FINING SUMMARY

West Coast Times, Issue 149, 10 March 1866, Page 5

FINING SUMMARY

The accounts which have from tiihe to time reached Hokitika from", the numerous mining districts of Weßtlan<L during the past month, are exceedingly satisfactory, and receive direct confhv mation from the large amount of < gold which has been exported since our last monthly return was published. It is also pleasing to note the evident , desire of our miners to settle down upon^and work vsysteniatically and thoroughly, those fields that were first .discovered and afterwards deserted for newer- and more promising localities, but- -which have since been further tested audfquad to yet be most prolific ,in proppvtion i\i> the introduction of superior appliances for the extraction of the precious metal. Sluicing on an extended scale, is akpr<e> sent the mode of operation most.in/faypft and immense races have been cut, 'and. many more are in course of construo.? Jion, for the purpose of re 1 working j&d ground, and washing bodily , awtty/tne immense terraces of auriferous jflriftjftn.d shingle, which intersect the coasfo fr.oni North to South. The utility. .o£ 'tfafe method of mining can not be oyerrate^ in Westlnnd, as the .surface -of;, i-t^e country is almost entirely compose, 4, ; of alluvium—very little outcrop pfcixpfy being found anywhore, except amongs.t the ranges. But will's 1 ; the advai^agj^. to be derived from the uso ,qf v ,w,{sß,V power are universally recognise^ Stewgfc has not been forgotU n, but has )?ss%>, already introduced with the .happje^t, results which, ' promise to , render, ( ,:|J£ employment more, general. iTjiejpripp, of "plant" however places ( it the reaoU of any but the wealth^ poition of the fining comraupjfyjj At the same time, .we- (<7^eeL confident there is a fair market fyere •$?&.■ steam engines of low power with puajpri; ing gear attached, could suchariioies.b^ supplied at moderate rates. A nTuwshjn,-},-ery depot might be formed, here 'a,nd|' much advantage and profit .would .Jjg o derived from it. Whilst the older .fta^rfts are thus, steadily progressing,, nsitf dj^,-, covories are being m"ad9,m,onth\y~d\s t n. v coveries that promise to mak,e . Jn^^ij^ tunes of a few of the lucres, t,, f janj|Q handsomely remunerate n^any; ( ,j)vb,q,£ flocked to them. Tb.e lafe.s^e.^a^.^ to ofy cmtoie is in tho QkQvjty #wwfy

arhere, in the beginning of the month, some new ground was opened about $ye miles South of the township, and a jshortcdistance inland from those beaches on the sea shore -which have been Steady worked and proved so rich. The gold is found in a low terrace runOjing parallel to the coast, which is the fifcst rise in the ground as it ascends Step after step, and thus gradually forms the coast range which rises to a moderate height about five miles from the sea. In the beginning of the Sfonth rumours reached town of the Ending of new ground, which being to 9 certain extent substantiated by sub««quent reports, caused a rush to set in .there fro"m the diggings nearest to it, ifut which eventually extended to every part of #ne c&aat. Hundreds of miners from the Grey, Arnold, Greenstone, and fell the other outlying fields,' poured into town and fairly stormed tho various pasting steamers which were laid on for the neW field of promise. For quite a fortnight the excitement was at its freight, but dwing the .past week it has Slightly subsided, although stray parties who have not heard the latest reports continue to make their appearance from the .depths" of the bush, where for aionths past thef have been laboring quietly", but with profit to themdelves. Certainly the news from Okaiita iid not justify such a headlong rush, which 1 can only be classed as one of those " stampedes" by which a community of gold diggers are so often driven from <>ne end of a country to the .other. sut whilst' admitting the etipaoUities <Jf the new rush to have been overestimated, we must yet draw attention to the faot that a large quantity df #old is being extracted therefrom, and ti£s& eight hundred or a thousand Jaen are profitably employed there, 4ome of whom are making handsome piles. From two parties of miners only, Jhe Bank of New South Wales purohased 12000z., the proceeds of two or three weeks' work, whilst many others cqUnt their weekly earnings by tens of bounds sterling. Some startling "finds" tinere also reported to have been made at Cook's River, a few miles farther south, but were eventually proved to be mere myths. Okarita is, however, progressing, and promises to be an important district without the aid of the man^ "canards" which are industriously circulated by the interested and selfish of its community. The town is jfapidly> increasing m size, and is already an important commercial mart, and the third: of linpOf dance in Westland. The iieoessiCy 6f cutting tracks from it into Ifee'ffiterior it fully recognised, and has, #c believe, received the favorable con* -^deration of the Government, who have promised to subsidize any amount subscribed by the inhabitants for that purpose. The work is already commenced, tmd will, when completed, Open to the miners what is supposed to be an exceedingly rich field. We have nothing 6T any moment to chronicle respecting ffiihing matters at either Bruce or Jack86n's Bays. A& organised party of miiiers proceeded to the latter locality, fcfc-the-puEnQHe-oLthorQUfirhly_testinsrit.. tint after remaining there a few weeks they returned and pronounced it a «* duffer." The Haaat River, which is situated between the two " bays," has attracted a few of the more nomadic of ©% digger*, but the result of their enferfirifje we' have not yet heard. At Bruce 6ay some eighty men are lofclted, Wfrd are principally employed in Sluicing, Their returns are not very firflUant, but fair wages (from £7 to iEIO #er week) can be made. There can be, however, no doubt that Bruc Bay and Okarita will eventually be connected by a chain of workings along the sea coast, and the interior of the country may yet be proved a . totensive' and payable field, Between \ C»fcaritaandTotaratwo or three hundred men are located on the Mikonui river, a*t . .a locality that was opened two m6nths ago; and then pronounced worthless. But the yield since then is an illustration of how often the headlong hasto and impetuousity of miners \ (^Nerves them, as several of those who ■ With Commendable perseverance gave the place a fair trial have been handioidelv rewarded. Some few have / iiette'd from £800 to £400. Thvough *^ its comparatively close proximity to Okarita the Totara district has suffered i, heavy drain upon its population dttljng the late rush. The district, however, is in a healthy state, and the 6<J4no of much mining enterprise, sluicing being canied on with much vigor, aw the development of the deep lead Steadily prosecuted. But the accounts whlon hive rfcached us from this district fe&ve lately been so exceedingly meagre 1 that we £re Unable to report fully upon ft.. There is a speculation on foot to ißt&blfoh Water communication between stand Hokitikaj which can be easily eflect^d, its" the intervening country is intersected by two large lagoons which ire separated from each other by a iiSfrow striji of land only. The idea is t$ construct a tramway across the neck, alid, a jetty on each end of it, sb that Utijittf may unload and load with facility. Application has been made to the GoWrafeefit for protection, by more than OB? Company : pending the decision the ' worjc remains In. abeyance. The K&ijderi goldfield is the most impdftant of anjr on the coast, aiicj proiftiseS 16 remain so for years to come, atilS mWiiig thefe Has assumed quite a ' a6tf phase thrbu^h the introdtictioii of gt&Un inachmerv and water power. "Hie' 6rude and desultory efforts ojme pihsf and perswrered ill by fndiwWfcl jjar'tles. tof wdrk tfi& more dfffietfly {Tarts jof_tl|e. Sfetttci die ai an end; &nd combination of labor and c§BHal is now trie brdfer .of the day. CW the bid flat the S% Steam tump- «# i^ififiamr/^o wire the first *e|Hjp under tU ne# Act, E^yo

erected their engine and fairly commenced work ten days ago. Tho engine, which is a double cylinder of twelve horse power, answers admirably, driving three seats of elevators witjh ease, and no difficulty is experienced in generating abundance of steam by using wood nlono for fuel. Every part of this company's works are constructed with a regard not only to solidity and strength but to finish as well. It will prove a payable speculation to the shareholders, aiid a gredt benefit to those miners whose "claims" aro connected with it. On Saturday last the ceremony of christening the engine took place, and a grand demonstration was made. The whole district turned out to do honor to the occasion, and many Hokitika resi 1 ' dents attended. With a loyalty thas neither absence from the land Of their birth nor the rough usages of colonial life have been able to deaden or destroy, and prompted by a feeling of respect]fOr our excellent Queen, the shareholders decided upon Victoria as tho most suitable name the engine could receive. Mr Schaw, the Warden of the district, had the honor of officiating on the occasion, and performed his part both ably and well. Close to the above works, a forty-five horse-power enginfe is being erected, and will soon be at work, as the boiler is already in position on tho ground. The owners df this plant have resolved themselves iu'to a company, and registered themselves under the name of the "Westland Steam Drainage." Commissioner's Flat has been " entirely denuded of timber to niako room for the numerous engine's and waterwheels that will shortly cover it. The effect produced in its appearanco by this clearance is most remarkable, ana renders it hardly recognisable by those Who saw it in its pristine state. One engine which was introduced by two working companies of diggers, who are known as Rankins, Henry, and their respective parties, will be at work in few days. The plant complete in all its details, being provided with cast iron pumps instead of elevators, was purchased in Melbourne, and arrived about a mouth back. At a short distance from these men the Kanieri Steam Drainage Company are making preparations to receive their engine and plant, which is daily expected from Melbourne. They would have been at work two months ago, but were disappointed in obtaining the plant they first sent for. However, as by the time it arrives all preliminary work will be completed, it will not take long to place it in position ancl set the engine pumping. Two other parties have also amalgamated for the purpose of procuring an eight horse power portable engine, which has already been sent for to Melbourne, so that very shortly thero "will be three engines at work on the flat, besides two powerful water wheels. We described one of these wheels in our last summary, but the other was only commenced about three weeks or 'a month ago, and promises to be the most powerM _picccLof in the district, excepting the large engine on the other ffat. The diameter of this wheel is twenty feet, and it is' constructed most substantially and well of the best description of timber that the district can supply. It will be driven by water from the Pioneer race, and as the wheel is erected some distance from the terrace on which that is situated, a flume one hundred and fifty feet long, and varying in height from twenty-eight to forty-five feet, has been constructed to convey the water to it. The race commenced by the Pioneer Company is at lost completed, and already the speculation promises most fairly. Although tho race will carry from thirty to forty heads of water, it is feared that quantity will not be sufficient to supply the nu* merous applications made for it. The whole of the main terraeo is parcelled out into sluicing claims, and every yard of available ground eagerly sought after. At the point of this terrace where it overlooks the river, gold has been struck in a strata of gravel at a greater depth tfyan any hitherto worked there. A shaft has been sunk to the water level and gold found in threo fresh layers, that found in the lowest being of the coarsest quality. It is iutended to sluice the terrace away bodily to the level of the river, and arrangements have been entered into with the Pioneer company for a supply of water far that purpose. But while the older portions of the Kanieri field are thus about to be systematically reworked, we notice with pleasure that the workings are extending, new ground having been opened in Lfche direction of Hokitika, whioh promises to pay quite as well as that found in oth,er parts of it. The site of tho new discovery is on a large flat immediately adjoining the above terraeo, and [the prospects which have been obtained Eare very satisfactory, as much as ldwt. ;to the dish of dirt having been washed jout. Before this washdirt was reached i however, a tail race had to bo cut to carry off tlfe surplus water, as the flat is both, deep and wet, and it is feared somp difficulty will be experienced in [working it. A.t the same time, it has (been heavily "rushed," and olaims taken up for quite half a mile along the ■river, as far as the banks of a large creek that runs down from the direction 'of Tucker Flat. On the other side of this creek is another extensive flat equally as well looking for gold as its neighbor. It is believed that gold will be found in it, and confidently altici: jmted that payable gold will be traced fo the Hokitika town belt, and round 'the coast range and terrace towards the ■Arahura Riypr to the north., It has )een incontesiably", proved that Hokitika ; s built upon auriferous land, gold h'av- ; ng |ieen found iv the main streets, f}l'i npugti not in payable quantities as the

times go. But on its north-east boundaries really good ground has been found on a flat immediately underneath the cemetery terrace. Some few months ago a patch was struck thero some few islaims in extent, which paid the lucky >ne very fairly indeed ; and only a few lays ago a fresh discovery was mrclein he same locality, which is believed to be a continuation of the old cemetry workings. In the mining column will be found our report upon it. No discoveries of new ground have been made towards ithe sources of the Kanieri and Hokitika drivers. The Hau Ilau creek diggings which are situated about six miles E. N. j,E. from Hokitika carry a considerable population, who all seem well satisfied Ijvith their returns. Some few claims 'there will give shareholders £300 and £400 each man. The beach Workings to the North aro yielding most handsomely and gradually extending. The Auckland rush, although pretty well shaken, still keeps up its old repute, as heavy parcels of amalgam aro brought into town from it weekly. About a fortnight since two diggers arrived from therewith 500 ozs. in their possession, which nice little " lob" they submitted to Mr Proctor to bo retorted and melted. Only yesterday wo were waited upon by a digger who showed us his returns for one month's work. The man had netted no less a sum than £1,116. Such success is astonishing and takes us in imagination back to the palmy days of California and Victoria. New grouud has been opened in the immediate vicinity of tho Auckland rush and rumour doth say fair prospects were obtained. The particulars, however, have ri6t yet reached us. In the old Waimea district extended sluicing operations are quite tho rage. Race after raco is being constructed and when finished ar« attended by such results as induces the more timid of tho miners, who had been waiting for advices to follow the example of their more adventurous brethren. Some of these races involvo many months expenditure of time, and a proportionate amount of capital, but pay splendid interest when finished. From the Teremakau rush, and those two little diggings Sutherland's rush and Sunday Flat, we hear no complaints of tho poverty of the ground. On tho contvary many miners are doing remarkably Well and some few " piles" have been amassed there. The Grey has suffered sadly through the exodus to Okarita — some of its best blood liaving been drained. It will, however, recover when the reaction that is certain shortly to take place sets in But from the different gold-fields belonging to that most cxtensivo and wealthy district, the average amount of gold is still returned, and mining in all its branches vigorously prosecuted. Tho Arnold Ilivcr diggings are tho most important, as there are settled a large population engaged in mining on an extensive scale. Ground and box sluicing aro the methods most in vogue, which of course necessitate an abundant and constant supply of water, and to provide this, the construction of long and costly head races is rendered imperative. Still, there arc some parties doing remarkably well who uro working in, the old fashioned style. We heard of one which obtained 90 ozs. for tho week's work, and another that washed out over 800 ozs in the same space of time. But the position of this district is almost impregnable, so horrible is the country that has to bo traversed ere it can bo reached, and the consequence is that its resources arc not developed with that rapidity which would otherwise result if easy and quick communication was established between it and Grey town. Many miners arc working "on the quiet" amongst tho "fastnesses of tho Upper Grey. At Noble's Gully thero is a snug little community collected, every one of whom are doing fairly^ and somo making " lobs." Our Groy contemporary in commenting on this place, informs us that Sullivan and Co. had 1000 ozs. in hand, and that the diggers there are doing as well as on any other part of tho coast. At the " Duffer Rush," which is no seldom or ever heard of, there are a great many at work, and all making excellent wages. Wo were informed by a minor who, finding the attraction of tho Okarila rush irresistible, had left £20 per week there in the hope of bettering (?) himself elsewhere ; that very few woro aware how rich that part of the country was. Anyone who chose to work could make Ll per day with ease, ' with every prospect of striking better ground. And yet, to show the inconsistency of miners, and tho mad impulses that too often influence them, this promising place was pronounced a duffer ! when ■ first rushed, and the unfortunato prospector barely esoapbd with his life from the infuriated crowd, who persisting in assert- ( ing ho had grossly swindled them. There aro a few diggers settled on the Little Gyey, and apparently satisfied to remain there, but we are not aware that anything out of the common has transpired thero during tho past month. Rod Jacks and Maori Gullies No. 1 and 2 contribute a very fair proportion of tho rcvonue which is derived from tho export duty on gold. Only a week or ten days ago 3000 ozs. was sent into Greytown from those localities. Sluiciag on a large scale is extensively carried on there. Our Nelson neighbors can in their* turn boast of rich fields, for the diggings north of tho Grey River are very good. The Darkies rush is about the best, and there one'party of men cleared, in one week, L3OO each, and every prospect that succeeding weeks would prove equally as gopd On the terrace below them ihe claims pay high wages if from L 6 to L 25 per ma.n weekly, may bo considered as euoh.