THE GOLD FIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 201, 31 July 1862, Page 5

THE GOLD FIELDS.

TUAPEKA.

(FROM" OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

July 29, IS?]2. For the last few days we have had very pleasant weather, inducing not only more active operations amongst the mining community, hut also a feeling of confidence in the minds of the store-keeper-, and other persons engaged in business, who wore somewhat despondent as to the future of this field.

A more hopeful spirit appears to animate the population, and mining enterprises requiring the investment of many hundreds of pounds, are being rapidly proceeded with. As an example, I may mention the important and arduous undertaking of brin-nnn- a stream of water from the Tuapeka into Gabriel s,—a distance of over \G miles, and across a broken and difficult country. There are at present engaged in cutting this race, trom lo to 20 men, who have now been working over three months. They do not anticipate being able to finish the work lor three months to come. In many places through which the race has to be cut, the ground is broken and the levels vary so much as to necessitate a large amount ot flunung. One particular common has to be crossed at an elevation of over 50 feet from toe surface. The distance from hill to hill is nearly 600 yards, and an aqueduct its bein<* constructed to convey the water across this deep hollow. When it is considered that the average height of the staying supporting the aqueduct is about 50 feet, and that the timber for constructing the boxes has to be brought from near Tokomairiro, it will be seen tTiat the high price of wood alone will entail a heavy expenditure in cash. There are only lour partners in this undertaking, and each will have to subscribe a sum of over .£4OO independent of their labor. Notwithstanding the difficulty of getting timber of the requisite width, the fear that at any time the race may be damaged, and the benefits arising from a plentiful supply of water lost, yet, despite all these discouragements, the work is bein" vigorously carried on. a

It is to be hoped they will be amply rewarded for their energy, pluck, and risk in undertaking such an expensive work. Two other races of a smaller extent than the one I have just referred to are being cut from the nead of the creek, named Clever Creek, on the AVaitalmna side of the dividing ran«e. These come next in the list as being the longest and most important. The two parties (Connolly and party, andJilundell and party,) have been working for a considerable length of time, and calculate the cutting of the race into the Junction and Wetherstone's, will cost over £sOO in cash and labor. The principal difficulties encountered in forming thi.s race have been the heavy cuttings that are required to carry the water to the Tuapeka side of the dividing range. The first party (Connolly- and party) made a cutting over '20 feet deep^ and 80 feet long, through the saddle, but this imtbrtunately has fallen in, and has in consequence delayed the work, besides being the fruitful source of a large amount of litigation. The other party, wise in their generation, are tunnelling through this elevation, and will therefore avoid the misfortune of their neighbors. The races I have referred to are the most extensive in the -iistrict, but are not at present by any means the most important. Wetherstone's, Gabriel's, the Junction and Muuroe's, all have races skirting the sides of the hills, or meandering through the flats. These I will, however, describe in future letters.

The only mining news :>f interest is the increasing success of the miners near the Tiiapeka river, about two miles below the Junction. I heard from a storekeeper there, one party had sold him 25 ozs. as a week's work for three men. This was obtained from the bed of the old creek, and was a fair sample of the ground they were working. I learn also that several of the storekeepers are buying from four to five times the amount of gold they did a few weeks ago. There can be no question but, that a large population will settle down here in the spring. In the meantime, those who have stuck to the old spots are doing well.