BANNOCKBURN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1478, 13 March 1880, Page 10

BANNOCKBURN.

The Bannookburn correspondent of the Dunstan Times supplies the following mining items : On the range there is a greater activity than has been observed for a long time, and as the ground comes to be better understood, there is but little doubt il will be more developed. At the present time there are a good few_ alluvial claims at work, and I doubt not more will follow immediately there is motive power (water) obtainable. I may here remark that it is a great pity — some go so far as to call it a crying shame — that the Carrick Ringe Water-race Com sans do not bestir themselves to Sfofc in the water from the other branch they have a right to. At the present time the race is only carrying some four heads, which is aa but p drop^ in Lake Wanaka to what would be used if available. Well, the alluvial claims at work are the PerseveranceStevens and Co.-Griffiths and party, Menziesand party, and perhaps some dozen others. Stevens andparty for a long time have been doingremarkably well. They have a small water-raoe of; their own, but since Christmas, when they last washed up, they have been engaged in pushing ahead with their tail-race, and in cutting a branch from the Carrick Race. Griffiths and' Menzies parties' olaims adjoin the above, and are on good gold ; but in consequence of the Bcaroity of water they am doing but little now. Amongst the reefers, Wm. Ratford and his mates have a good show on top of the range. They have a good strong body of f tone, showing payable gold, and already they have about 200 tons at grass. As William has purchased the: Young Australian battery, and is getting it ready for crushing, one may be sure that though there has been but little cry over this claim, there is every probability of there being a good yield of gold. The Heart of Oak claim is taken up again, after lying idle so long, by Restal and party, who are getting, out good stone. The Star of the East as yet is lying idle. Sam Williams is busy at the Try Again claim, and as he has purchased the old Standard machine and applied for a new lease of 16 acres, the assump-j tion mustybe that he has "struck ile." Patterson and Bennett are sticking manfully to the Cale. donian. Just lately they have been driven out of their, low level by a big stream of water, which indicates the near proximity of a body of stone. It cannot be too big or too rich to reward the perseverance of these men. On the Plat, or Bannockburn proper, things are not over brisk, in consequence of the scarcity of water. Goodger'a Bannockburn race is dry, the Enterprise ditto, while Griffiths and party have but a small drop. This party are going to introduce a new feature into sluicing on the Bannockburn, that is the use of iron piping to confine the water, . and thus produce power. Mr Presoott, of St. Bathans, the maker of these pipes, when here the other day obtained an order for a string, and if my propheoying is worth aught, it will not be the last by a long way that he will send up this way.