KANIERI TOWNSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 714, 5 August 1865, Page 15

KANIERI TOWNSHIP.

(From the West Coast Times C rre-po-idai.t )

14th July,

The weather has been rather unsettled, and has retarded, in a degree, the -progress of som? of the claims ; but this is the worst news. There was great excitement in Lyttelton street, on Wednesday afternoon, in consequence of the rich washdirt which M'Grath's party had come upon; the gold could be seen easily in the dirt, and attracted a great number of spectators. The color of the wash is a bluish grey, and during the time I waited — about an half -hour — they cradled about 1£ ounces. James Mitchell's party, an adjoining claim, have also bottomed, and obtained from 1 dwt. to 1^ dwt. to the dish. They are about twenty-four feet down, and it is •their intention to drive their ground. They are rid Ballarat miners, and have every confidence in their claim. Tom Walsh, a well-known Arrow man, has also a golden hole, next to M'Grath's. I don't know whether it is the Government's intention to make a road here or not. The streets are now almost impassable, and certainly something mu-t be done respecting the drainage of it, or most of us, I am afraid, will be infected with fever. If they are going to do anything to it, why not do it at once ? Good news is still coming from Tucker Flat, and the shallow sinking ground, as also from the terrace at the back of this township. Several parties, on account of the scarcity of water, are compelled to carry their washdirt to the flat, and cradle it there. It will be a boon to those parties holding ten ace claims when the Pioneer -Company ha\ c completed their large head race.

18 th July,

It is nearly useless for me to mention the different parties' names here that are on gold, lor, as far as I can see and hear everyone is doing well, though some certainly better than others. Mr M'Grath's shaft, five feet by three, has turned out 18J ounces, and is not bottomed yet The Cornish Company's claim is turning out splendidly, and it only requires any one to visit this place once to see at a glance that *the miners are doing well. The Flower of Wheat's claim, next to

M'Grath's, sold a fifth share for LBO, and has been offered LllO for his own share. L. Demetrius' party have also bottomed on good gold ; and one party, whose name I've not ascertained, obtained one pound weight off' a small hole five by three. Nearly every inch of ground on the fiat is taken up. There has been a rush to the il it on the second part of the township Ie is very deep ground, but they find sufficient gold to pay them for the extra labor. A public meeting Avas called hist Monday night, at the Robert Burns Hotel, with the view of forming a company to purchase the engines of the Wakool, to supply the terrace at the back of this township with water for raining purftoses.

It was stated that the engines were capable of throwing water, by means of pumps, on to the terrace at the rate of 250 gallons per minute, which is a sufficient quantity for ten sluice-heads of water; and they could be purchased — fitted out in every particular, and brought on to the ground, and the reservoir made — for the sum of L 750.

It was resolved that a company be formed for the purpose oi purchasing the engines, to be called the Kanieri Junction Water Company.

The Woodstock. — Mining operations here have been most extensive, in consequence of some new ground bein^ opened on the boundary of the laud belonging to the Maoris. They dunand 5s per man to allow them to sink, and have made, I should imagine, a rather handsome sum in consequence. The sinking is about twenty feef, and situated on a terrace at the back of the township The prospect? obtained were 2^-dwts to the tin dish. The claims of M'Laren, Arthur, aud Andeison are all turning out first rate.