MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 274, 1 May 1873, Page 6

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Mining intelligence from the southern parts of the county of Westland continues to be of an encouraging description. The prospectors at the Waiho'are still getting good gold, and it is believed that there is a considerable extent of payable ground in the locality, but want of water for sluicing purposes, causes it to remain unworked. Other parties are setting in near the prospectors, and there is some talk of a race being brought in to work the ground.. There is a small rush at the forks of the Oamaru, which runs into the sea at a point a few miles south of the Waiho, and there appears to be every cbance of permanent workings being established. The diggings are situate about eight or nine miles up the river, and a number of miners have already commenced work. We have not yet heard what prospects have been obtained, but believe that the claims on gold will yield good wages. There are about twenty-five men working on the beaches up the Waitaki river, and all of them are getting a little gold. At the Five-Mile, the miners are working to advantage, as they have a constant supply of water for sluicing. The miners throughout the entire district appear at length to recognise the fact that the future of the place depends upon the gold deposits which are known to exist in the back country, and are doing more prospecting this year than has been done for a long time past. That extensive goldfields exist in the back country, % no one in the district doubts, but the want of tracks has always proved a serious drawback to prospecting. It is to be. hoped that some of these difficulties will shortly bo removed, and that diggings, more extensive than any of those along the beaches, will reward the energy of the pioneers who are now making an attempt to develop the resources of many portions of the southern part of the county. A correspondent at Yam Creek reports that all sinking at the Yam Creek goldfield has been suspended on account of water. Rich specimens have been obtained from Westcott's western line. The reef is equally rich down to nine feet, and is increasing in thickness. The Kapunda Company have golden stone at the bottom of a forty-two feet shaft, which is now full of water. New veins of auriferous surface stone or constantly being discovered on the Priscella line. All the parties are short of provisions except Westcott's. Several have left the I Kapunda claims for the Palmerston. The south-east monsoon is blowing steadily, and the country is drying fast, The prospect obtained from Hawley Reef was good. Provisions are short, and some sickness prevails. Elphic and Cruikshank's Golden Point claitn is down twelve feet in a four-foot reef of payable golden stone. The prospects at Pine Creek are second to none. An Anatori correspondent of the Nelson '* Examiner" writes: — " Mining generally has a more hopeful appeari ance here. It is quite possible that an increase of population will set in this ' way, as this is especially a winter's diggWg9k N.9.W ftftt #W roai is o.nen. to.

the head of the lake, and stores close to the present workings, part of the drawbacks to this place will' be removed A prospecting party has been out and returned for further supplies ; they got a little gold, just enough to induce them to make further search, especially as it is in a different direction from the present workingr, but at the same time nothing to be very sanguine about."