DUNSTAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1118, 21 July 1865, Page 6

DUNSTAN.

(WHOM OVIi. OWN COKttEBFO>NDE:»T.)

17th July.

,Tfye Molyneux has once more reached a low level, and promises to fall still lower. A considerable number of beach claims have been taken up, and are in full work. Although the river has been very late in falling this winter, there is ample time between this and the middle of September —when a permanent rice may be expected — for a large amount of gold to be obtained, for, spite the amount of beach already worked, there are a considerable number of good patches left which will well re-pay the loss of a few weeks in waiting for a favorable opportunity to extract the gold.

On Thursday afternoon last a serious and almost fatal accident happened on the road to the Lakes, between the Kawarau Gorge and Roaring Meg. Messrs Pc-arce, Froudfoot and Dr Corse left the former for the latter place in a spring cart. After they had proceeded some short distance, the horse, which was a very spirited animal, became restive, and shied. Messrs. Pearce and Proudfoot got out of the cart, leaving Dr Corse to hold the reins. The animal, once more shied and backed, and the cart going too near the Pteep bank of the river, went over, taking the horse with It down a steep incline of about 80 feet on to a bit of a shelf of rocks?. Here the horse tried to recover itself, and the Dr fortunately got out; but the momentum was too 'great for the poor nniinal to stay but for an instant its headlong course. A fearful precipice was at hand, over which cart and horsu quickly tumbled, and were at once enveloped in the nixing current as it swept rapidly through ;i roc«y gorge. neither hoise nor vehicle has (-June been seen. B yond a severe :»li:k;rrjr, s;nd a few bruises about the head and face, Dr Corse received no other injury.

The diggings on the nlopc) of the Dunstan Ranges in the vicinity of the Dun--Btan Pass are beginning to turn out remarkably well, gold being found in both gullies and terraces. Benrjjgo, Tinkers, Devonshire, and Dry Bread Gullies, are giving employment to a large population. For sluicing operations tlis locality is scarcely inferior to Dunstan Creek.

MANUIIERIK[A,

The ball at tht; Royal Mail Hotel, on Thursday night last, in aid of the funds of the DuitHtan Hospital, proved, as was anticipated, a thorough success—over seventy persons were present. The fair sex mustered strongly—in fact, it was surprising where tiny all cunie from, considering the limited number of the female portion -of our mining population. A handsome collation was provided by Mr George Wylde, of the Commercial Restaurant, and included every delicacy of the season. The stewards, Messrs Wakjns and Mitchell, and the M.C., Mr Thos. Janus, were exemp-'ary in the discharge of their duti>s, and to whose exertions must he attributed the success of the evening. The amount realised was L 25.

The large mining companies at Frenchmen's Beach arc pushing on vigorously their several undertakings. The Hit or Miss have struck a wry Rood top vein, it is nearly two feet in. thickness, ami will give a prospect of a quarter of a pennyweight to the shovelful. The Enterprise and United Bendigo are stripping ofl top stuff 'n readiness for (-inking paddocks. Two heavy wiips occurred in the Frenchmen's claim during the last week; one was on Friday, and the other on Sunday, the last was caused through the ground settling down in the Harp of Erin Company's claim. This lact company are tunnelling, but owing to the loose nature of the ground it is impossible to keep it from slipping. The loss to the Frenchmen will he very great; and an action in the Warden's Court is likely to he the result. Frenchmen's Beaefo is the only place in this district where that antiquated and patient individual, the "gentle shepherd," plies his avocation uninterruptedly. Nearly twelve months ago, some partiesl, hearing of the success of these bank' working, took up claims to the rear. Two shaits were sunk, but not bottomed; and for the last nine months—as the lawyers would have it—are in a state u( status quo. The registration tickets arc regularly and religiously renewed in the Warden's Court, spite the mining rults, v.hic-h i-xprcssly state«that a certain r.mount of work shall he executed at stated intervals, where renewal of registration is required. The system of protecting claims for lengthened ptriods, now that mining operations arc heiug carried on upon an extens-ive scale, where, instead of the primitive hand-cradle, expensive and complicated appliances are being used, results in great loss to those who incur that risk, as they cannot obtain a sufficient area of ground to repay the outlay for machinery, without paying black mail in the shape of " buying out" the parasitical gent, whose only outlay is half a crown now and theu for a registration ticket. It is high time .that shepherding is once and for ever abolished, and that those that can and who have the capital and skill to work difficult ground, should be allowed to do so. The nature of our. workings is now so thoroughly understood, that shepherding, for the chance of being enabled to do this or that, is simply superfluous, and should not be permitted.