KANIERI.

West Coast Times, Issue 277, 13 August 1866, Page 6

KANIERI.

(PR»M OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) August 6. Notwithstanding the dismal forebodings indulged in by some few of the croaking genus, that the days of the Kanieri are numbered, nnd its glories rapidly depart - ing, it yet discovers a lusty vigor and prolificacy not to be found in a district in an advanced state of decline. It is true that some parts of the old workings are pretty well turned over aud comparatively deserted, but it does not follow that the ground is altogether exhausted, or that a "second bottom will not some day be found that will yield still more abundantty than the surface layer of drift, which, although very rich, is worthy of no other name. It was merely a vein of auriferous gravel, resting on a bed of either sand, loose shingle, or gravel so like itself in appearance that even the men working it bad great difficulty in distinguishing between the two. There was, however, a very material difference, for the one contained gold, the other did not. Now, the belief is quite feasible that between this vein and the main reef other layers are to be found containing gold, and there is no doubt they wouldhavebeensunkfor ere this; wereitnot for the immeuse body of water met with at a certain depth, which manual labor alone is unable to overcome. But the introduction of steam machinery has virtually set this question at rest ; for it is almost certain that as soon as the ground now worked by the aid of these engines is exhausted, a united effort will be made to sink lower and test the value of the main reef and intermediate strata At present, however, the different companies are too well employed with the ground in hand to - give their attention to matters of mere speculation — albeit the above helief is current amongst them, and some day action •wiH be taken upon it. As I stated before, there is at the Kanieri an abundance of that which, in mining parlance, is termed " old ground," aud under this head may be classed the Terrace, and the greatest part of the old Flat. Some of the latter is quite deserted, but the former is still occupied by sluicers, ,who would, was the price of water not quite so exorbitant, make very fair wages out of it by the aid of those potent appliances, the sluicing-fork and box. The present rates, however, convert the indispensable element into a positive luxury, only to be indulged in by the holders of rich ground, which, I am sorry to say, does not abound on the Terrace. A reduction in the weekly charge of Lll and' L 9 for the daily and nightly use - of a box-head of water has long been promised by the Pioneer Race Company, who, however, have determined to first complete their new race from the left hand branch of the Kanieri. They will then have an almost unlimited supply, which will enable them to lower the present figure very con-, siderably. This, however, does not suit the views of the miner, who in the meantime finds he cannot make both ends meet ; and the consequence is that many have knocked off work, preferring to rather wait for the good time promised by the Water Company, than labor for (after paying expenses) a mere existence. A coalition was formed against the Company by the terrace men, who pledged themselves not to rent the water at existing rates, and for a few days this strike was well kept up. The need of some, and impatience of others at this enforced idleness, brought it to an end ; and now, although many men are idle," there are a few who prefer submission to the Company's terms. The" aphorism which strengthens the hearts'tbf the faithful, that, " when one door closes another opens, 5 ' is, as elsewhere, verified on the Kanieri ; for, although some of its workings have fallen into the sear and yellow leaf, in another part of the district fresh ground has been opened up, which promises a long "spell" of remunerative labor to those who were fortunate enough to secure claims upon v it. This new rush is situated upon a V terrace at the head of the flat, and in my I opinion is a continuation of the lead which B runs through it. Gold was traced in patches from the prospectors' claim on the flat to the foot 'of the rise, and fourteen J months ago holes were sunk upon it to the depth of 40 feet, but no gold was found in them, and the locality was pronounced a "duffer." About nine weeks ago a party of Viotorians, just arrived, "fancied the look of the place,' 1 and commenced sinking a little ahead of the old shafts, on the edge of a small creek They, however, were driven out by water; but not to be beaten, they tried another shaft a little farther from the creek. In the meantime the ground round them was taken up, in expectation that gold would be struck, and the party next the prospectors commenced sinking, and not having much water to stay their progress, succeeded in striking a payable layer of drift upon a false bottom at a depth of about 37 feet. Prospects of from fdwt. to ldwt. of large heavy gold, flat and water- worn, were obtained, and subsequently the washdirt was found to consist of a bed of granite, slate, and sandstone wash, some four feet thick, which, after breaking up, yielded from Joz. to loz. to the load, Rickets and party (the prospectors), in their turn, struck the " wash" three feet thick, at a depth of 41 feet, and found that it would pay from £oz. to f oz. to the load ; and subsequent operations confirmed the estimation formed of the value of this claim. They anticipate that it will take several months to work it out, for, when sinking the well hole, gold was found in a layer at a lower level, although not in payable quantities. Its presence, however, induced the supposition that, as the Jraain bottom is only a few feet below the drive, the whole bed of drift resting upon it is more or less auriferous, and it would, if systematically worked, in all probability pay for the labor.* Adjoining this claim, but nearer the brow of the terrace, Starr and party sunk a shaft, and at thirty-five feet struck washdirt which yielded fair, prospects. Sinking further they found this layer to be eight feet thick, and resting on a false bottom, and after it was broken up, heaped, and washed, yielded fromfoz.to loz to the load. The next claim on the upward course of the lead was marked out by White and party, who touched gold at thirty feet, and at thirtyfive feet struck a main bottom consisting of soft brown sandstone, which carried a vein of gravel one foot in thickness. This yielded and ldwt to the dish*, but immediately above it there is a

layer of barren drift, and over this again about three feet of golden gravel that pays pays well. Taking the good with the bad, the five feet of gravel between where gold was first struck and the bottom will pay from £oz. lo to tho load. I saw a prospect of 2dwls. of splendid gold, the proceeds of one dish oi' dirt out of this claim, and this induced me to infer that the ground contaiued patches which might very considerably increase the above reTurns in future washings-up. Above White's claim there are only two parties on gold, both of whom struck it at 35 feet on the maiu bottom, and obtained the same prospects that I have already quoted. Beyond this the ground is unoccupied, for although several shafts were sunk, the water was so heavy that they were abandoned before gold was struck. Returning to the prospectors' creek, a party of miners sunk a hole iv the bed of it, and struck the payable wash-dirt, three feet thick at 25 feet deep. It was resting on a false bottom. Below them, Greenaway and party sunk 40 feet, the last five through the bed of wash-dirt struck by their neighbors, and which gave them equally good prospects. In sinking the well-hole the main bottom of soft sand-stone was struck, and the intermediate gravel was found to contain a little gold— sufficient, however, to determine them to thoroughly test it after the richer strata above it is exhausted. Below this party, and between them and the Flat, there are three claims in work, all payable, and to the right of them Burke and party took a cutting into the brow of the terrace on a level with the flab, and after sinking twenty-four feet, found they had gone through six feet of wash-dirt that prospected about loz. to the load. Two feet below this level the main bottom lies, and as the adjoining claim is getting very good gold upon it, they are sanguine that when tested it will aLo pay them." This was the last claim I inspected on this rush, which, so far, has received no name to distinguish it from Commissioner's Fiat. In fact, one is hardly necessary'; as it is very evident that the gold found upon the terrace is a continuation of that lead upon the flat, to develope which has so sadly bothered miners during the past fifteen months. There is certainly a difference in the quality of the metal, that on the flat being much finer ; but the two patches are so close together, and the direction taken by the gold in each being similar, that I think there can be no reasonable doubt they are one and the same, and that in a short time both workings} will be united. Standing at the lower end of the flat, looking upwards, the lead can be traced, about two claims >wide, running towards the terrace, and beyond it in a N.N.E. direction. Like their fellow-work-men on the flat, the terrace miners find the ground somewhat difficult to wo_rk. as it requires close slabbing from top t:> hottorn, and the drives also require to be very carefully timbered and close-lathed. The wash i 3 exceedingly heavy, huge boulders of granite, slate, and sandstone abounding, which hinder the diggers considerably, and render the work somewhat dangerous, on account of the quantity of loos>e dirt so liable to be brought away by their fall. Quartz boulders are seldom met with, and very little of the stone is found amongst the wash-dirt, a peculiarity, by the way, exceedingly characteristic of the Kanieri workings, and indeed those of the Coast generally. Leaving the terrace, and advancing into the flat, a marked contrast is presented between the workings there and those just left. Upon emerging from the forest which covers the former, four steamengines, belching forth steam and smoke, can be seen upon the plain, a sure evidence that mining there has advanced many stages beyond the primitive days when wooden windlasses and manual labor were deemed sufficient to overcome the obstacles which lay between tho miner and the hidden wealth beneath him. And yet with these improved appliances at command, the workings on Commissioner's Flat proceed but slowly, so much water is there in the drifts ; whilst the stripping is exceedingly heavy, and the- ground difficult to keep up. Besides the engines, there is the large water-wheel of Smith and party, who have only just -recovered from their late litigation with the United Water Race Company, which delayed them some weeks. The verdict, however, was in their favor, and they are again fairly at work, and at present are engaged breaking down and washing a stoup of wash -dirt eight feet thick, which yields, on au average, from lOdwts. to 12dwts. to the load. Gold is distributed throughout it, but not evenly, as sometimes a richer* layer of gravel is found on the top ; at others, the bottom and centre drift is most deeply impregnated. To drain the ground elevators are used, but it is pi'oposed to substitute in their stead Californian pumps, as the wear and tear of the former is some-; thing enormous. Next to the Water Wheel, the Independent Company, aided -by their excellent engine and heavy force pumps, are doing a good thing. Months ago, before the engine arrived, and when the Flat was neither cleared nor occupied as it is at present, they, whilst waiting fo^ steam power, stripped a large paddock to the wash-dirt, and are now employed sluicing it. The face oi- dirt is from six feet to twelve feet high, and after the largest stones have been extracted, it will pay on an average from Lls to L2O per man per week. This is an excellent return, but not always obtainable, for during heavy floods the flat .is , next to unworkable. In a former report I alluded to this company's plant, which is one of the best on the Kanieri. Since then they have erected another pump to supply the sluice boxes, which is a decided improvement, as it lifts the water no higher than the sluice boxes in the paddock, and just sufficient for the purpose ; whereas, before, the suppfy was drawn from that thrown by the main pumps, and which accordingly had to be relifted to the surface. On the eastern side of the Independents' ground Campbell and party are working a claim with which they express themselves perfectly satisfied. I heard -it stated as a fact th it a fortnight ago ten shares were sold in this claim for LIBO each, and that Ll9O was offered for another and refused. Their ground is drained by the Independent Company's engine. The New South Wales Company, the boundary of whose claim adjoins that of the two former, are driving the ground out, in preference to stripping it, and say that when sluicing they can make about 3oz. a day amongst them. Just now they are driving adits to an adjoining claim, which they have contracted to drain, as their engine is of sufficient power to keep three or four claims clear of water. The washdirt these adits are yielding is poor, but the manager informed me that in other

parts of the claim the ground was much richer. The N.S.W. Company was once designated by the separate names of " Philips and party" and the "Happy-go-lucky " crowd. The two have, however, since amalgamated under the above title. The company consists of sixteen shareholders. _ More in the centre of the flat the Kanieri Steam Drainage Company are making good progress, haviug fairly surmounted their many difficulties. As> I have before stated, it was formed by four claims which amalgamated to procure an engine. Of tluse the " Band of Hope " and "Kise and Shine " are on the lead, which also cuts through a corner of the " Morning Star ;" but the Nil Desperandum is hardly proved yet, and it is feared is somewhat out of the line. Save in connection with the plant there is not a community of goods amongst these men', each claim beiug worked by its respective party. Hitherto Californian pumps have been used for drainage purposes, but these will be discarded when the iron lift forcepumps, ordered from Melbourne, arrive. The lead here consists of from eight to ten feefc of washdirt, which will yield from 10 dwts. to 15 dwts. the load. The last engine erected upon the flat w»s introduced by the United Steam Drainage Company, which was formed by the amalgamation of four claims, containing in the aggregate thirty-one shareholders. Like their neighbors, however, their united interests extend no further than the engine and plant, each party trusting in its individual luck and original holding. They, however, combined to sink an engine shaft forty-four feet by twelve feet, which ia piled and framed from top to bottom, and last week wash-dirt was struck two feet thick, twenty feet from the surface. The prospects obtained were not very rich, as a dish of dirt only gave 3 grains. The company, however, feel certain the lead is there, and are prosecuting their work with vigor. The ground is cleared of water by a fourteen horse-power engine, consisting of a pair of cylinders working on one crank, with a large flywheel as regulator. The boiler is securely fixed, bein«; built up with solid masonry, and, save by the steam-pipes, is not connected with the rest of the gear. Tho engine drives a Californian pump fifty feet long, and fourteen inches by three and a-half inches in the clear, which works well, and throws, a very heavy head of waler. A substantial engine-house is erected over all, and the appearance of the machinery bears witness to careful supervision and attention. In fact, all the engines on this flat are kept in really excellent order, and most creditable to the parties concerned. Between the^United Company aud the river th=;re is no ground in work, as the one or two shafts sunk to test it failed in striking gold, and the water was found so heavy that the idea of working it by hand was at once abandoned. . The workings on the " Old" or Kanieri Flat are gradually becoming contracted, as the outside ground is worked and abandoned, and most of the ground in work is held by companies, who work upon the same principle as their neighbors on " Commissioners. " The " Star" still used "elevators", as the lift pumps, sent for from Melbourne, have not yet arrived. The week before last a serious mishap occurred to the machinery, as one of the pistons broke into pieces, and since then the pumps have been driven by one engine only. At first it was feared that to repair the damage Dunedin or Melbourne would have to be applied to, but Mr Gordon, the blacksmith, volunteered to manufacture another out of boiler-plate, and succeeded in so doing. The greatest difficulty lay iv casting the metallic rings ; but this he also effected in earthen moulds, and turned a most substantial piece of work out of hand, well finished in every particular. It was only completed on the day of my visit, and by this time both engines are doubtless at work. The Eureka claim, which is one of those .drained by the Star engine, is worked on a twenty-eight feet level, where there is a bed of wash-dirt from three to six feet thick, which will yield* from LlO to L2O per man a weelr. This party have yet three or four months' work* before them, and intend when the bed is exhausted to sink for the main bottom. Next to them, the " Persevere" claim is working on a twenty-six feet level in wash-dirt from eight inches to four feet thick. The shareholders have realised as high as L'2s per week, but lately the yield has slightly fallen off, although good wages are still made with every prospect of six months farther work. This party also intend to sink for the main bottom. Murphy and party, whose claim is drained by the Westland Drainage Company's engine, are working some splendid dirt in their large paddock. The " stoup '' is from four to eight feet thick, and has prospected as high as loz to the dish. It lies at a level of twent-six feet from the surface. Adjoining them* Murray and party are also doiug well, as they have the same bed of gravel, which has yielded, in patches, as much as -18 dwts. to the dish. ■ There is every probability that both these claims will turn out handsome piles. InLytteltonstreet, the old " Flour of Wheat " claim is now occupied by the " Hibernian" party, who sunk below the level upon whicli it was originally worked, and struck a bed of washdirt from four to five feet thick, that will yield from 60oz. to 70oz. per week. The " wash" in this claim is very heavy, and many of the boulders require powder to move them. The Odd Fellows' party hold the adjoining claim, and a>'e driving upon a 26 feet level in a layer of dirt five feet thick, which will pay each shareholder, say LlO weekly. These claims are both drained by the TVestland engine. Only two of the river bank claims are now in work, via., those held by the Cumberland party and Townsend and party. The first, although many months in work, is not yet .worked out, and promises to last as much longer. It is worked on a capital system and pays well. This party hold a large extent of ground, having purchased the " Ballarat" and " New Chum" claims, and have driven their tunnels to within twenty feet of the stores, a distance, I should imagine, of seventy yards. To give a description of the workings would occupy too much space in this report ; sufficient, if I say that they reflect the greatest credit on the management and pay well. According to the company's books, the average earnings of each shareholder- is over L2O per week, and the yield shews no sign of a decrease. Seveuteeu. wages men are employed in this claim, and from L7O to LIOO per week il paid away in expenses,