Notes from Tinkers.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 16

Notes from Tinkers.

(From a Correspondent.) June 11.— We have had the very best season for water experienced for a great number of years, and the whole of the claims have been fully manned all the season. lam sorry to say, however, that I fear the days of big wash-ups are gone from us forever, although there is ground that ! will pay something more than good wages for a great number of years. ISeeing that most of the claims are worked by wages men, it will be little that will find its way into the shareholders' pockets. The mode of working most of the claims (hydraulic) ia very expensive as compared with that originally in vogue here—" ground sluicing." The fact is that the whole of the claims have stacked their tailings right up to the tails of their sluices, and have consequently lost what little fall they originally had. I saw a short report in your paper lately, stating that the Undaunted Company were in the act of washing up. This is now completed, the result being 6500z, a quantity very far short of 1500oz, the amount they got last year, and which I heard one shareholder say they expected this year. He now draws a long face, as he has not had a dividend since purchasing, which no doubt is hardjuck ; but still in this respect he is no worse of than some of his neighbours. I hope he will have better luck next year, but if so the ground must be richer, as this company washed away more ground this year than any other ; but there is no knowing what's in the ground until it is washed away. Such is the glorious uncertainty of gold ruining.