OTAGO,

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 543, 10 July 1869, Page 4

OTAGO,

(From the Daily Times. ) Messrs Beattie and Co. 's dredge on the Molyneux, near the Manuherikia Junction, is reported to have obtained on an average I7oz. of gold a day for some time East. This instance of good fortune, owever, is stated to be a solitary one, as, though the other dredges are doing well, their earnings fall very much short of the the sum named. ■ A marked change is reported to have taken place in the weather in the Lakes district. The correspondent of the Danstan Times, writing from Arrowtown on the 21st instant, says : — There has been a tremendous fall of snow upon the ranges during the last few clays, but on the flirts we have only experienced a few showers of rain, the weather upon the whole being exceedingly mild. Out-of-door operations have not at all been interrupted. The riv»rs and lakes are low, but I have eveiy reason to believe, judging from experience if former years, that July will bring Hoods; a warm rain will melt the snow wholesale, and then good-bye to river dredging and beach claim workings. The parties who have lately set in to work the bed of the Arrow river are all doing well. Three men last week obtained fourteen ounces of gold in two days, and in no case have I heard that less than what is denominated as "wages" has been obtained. The present state of mining matters in ] the Dnnstan district is referred to by the local journal of the 25th hist, as follows :

— The River Mnlyneux is gradually falling, and with it the b 'aches begin to assume a lively aspect from the numbers of Chinese who are daily arriving and setting to work thereon. There is every indication of the river being very low this winter, on account of so very little snow having fallen up country. The quantity of gold obtained by those working on the beaches must be satisfactory, for all have left the bank workings ; but this would not be the cnße if there was the quantity of water necessary for sluicing purposes. There is not the slightest doubt that, if the river continues to fall, there will be a vast increase in the number of Chinese miners, which will benefit the district greatly, as those who are now working on the Nevis and elsewhere will soon be compelled to leave on account of the severity of the weather. Another striking proof of our immense resources and undeveloped treasures is furnished by the fact that a small party of miners working in the Arrow river, near the old Dunstan crossing-place, came on a " patch" of nearly 13"z. of gold, for two days' work, and, as they quaintly say, , "the whole river is coming down to them" —meaning thereby, that S nobody interferes with them, they have any extent of ground, and it is to be wished they may find it to average such splendid returns throughout. Such a case as this must prove to the most doubtful miner that the Arrow district is not ye* done, but will prove, for determined men, to be the cream of the gold fields districts of Otago. Even at Bracken's Gully there are some forty or fifty miners actively at work, and many are obtaining L 8 per week, while no man there need regret his chance. — At the Cardrona, mining matters are progressing favorably. The Brigand Company have at length succeeded, after great perseverance, in erecting their machinery, and for the first time the limpid waters dashed over their wheel, in the presence of a congratulating crowd, on Saturday evening. O'Farrell and party have opened up a claim on the old township flat, and got a prospect which induced them to erect machinery. They had a great body of water to contend with, but have at List happily succeeded in getting their wheel in motion. The old claims are still very remunerative. — The gold yield from the Queensiown district is likely to remain steady, though, in the upper regions, the weather is not favorable for mining operations. — Wdkatip Mail.