THE WEST COAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 1319, 10 March 1877, Page 8

THE WEST COAST.

KUMARA. The rush to the north bank of the Teremakau may be said to have collapsed, as nothing beyond the gully in which the original prospectors discovered the gold has been found, although the surrounding country is likely enough. With regard to the proceedings on the Kumara side, mining is at a standstill, waiting for rain ; the prospectors' lower dam is dry, while the upper has only a moderate supply. The paddocks are full, and the miners are employed in getting timber. Nearly the whole of the tunnel claims are on gold, and as soon as there is water will be busy. Carr and party, at the break, have made a mistake in driving their tunnel, having carried it in at too high, a level, and the probability is that they will have to drive another one. The lead at this place assumes a peculiar shape, sloping down to a gutter 1 , hence the raia-

take. Shamrock lead is also quiet from the want of water, the whole of the immense paddocks being full of dirt ready for washing. At Larrikins, and along the extension of O'Rorke's, work is at all but a standstill. The only signs of life are on the shallow lead, diverging from the bottom of Tni street to flic Shamrock, where shafts are going down and prospecting proceeding busily. The Darky's is busy cradling, and the others in the immediate vicinity are getting up wash, being supplied with water from the prospectors' race. It is a pity that this company does not use a little more expedition, as there would be a demand for every head of water. In connection with mining, we may mention a rather strange piece of inI formation, which we give for what it is worth, and that is, that in some of the j claims it is quite possible to hear the , noise of " rushing wacer," as if caused by a subterranean river. Such things occur in California, but we have not heard of their existence in New Zealand before. — Kumara Times Feb. 17. INANGAHUA. One hundred and fourteen tons of stone, crushed by the Italian Gully Quartz Mining Company, have yielded 109ozs 9dwts melted gold, and there also remains a considerable quantity in the tailings, which are being stored in a dam for the purpose of being passed through a berdan. Scrip in the Keep it Dark continues to rise in value, and the mine is improving in appearance. The stone from this mine now being crushed is turning out well, and cleaning up was expected to take place on Saturday. Mr M. Byrne was thrown from his horse on Wednesday, and had two of his ribs fractured. The sum of £345 10s has been collected for Mrs Williams, whose husband was accidentally killed, a short time back in the Golden Fleece Extended. Of 'this sum the Golden Fleece Company subscribed £50, exclusive of handsome donations from the directors and shareholders individually. — Inangahua Herald, Feb. 17. The result of the crushing at the Wealth of Nations Mine for the week ending Saturday, Feb. 17, was 4650zs 3dwts of amalgam. Respecting this mine, the Inangahua Herald publishes the following report : — " The contractors have 25ft, more or less, to sink and rise to finish the shaft through from the top to the bottom levels ; there is a strong reef, without a break all the way down. There is a big slope and an immense block of stone now being wrought in the west reef. The prospectors, in the Enterprise tunnel, have driven 18ft in broken ground, intermixed with slate and quartz, the same as when the drive was started. Three of the berdana are now reducing blanketings, the same that were accumulated for many month's crushing previous to the erection of the berdans. It is quite likely that after the blanketings have been disposed of, the whole of the berdans will be employed in treating tailings, the same as are now lyings in the paddock near to the machine-house ; at all events it is proposed to give 'them a thorough trial and test their value, when it will be definitely decided whether or not the whole of them shall be reduced. During the last four years the Wealth of Nations mine at Reefton has yielded no less than aixty-six thousand two hundred and nine pounds worth of gold, of which sum one half has paid the current working expenses. Of the other half, two-thirds was paid in dividends, and one-third paid for the battery and waterrace. — Nelson Colonist.