MINING IN OTAGO.

West Coast Times, Issue 1328, 24 December 1869, Page 3

MINING IN OTAGO.

Tie following items of information regarding mining matters in the Tuapeka ■v, district, are furnished by the local paper :—: — During the past week several parties have v - started oa prospecting t.urs. Several of j;', these are composed of old Victorian miners, , , who are very sanguine of success. Pay- > able reefs are expected to reward their J , efforts.— On Saturday last, 10th Dec, the . ' -Tuapeka Mouth Prospecting Company had a meeting, whin provision was made for 1 purchasing the tools necessary to open out j the reef. It was stated that a small j-eam of auriferous quartz had been already ' struck. Roland and Cantwell's claim, Tuapeka Mouth, wa- sold, by o:der of the „ Warden's Court, on Friday last The ! ' purchaser was Mr Lewis, one < f the former partners, the sun) given being £207. — The work in the deep shaft is progressing rapidly. The donkey shaft being sunk over the supposed site of the gutter, is ,'w already 15ft. down, and the contractors expect to bottom before the end of the •week. As yet, there arc no signs of payable wash. \n entertainment on behalf of the fund for going in with the work in the J shaft, is to be held at Wetherstones. — It is stated that a party of practical miners intend to deve!o,«e another coal-field, situated in alo aljtj' whence Lawrence and Tuapeka Fl .t could be profitably supplied. ___^ With respect to mining matters at Cardrona, a Giomwel- paper says: — "On :*> Monday last. 13th Dec, gold was struck • '-■ at the deep shaft known as the Brigand '"-claim, at' Cardiona Creek. Nine ounces.

were taken off the bottom, and the party have made arrangements for driving on the lead. The shaft got water-loggid. and had been abandoned for some time past. Within the last few days a bailing shaft was opened at a lower level, which succeeded so far as to enable the- party to reach the bottom. This has had the effect of revivng the deep Lad prospects afc Cardrona, consequent upon the 'partial failure of the Pirate claim.

The Alexandra corres ondent of the Dunstan Times, writing regarding mining matters in that localit}', says :— " The Alexandra Reef, Butcher's Gully, is still progressing as far as the necessary work is concerned. Three shafts were let by tender since my last communication — one 60ft at 20s per foot ; another, 50ft at 20s ; and a third, 50ft at 18s per foot. These prices seem to give great satisfaction to shareholders, and it is to be hoped the contractors, who are old reefers, will he pleased with the resul's of their labor. Ivensen and party, on Conroy's, are down 70ft, but have not as yet met with any body of stone, but still continue to carry gold with them. A share in Butcher's Gully, co'iMsting of tail-race and claim, hasjnst changed hands at £150 cash. The Ovens Comi any are constructing a splendid dan, capable of holding ;i large quantity of surplus wafer. It will ever an area' of about fifteen acies, with an average depth of three feet. This company have a magnificent race of water, commanding an extent of auriferous ground ihat will yield splendid returns for years to come,"

Mr Warden Beetham, wtiting frorii Queeiftown on the 4th instant, reports as follows :—": — " I liave the honor to repot that the district under my charge continues in a highly prosperous s>tate' ; new ground has been opened up in several portions of the district. At Moke and Moonlight Creeks, the .ground lately taken up under mining leases is being energetically prospected. I I.elievethat a very large extent of country will be found payable. At the head ot the Lake (Glenorchy) parties are prospecting in the directions of Rees River and the Junction' Mill. At Few's Creek (Lake) the population is steadily engaged on large claims, which will Inst lor years. Extended claims continue to be taken up at the Pentland, at which place a largo population of China- > men are remuneratively engsiged. At. the upper Shotover ;he river terraces still continue to yield splendid returns. The Arrow and the terrace ground at the 12-Mile support a steady population, holding principally .xu-mled claims. A finall population is locTed some four miks from Kingston, where parties are earning good wages. The terraces from the Roaring Meg to the Lake Falls are sparsely occupied, and very good ground has recently been opened near Frankton. On the south bank of the Kawarau the terraces last alluded to are worthy the attention of new comers. The crops throughout the district are looking very well ; 1 believe the yield of wluat will average 36 to 40 bnshe's. A large breadth oi land is under plough for wheat next year, and the demand for land still continues. !Lal>or is much required, for shearing and other purposes."

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