UPPER MANUHERIKIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1120, 24 July 1865, Page 5

UPPER MANUHERIKIA.

(FROM OUR OW.I OOItRESPONDENT.)

Dunstan Creek, 21st July, 1865

The late severe frosts have very much decreased the supply of water (lowing in the various races. This has very much impeded mining operation*, many parties of miners being compelled to suspend work altogether. Business is consequently very dull, and must remain so till the setting in of warmer weather. The Scandinavian Itace Company expect to have their race complete in about six weeks; they have increased their capital to L 4500, which sum, it is expected, will be amply sufficient to finish the race. The company have GO men employed, at L 4 per week, and upwards. The completion of this undertaking wilt be the making of Dunstan Creek. The race will command all the adjacent hills, every slope and spur of which will pay handsomely for ground sluicing.

The formation of a sludge channel from the foot of Kiidare Hill to the Duuatan Creek, distant about one mile, is at present the topic of conversation ; and variom are the speculations as to the best means of procuring the necessary funds to perform ' the work. The continued deposit of sludge and tailing? is interfering greatly with the working of the claini3at the base of the hill; several parties having such an accumulation of debris at the lower ends of their tail races that work cnn no longer be pursued. This evil will be largely increased unless the said channel be formed, while many acres of highly auriferous ground will be so buried up that its future working will be extremely doubtful. If properly constructed the channel will prove a highly remunerative speculation, as the tailings are well impregnated with fine gold, for, S3pite the long and well paved sluices through which the stuff passes, there is a great loss of gold. The Improvement Committee have memorialised the Government upon the subject, asking that 100 ft of ground on each side of the proposed channel may be granted as an inducement for the formation of a company to undertake the work. A Masonic Lodge is about to be formed, the brethren of the mystic order, a large number of whom are here, hold a meeting in the course of the next two or three days to inaugurate proceedings. An Auction Bazaar, upon the principle of a " new way to pay old debts," is to be held at the Criterion Hotel, on Monday evening next, on behalf of the funds of the Dunstan District Hospital. The affair is likely to be very successful. In the Warden's and Resident Magistrate's Court there is a large amount of business doing, the dull times appear to have given rise to endless Jiti«ration; but whether it is an universal desire on behalf of the litigants to fathom the depths of legal lore, or to adjust long-standing grievances, is a question I am not prepared to answer. On Wednesday and Thursday last, no less than nineteen caaes were heard between the two Courts. ! AT THE