MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 142, 2 March 1866, Page 2

MINING.

The favorable intelligence lately received from Okarita has created immense excitement amongst the miners, scores of whom daily reach town en route for the new field, and although accounts have been published not confirmatory of those first received, tliey apparently have not been heeded by the different outlying diggings. Every one of our available sea going steamers has been laid on during the week and yet the supply has fallen short of the demand made by eager adventurers for passages to the Southern Goldfield. The latest reports from thence should tend to shake a too implicit faith in tho industriously circulated rumours that are at present current amongst us, for of the different localities which in our last week's resume we informed our readers had been prospected and found payable, one has since been proved worthless, and although the other two have to some extent realised the anticipations formed of them, they are not only fully taken up but considerably over rushed. Much disappointment was occasioned here by the failure of Cook's river rush, the one to which we allude, and considerable indignation was felt at the " sell," for such it was considered. There is, however, no doubt that it was overestimated ; in fact we have not heard that there is even one payable claim there. The ground lately opened at the back of the Five mile beach is about the best, and if accounts be true, some of the lucky ones will amass very heavy piles. It is said that the rush can support about 1500 miners, and that in some of the best claims the gold is gettingin handfuls,but there was no room for newcomers. Nothing of any importance has arrived from either Jackson's or Bruce Bay. From the Totara the accounts are also most meagre. The district, . however, is progressing steadily, although the miners have suffered much from the late floods. Mining matters on the Kanieri are rapidly assuming a most satisfactory aspect. The Star Pumping Company have fairly commenced work and are now busily employed bottoming the engine shaft. The engine itself works admirably, and no difficulty has been experienced in keeping up steam with wood alone for fuel. Shares at present stand at v par" only, but as the work progresses there is no doubt they will advance to a high premium. Another company, the site of whose operations will be on the same flat, gave notice of registration on Monday last, under the name of the Westland Steam Drainage Company. So far there are only six shareholders, but as their plant is by far the heaviest and their undertaking proinjsesjio be more extensive than that of my bfßefi company on the Kanieri, they will doubtless consider it advisable to in-

crease the number. Their machinery will consist of a 45 horse power engine, that once belonged to the Maid of the Yarra s.s., part of which is already on the ground, the heavy boiler having been safely landed last week, and in the course of another week it will be in a position on the claim. Another engine, which arrived from Melbourne in the Lady Darling, reached its destination on Commissioner's Flat the beginning of the week, and will be ready to commence pumping in a few days. Messrs Rankins, Hervey and their respective parties, who are the proprietors, have no intention at present of resolving themselves into a joint stock company under the Act, as the engine was provided to work their own ground which is merely two claims of the ordinary size. A large overshot water wheel, 20 feet in diameter, is being erected close beside them and promises to be a splendid piece of mechanism. . It will be driven by a head of water from the Pioneer Race, to convey which a large - flume has been constructed 150 feet long, and 45 feet high in the centre. Only a small quantity of gold is being extracted from the Kanieri at present, work being generally suspended pending the completion of the various undertakings in hand. An improvement will, however, be effected in a month or six weeks. At the HauHau or Three Mile Rush there is a considerable number of miners located who appear to be well satisfied with their returns. This locality promises to be both a permanent and important one. A great deal of gold still comes in irom the Auckland rush, (one of the beach workings) some of it in large parcels. We hear, however, that the main lead is nearly worked out and the population daily decreasing, the latter caused no doubt by the "stampede" • Southwards. From the other workings Northwards to the Grey satisfactory accounts reach us, all of them being fully occupied, and if their yield cannot vie with that from some .of tne claims at Okarita, they yet return steady and remunerative wages. Nothing has transpired in the Grey district worthy of note save that the Okarita rush is draining it of surplus population. The ground most in favor and which is yielding best returns is the 17 mile workings to the North of Point Elizabeth. We are informed that this " diggings", extends eight miles inland from the . beach and consists of a number of Terraces,— all of them more or less auriferous. ' ,