MINING SUMMARY.

West Coast Times, Issue 233, 18 June 1866, Page 5

MINING SUMMARY.

By referring to the Customs' returns for the month, and then glancing at' the exportation of gold, it will be seen that the amount which paid duty is considerably over 40,000 ounces. This it must be remembered, is the produce of ono portion of Westland only, the Grey returns not being included. Not being able to obtain the amount of gold sent in to Hokitika by escorts from each district, we can only give the lump sum : believing, however, that the Hokitika district contributes the greatest quantity, and that Okarita, Waimea, and Totara rank next in succession. Wo are led to this conclusion, inasmuch as in the first named there are soveral important goldfields, which each carry a large population, and of which the Kanieri, and Hau Hau Creek arc the principal. At the former locality, the introduction of steam machinery is bocoming very general, for on the flat alone there are three poworful engines at work, and two more are in the course of erection besides a watorwli^el of great power which drives two large elevators. On an adjoining flat there are two engines ; one of forty-five horso power, tlio othei* twelve. A detailed account of this field will be found in our " speoial's " report, which wo publish in another column. We, however, cannot help slightly commenting on the information contained therein, for the account it gives of the field is highly satisfactory, notwithstanding the serious drawback experienced by tho miners through rains and floods. Even under adverso circumstances, the Kaniori alone yields 2000 o/.s. weekly, and there is no doubt that when tho different companies get fairly into work this amount will be lniioh augmented. Tho Pioneer and United — the only head race companies at present, in the district — are paying fair dividends. The former, especially, is doing remarkably well, and find it necessary to extend their works by cutting a new ditch from tho head of their race into the lefthand branch of tho Kanieri river. This was necessitated through tho Biipply of water in the old race proving quito inadequate to supply tho many miners who made application for box-heads. On the whole, we consider that the Kanieri district is flourishing, and that thoro is every probability that for years it will afford steady employment to a large population. Within about three

miles and a half (as the crow flies) from these workings is the now well known Hau Hau diggings, which, however, a few months back, wero hardly recognised, save by a favored few who were quietly tracing a lead of gold that in any gold country would bo considered a rich one. Now, however, this place has become a household word, for since then a rush set in, and the lead was followed over hills and across gullies, its appearance and the " lay "' of the country vividly reminding us of some parts of tho old Eureka lead on Ballarat. At . present the run is being traced towards tho Tucker Plat workings ; in fact, the outpickets of " shephcrders " have penetrated so for, and inserted their pegs into tho old ground. There seems almost a certainty that tho Hau Hau lead will run through the flat, deep ground having been discovered there and a company formed to work it. The lower end of this lead is scarcely so rich as the upper and middle portions of it, although excellent wages are made by those who fortunately struck the " gutter." Besides this deep ground, I there are many other parts of the Hau Hau paying remarkably well, of which the most important is tho Three Mile Creek, along the banks of which the Blue Spur lead is being traced, and at the head of tho creek a great deal of shallow ground is in hand. Vory excellent wages reward steady, persevering labor on these workings, which give promise of a permanency not to be found on too many parts of tho coast. Sluicing is daily finding more favor amongst the diggers', and several ditches are coming in that will command some of the most likely terraces and a great deal of the old, deserted ground. The population of the Hau Hau may be estimated at 2000, and the weekly yield of gold at about 1500 ounces. Nothing particular has transpired during the month at Okarita, although the diggers generally must be doing vory well there, the Bruce having brought \ip two shipments of gold, amounting in the aggregate to nearly 10,000 ounces. The different beaches in that locality aro still receiving close attention and yield fairly, although their best days aro past. Rumors of new rushes have been circulated which, however, nover received subsequent confirmation ; and hopes are still entertained that the country inland will yet turn out a payable field. Nothing further has been heard of the prospector Hunt, who so mysteriously disappeared after the collapse of the Bruce Bay rush, which nearly depopulated Okarita, and the new ground which he professed to have dis.covei'vjd, has not yet been/ound by any of tho numerous parties that so diligently sought for it. A retrograde movement of some fifty miles brings us to tho Totara goldfield, which once yielded richly to tho individual miner, but now is almost entirely in the hands of sluicing companies, who are profitably working the old ground. The deep load which was traced from Jones' Creek into tho flat is at a stand still through excess of water ; but as a company has been formed (the Scandinavian) under tho joint stock system, for the purpose of introducing steam power, wo trust that in our next Summary we shall have the satisfaction of stating that it is once more in full work. From Donohoue's Gully — an outworking a little to the south of the main workings, very fair accounts have reached us, Deep ground is being worked there which yields most handsomely, although the labor is anything but light. Good wages, from LlO to L2O pev week arc, however, the reward of the lucky ones. Sluicing, also, is (as elsewhere) in high favour there, and many races are in course of construction, which before they are completed, will entail a heavy outlay of capital and time upon the proprietors. Bctv een the Hokitika and the Grey^ there is a scattered population, who' occupy every available and likely looking part of the , beaches. The cream, however, of these working has long ago been appropriated, although a few fortunate individuals are yet making good wages. .In tho Waimea district there aro some 3000 minors located, nearly all of whom arc engaged in sluicing, and although heavy finds are uncommon, there steady labor is certain to obtain fair remuneration. A goldfiefd Warden is stationed at tho Waimea, and also a small staff of police. So littfe intelligence has reached us from the Grey district, during the past month, that we have next to nothing to communicate concerning that locality., It still, however, carries a large population, and exports a considorrtblo quantity of gold. We shall conclude our " Summary " with the official report of Mr Warden Kynnersley from the Upper Grey. He states :— " Tho rusli to Caledonia Creek has subsided, and a great many of the diggers have returned to the Little Grey, owing to the fact that the workings are all in tho bed of the creek, and there is too much water to contend with The terraces in tho neighborhood of Caledonia Creek havo not proved as good as was expected, and until dry weather the creek cannot bo worked extensively. At Wyiidhaui Creek the ground is proving very satisfactorily, and tho miners are well contented with their prospects. The traok recontly commenced by.the Nelson Government across tho Saddle -has been completed, and on the Buller side great activity prevails*. A township has been formed at the Inangahua, containing already nine stores, and two butchers' shops. The surplies arc mostly brought from tho Grey, across tho saddle, as many as thirty pack-horses having

crossed in one day. There apppears to be no probability of the Buller river competing with the O^uy as a route for the conveyance of stores, as, owing to the rapidity of the current, and the dangerous naturo of the rapids, only canoes can be used, and these can only convey a small quantity of goods. A few loads have been brought by the Buller route, but the cost of freight, L 45 per ton, has effectually put a atop to the trade in that direction,"