MINING INTELLIGENCE

Dunstan Times, Issue 226, 24 August 1866, Page 3

MINING INTELLIGENCE

(from a correspondent.) T'erminence. is the uwo*t pwminent characteristic of the auriferous resources of the Dunstan district, and in that respect they may safely he ■deemed on a par with the best as yet discovered; not only in the province of Orago, but in the Colony of -New Zealand also. There are, at the present imomenr, localities being vigorously worked and yielding handsomely, that were considered even 'thne years past, to be completely worked out. Corrov's Gully when first opened was occupied by a large number of miners, but owing to want of 'drainage and a proper system of constructing tailraces, by far the greater portion of the gold was left in the ground, and the gully became all but deserted. Some few patient and persevering miners 'remained there through ill and good report, and with a steady eye fixed on profiis in perspective, they constructed tail-races lenghty and capacious, and for a considerable time thev had to live satisfied with earnings barely sufficient to guarantee the necessary daily provisions. However, they nre at present reaping the fruits of their patient faith in the old ground, and the most avaricious of them carmot but feel satisfied in the highest degree' Two of the principal parties. Dawson's and Iverson's' had a washing up last week, and each realised more than on any previous occasion, for the same period of labour, since they first settled down in the district, some three years past. When old ground yields from £5 to £8 per week, per man, without intermission, the resources of that locality must be deemed very considerable. At the foot of Conroy's stands an elevated and extensive block of made ground, and which in time past was tunnelled, and proved to be more or less auriferous, from the verv surface to a considerable depth Owing, howc er, to want of water the tunnels were abandoned, a.id the working of the hill, as it is ca'led, was deemed impracticable. Bennett and Bevey, two miners of energetic habits, and possessed of some little capital) employed labour, however, and constructed a large tunnel, from the side facing Conroy's, through the hill into Eraser's Flat, and thereby are enabled to run through the ground all the wat~r of the gully, after it has been made u<e of by the ground sl:iicers. The hill at present is a perfect honey comb, and there are in it chambers sufficiently large to entertain, at luncheon, at least, two dozen gaests, without their being discommoded. The original proprietors Inave lately admitted three active partners into (he concern, and the weekly earnings of each man, are never under from £6 to £9; and, at least, four year's time will be required to work out the ground The tunnels, which are named the ' Great Eastern,' are well worth inspecting, as, probably, no underground mining in the province is carried on so extensively and systematically. On the western side of the Molyneux, opposite Mutton Town Creek, slaking is being carried on actively and profitably. This spot was also deserted until within the last few weeks, although, in former times, men earned reasonable wages on it, but through the West Coast fever, it was left to remain undisturded throughout all time, so far as the original workers of it were ■concerned. The parties who haye taken it up sre at present realising most satisfactory wages, and they express much surprise at it ever having been deserted. The sluicers at Tilutton Town point, are at present doing more profitable work, than they did even when the locality was first opened. The stripping has become shallower, and the yield though not large, is constant, and the sluicers mav •safely calculate upon making wages. They seem to have settled down las*ingly, and West Coast dreams no longer disturb their rest. It matters not what locality we visit, new life is visible everywhere, and owing to the contented state of the miners universally, the Dunedin district never possessed the same healthy appearance, as it does at the present moment.