tail-races of more than ordinary capacity. Coal Creek is situated some ten or twelve miles west of Alexandra and in close proximity to the " Old Man" range. Like Blackman's, the place has not as yet been sufficiently valued proportionately to its resources. The limited number of sluicers at work in the locality at the present time are earning most handsome wages, and, as the district is extremely auriferous, and a considerable quantity of water running to the Molyneux without performing sluicing operation or any other services whatever; capital here could not possibly be misspent in the construction of effective waterraces to work the large extent of ground proved to be of the desirable class. Several of those engaged in mining are also cultivating land, not only to serve their own families but to grow produce for sale. During the winter season Campbell's Gully and the neighbouring localities used to be in former years completely deserted, owing to the inclemency of the weather and the difficulties and even dangers to

life attendant upon conveying provisions : I over the Old Man Range. In April last, : several parties erected for themselves substantial abodes possessing every comfort necessary for men contending against the most severe weather. They also stored ! themselves with provisions of every desj cription in sufficient quantities to serve , 1 for the greater part of the winter. At < 'ampbell’s, Potter’s Gully and Waikea i river, ground sluicing is being earned on | with every desirable success, and judging I from reliable information received a few i days past from those localities,’ the resij dents there have every reason to feel satis- , fied. The experiment of remaining at j Campbell’s throughout the winter having as yet proved extremely satisfactory, it for j the future will doubtless maintain a fair extent of population uninterruptedly , throughout the year, and more especially , as ground sluicing the old diggings has be- , come a prominent subject of attention with the miners. A large extent of ground has been turned over there in a hasty and slovenly manner, so that the miners could not possibly extract not even a moiety of the gold; the system of working such ground over again as now inaugurated, will in every probability produce more wealth from Campbell’s than has as yet been taken from it. In months hence when the weather will have become to some extent mild, there will be an excellent opening for an unlimited number of miners possessed of a small capital. Water-races may be constructed at no great cost, and the ground that will pay well for sluicing is of considerable extent; nothing now siands in the way of the dis tr ict becoming one of great activity.