THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2683, 22 September 1871, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

TUAPEKA, Last season dredging on the Molyneux, with but one or two exceptions, was a failure. The cause of this undesirable result is attributed, not to the lack of gold, but to the accuxmdation of tailings, which in sonic places cover the original river bottom to a height of seven feet, and being constantly running, render the excavation of a paddock an impossibility. It is felt that until some improvement is made in the modus operandi, dredging will have to be abandone I. The tailings have now reached Dunbarton Rock, below the Teviot, and arc steadily flowing down the river. Messrs Halliday and Co. of the Galatea dredge, near Alexandra—the most if not the only successful party jftriicH a bar in the early part of the season, apd in a very short time took out nearly LSOOO worth of the precious metal. —It is proposed to entertain the Rev Dr Copland at at a farewell soiree on the 10th prox., prior to his departure for Dunedin.—From an authentic source we learn that Mr W. J. Barry, auctioneer of Cromwell, is likely to succeed to a valuable property in Now South Wales. The various incidents connected with the property in question would form an exccTent groundwork for a good sensational novel, A fatal accident occurred about eight down Tuanoko on Saturday last, to a Chinaman named Ah Lee, It appears the unfortunate man was sinking a shaft, when afeput a ton pf clay slipped from the side of it, and fell upon him. His brother and mates, who were working about ten yards fycm the hole, hearing the poise caused by the falling earth, went to his assistance, but their help was of little avail, as he must have met with an instantaneous death. Upon removing the clay, they found the body much bruised, and one leg broken. The body was removed to the Tuapeka Hotel, to await an inquest, which was held on Monday, when a verdict of ‘ Accidental death” was returned. Tuapeka Times, DUNSTAN. The manner in which the gold escoit from the Lakes to the Dunstan is equipped, is, to say the least, positively scandalous. The bags provided for the conveyance of thego'd are in a dilapidated condition, and the straps used in fastening them on are wo: se. A s for the pack-saddles they baffle description. The horses look ashamed of their harness, and well' they may, for they would disgrace a respectable dung heap. The Government will probably provide proper harness wh. n a few hundred ounces of gold have been lost. It may seem almost incroditablc, ncvwthc-

css it is true, that those to whom Mr Strode recommended portions of the Clyde gold robbery reward should he paid, have not yet received a shilling. The apprehensions felt that water would be scarce during the forthcoming summer, have entirely vanished — the heavy falls of snow which have recently taken p’acc promising an abundant supply. Air Fer aid, of Mont Christie Farm, Clyde, intends continuing the manufacture of Colo nial wine during the ensuing summer. The wine made by Mr Ferand, we can vouch for personal test, being equal, if not superior, in quality to the best Australian, and should meet with a large and ready sale.— lbid, CROMWELL. It is rumored that a charge of bigamy against a female will shortly be brought before the Resident Magistrate at Cromwell for investigation. The accuser and accused have been residing in this neighborhood for some time (although the fact was unknown to either until recently), and the lady is said to have been married for the second time a few weeks ago at Kawarau Gorge. Some curious revelations are expected when the cas comes on for hearing.—Mining matters at Cardrona are in a more prosperous condition than they have been for some time past. The majority of the miners at work appear to he satisfied with their earnings. The Chinese are of course getting the lion’s share of the gold. Near the township they are working the deep ground on a more gigantic scale than they have ev- r before been known to attempt in this Province, stripping large paddocks to the depth of thirty and forty feet, and constructing various kinds of appliances for expeditiously and effectively working the ground. The Europeans, from the head of the Cardrona Creek to the lower end of the township are all actively preparing for summer working, besides doing well in the meantime. A fiw are making as much as 1,10 and Ll2 a week per man. The Deep Lead continues to attract the attention of the miners. Good gold has been struck in the Enterprise claim, and other parties working below have also met with payable stuff. A waggoner named Harry Holmes, while on his way to Cardrona one day last week, was attacked with a fit of apoplexy, from the effects of which he became unconscious, and remained in that condition until Dr Corse arrived from Cromwell and administered restoratives. The occurrence took place at the Nineteen-Mile Creek, and very fortunately two other men happened to be travelling with Holmes’s waggon, otherwise medical aid would probably have arrived too late to be of service. Yesterday morning the patient was so far recovered as to be able to take charge of his waggon and proceed on the return journey to Dunedin. —Ary us 21st inst,