ROSS.

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

ROSS.

October 24. Of Jones' Flat, perhaps the less said the better. The steam claims and a great many whims are stuppnd, and will probably remain so until tho new Drainage Act is in force. Meanwhile great loss is incurred — especially to hard- working men, who, with their families, are dependent on wages. Notwithstanding the Escort this week carried a slightly increased average of gold, the month's yield being more than 5000 ounces. The present depression is not likely to last long, but its duration will depend on the 'miners in v great degree. It will be their interest to forward to the Governor", as soon as possible, a petition to have the district brought under the operation of the new drainage law, and upon that being effected large drainage works will be put in hand, and the engine now on the Flat set going. There is a probability that two other steam-engines will be at work soon on the Iloss Extended and Devmott's leases. The Irish Republic party have taken up an extended claim of two acres, and intend cutting a tail-race from the main one in the Flat, to carry away the ' termce water. This, they think, will enable them to work the 80-fcet bottom ; but at the least it wil! free the 45-feet level. The race will be about 500 feet, all tunnelled, and we hope the men will derive all the advantages they anticipate from this plucky, enterprise.. At Sailor's good ground has been struck in the celebrated Blue Jacket claim, ami a rush caused thereby. Petersen and party, having ground-sluiced their c'ahn as low as they could, determined to sink a shaft. , and try their luck below ; in doing so they found the color nearly all the way till they reached the blue cl-iy, which has stopped all parties hitherto ; but this they determined to sink into and try its depth, whin at 100 feet they struck good wash, and a' the same time water, though not excessive. The depth of wash is not proved, as they had not bot'omed on Thursday, but had gone through 4 feet of good ground, part of it giving idwt to the dish. This was soon noised about, and a rush set in — miners, in their eagerness, pegging out at moonlight ; and all along the terrace-edge claims are marked off, and six parties are sinking, besides Petersen's, who intend erecting a whim. At Donoglme's most of the claim-holders are doing we.J, and the third bottom seems to be more gnieral and better than the upper levels. The Alexandra are calling for tenders for a shaft 80 feet deep, which, ,t is thought, will reach the wash. Buird's party are negotiating for a steam-engine, and will, we believe, soon be able to make a rtart. The Redman's Diggings, which attracted a rush a, few months since, and were afterwards almost abandoned, are again looking ii]), six whims arc now in work and two others in course of erection. The sinking it a little over (50 feet, and although the wash is not tllick it is very good ; the bottom is a soft sandstone, similar to that of Jones's Flat. Shares are already selling at £60, and the township sites on the terrace are being occupied. There seems no reason to doubt that a large area will turn out as woll as that now opened and employ a few hundred men. Gold is not now to be got by scratching for it, but there aprcars to be plenty of room for miiicra who arc able to bring energy and capital to their aid. We are glad to notice

that the. men at Redman's have worked at ell together; arid- so saved a great deal of labour. The taddsnic-ii, too, have combined and took up the terrace. On the whole, we think ourselves justified, in anticipating, thnt in a few months a much larger population will be employed in tli is district than at present.