WAIMEA.

West Coast Times, Issue 971, 2 November 1868, Page 3 (Supplement)

WAIMEA.

October 22. Tho excitement of the election for the member of the Aralutra Soad Boai'd having passed off", all the miners have again settled doAvn to Avork, and are now taking full advantage of the abundant Avater supply Avhich the recent heavy rains has rendered available. From all parts of tho district the intelligence we haA re received is of an encouraging nature, although it is not very startling. Fox's and Greeks' appear to be fast reviving —their population as Avell as "their yield of gold being steadily on the increase. There is a township forming in Fox's which bids fair to become of some importance, and. to be the markft from Avhich tho surrounding districts will in future draAV their supplies. Its formation may be ascribed to the enterprise of one or tAvo storekeepers avlio had the foresight to see that as the diggings in their district were, developed the old means of communication Aviih Hokitika by Avay of the "Waimea Avere insufficient to alloAV it to be properly supplied, besides the heavy freightage causing the prices, of provisions j.o be tpo high for diggers wljo wore work-

ing the poorer grouild. Ths*; therefore, get up their supplies by way of the Christchurch road, which roiite is now generally used to the great benefit of both storekeeper and miner. The Leviathian Water Race still remains in an unfinished slate. Every exertion is, however, being made by the shareholders in the company to get it bf ought in as soon as possible: and, probably, in & cotfpio of months sink-ing operations with the water of this race will be in full swing. The Sight-hand Branch also appears to be looking up. A number of claims have been taken up in the bed of the creek for the purpose of re-working old ground. Fair wages are made by nearly all these claiiuhoiders. Eganand party have completed their tunnel under M'Blane and party's flume. There is a lawsuit pending over this work — M'Blane and party bring under the impression that the tunnel -will weaken their flume having summoned the owners of tlie hinnel. The matter was amicably settled. On Austrian Terrace the tunnel claims aro yielding very satisfactorily — all of them paying more than the ordinary rate of wages, and some of them giving firstclass dividends to their holders. These tunnels are worked in a most systematic manner, each of them being provided with adine of rails and tracks for carrying the stuff out. Tlie advantages of working in this manner are manifold, and apparent to anyone who i£ conversant with mining matters ; and miners in maiiy localities we know would do well to follow the example of the Austrian Terrace men.

The tunnels alongside the track between Stafford Town and Goldsborough vary very mucli in their returns — some paying very well, whilst others yield scarcely " tucker." Two shares in a claim near M'Lean's Store changed hands at £50 each. This price, considering the times, is very satisfactory. The parties at work on Shamrock Terrace are plodding along at their usual rate. Kemple and party have completed their dam — which is a very lar^e and well-con-structed one — capable of holding water for a week's ground sluicing. Hamilton and party have. got a splendid fall on to their ground. They have divided their party, and aye working on the hydraulic principle with strong pressure. There is nothing fresh on Stewart's' Terrace, but its popu iition still keeps up. and some of the claims upon it are turning out better than anticipated. The accounts from Callaghan's show tliat that place is improving wonderfully. Some of the deep shafts recently sunk have struck jmyable gold at a depth, of fifty feet. The sinking is somewhatwetinifc, but not to airy great extent. The now flat promises to be a rich and extensive diggings, aiid has ondc niore made Callagiian's one of the most thriving localities in the Waimea district. The residents in German, Maori,, and Italian Gullies have no reason to complain. The l;:sfc rain has set them again to work, and they arc all earning good wages. Many of the minor gullies' in this part of 'the district are being profitably worked, and the miners are gradually finding their way back to the main rango, where they fondly hope to find auriferous deposits of greater richness and extent tlian any yet discovered in New Zealand.

During the week nothing new has occurred on the Laniplough side or on the Scandinavian Terraces. The now load on tho Fourth Terrace appears to satisfy the holders of the claims upon it. and the township is extending. Piper's Fiat is dull, and all other parts of the "Waimea are in the same state as reported in our last issue.