MINING.

West Coast Times, Issue 1329, 25 December 1869, Page 3 (Supplement)

MINING.

We are still justified in writing in the same encouraging manner of the mining interest in Weotland as we did in our previous summary. New fields that we then hinted at as having been discovered, are not only that, but we .ire happy to state that population, the only thing required to develope a country, is again returning to our shores, and on the whole things generally look much more healthy than they have for some time back, inilecd, we may say that the improvement noticeable last week is confirmed. Not only are our quartz reefs an undoubted fact, but our already discovered alluvial fields are being daily added to. With the simple test of a few pounds of stone it has been placed be3'o;id a doubt that the quartz recently got is worth the attention of speculators ; indeed they are already in the field. Although the reefs already discovered are but leaders, there can be no doubt that a splendid reef exists in the body of the hill, and such is the opinion of aU the practical quartz reefers who have vWte ! the ground; but to reach thi* reef, capital is required, and unless companies are formed, it will take the unaided efforts of the miner a long time to develop the resources of the Taupo district. These leaders are, however, as we before stated, valuable in the nselves, for their gold-bearing qualities are remunerative, or what :s termed '• payable," if worked properly and systematically. Of course, the Co;t of machinery to work them, or rather the cost of placing it on the ground, would be rather heavy, but doubtless that will be obviated by means of n tramway from the reef to the li-vel country. This could be easily done, as there is plenty of timber available for the purpose. Of alluvial mining we may say that the little despondency that was shown last month in regard to the Brighton Lead has now been brightened up. Then, we were doubtful whether it was a lead or not. Now, we are sure that it is, and a good one. Since we last wrote, including the prospectors' shaft, there have been three or four shafts on either side of the tunnel opened up, and c eh of these are more 01 less payable ; indeed the lenst prospects obtained would pay wages. This has induced the whole of the ground on the terrace to be taken up in claims which extend into another terrace or spur, where gold has aleo been struck. As an instance that the miner-? mejin to give this terrace a severe test we may mention that some score of p/otections or tunnels have been applie ' for, but sis these have to run for fourteen days before work can be commenced, it will be some weeks bifore an)'thing like a fair trial of the ground can be made ; but it is the general opinion of experienced miners that a lead rqnal to any on the terrace oji the north side of the river will be discovered. The rush we alluded to in our List, situated up the Hokitika, proved a duffer ; indeed it rtever had any existence, that is, the rush was a fact, but the gold was not. A very large and extensive area of ground exists close to the Brighton lead, on a flat, and this land, which is known as the Maori Reserve, is beginning to gain favor in the eyes of mining speculators, now that gold has been discovered on the terrace. A claim on this reserve has been at work for some time, on ground which may almost be said to be auriferous, for within a hundred feet of it a pile claim was worked — but in shallow ground — this company's gound bting deep and wet. Through some unexplained cause, we belie\e the want of a proper and steady supply of water to work the company's wluel, the ground has not yet been bottomed, but that, with better appliances it could he bottomed, there is no doubt whatever. It is intended, we believe, to start another company on the reserve, with better appliances, on ground which is believed to be shallow, for the Maori Company's is supposed to be on a kind of basin, and hopes are entertained that they will succeed. The company is only in embroyo yet, but we believe it will be formed, as the promoters have been induced to do so by the fact that the strata which the Maori Company are now going through is the same as that which was met with by the parties who worked the pile claim. The southern portion of the County is progressing healthily. At Eoss the machinery is being got into place, and it is thought that the Drainage and other companies will be able to comimnce work about the middle of January, 1870. The Northern diggings are also in a satisfactory state. There is nothing very flattering to state about them further than they are at present supporting a large population. Annexed are the mining reports from the various district during the month: — (prom the weekly leader.) December 2. Mining during the week has been exceedingly dull. No new ground is reported as having been discovered, and with the exception of what is now known as the prospecting swindle, there has been no stir whatever among the mining population. With respect to the swindle, more anon. The want of rain has everywhere been much felt, and, in consequence, miners engaged in working poor ground have been, we regret to say, the reverse of well off. The rain which fell on Friday and Saturday last proved very acceptable, filling the dams of many, and was duly taken advantage of. It was, however, only a 'ransitory advantage, for although the miners in manj' instances set in to wash up on Sunday, yet the supply w.'S not nearly adequate for the purpose of putting through the whole of the accumulated washdirt. Should the present dry weather remain for any length of time, we are afraid that much suffering will be the lot of a large body of the miners, especially those who ate at a distance from the lar^e waterlaces. It is not often that we hare to record the perpetration of a mining hoax, hut we regret to say that a scandalous and most heartless affair of the kind took place last week. We allude to the prospecting claim granted vt the Kanieri to a party of men, who represented that they had disc»verel good ground some distance up the Hokitika river, towards the ranges. This statement, it has bern proved, wa- a lie from beginning to end, and had emanated fiom the diseased brain of a, drunken t-couudrel. for the purpose of being enabled to gratify his vitiated taste for drunkenness and debauchery. Sorry are we that he law has no power to punish such ra c cals as these, for although the duped men who were drawn away to this " will-o'-the-wisp" find, brought the wretched specimen of humanity down to the camp at the Kanieri, and gave him

into the custody of the police, yet, to their disgust, they next day discovered that the bird had flown, the authorities merely having taken care of him in order to prevent a breach of the peace. We would not at any time counsel men under such circumstances to take the law into their own hands, yet we cannot help expressing a feeling of disappointment that the mi-erable creature was allowed to get off scot free, as perhaps a little salutary punishment at the hands of the miners would have served as a warning to such rascals for the future. From the Taipo, and the other reefing district 0 , the news to hand is not important. At present everything is at a standstill, owing to the nonsettlement of the mining lenses. These are. however, in hand, and, we believe, only await the endorsement of the Governor to render them law ; and when such is the case, the work of proving the various reefs will be pushed ahead with alacrity. The Ross Drainage Company are rapidly getting their machinery in order, and it is expected that the beginning of the year will find everything ready to commence the work of draining ilie flat. In the placing of so much valuable machinery on the ground is shown the stability <>f the district, for no sane men would enter into so great a speculation un'es>s | they were pretty certain that the ground was payable at least. But we have, good authority for stating that it is more than payable, and that the fortunate shareholders will realise handsomely on their outlay. Further south the news is not so encouraging as could be wished, but although no new finds are reported, yet we arc informed that there is no relaxation in the marking off the -"round already in hand, which is supporting a large population. About Bruce B^y, a >d farther south, there is little information to hand, the communication between the settled districts and those places being very sparse. Sometimes for months the hardy fellows, who, may be siid to be on the outskirts of civ lisatio-i, do not see a human face with the exception of their mates, the country being so difficnlr to travel that men are deterred from ! making the attempt. However, during the present month, a visit by t!;e Waipara will be made to the southern seaboard, and although we can have no reliable information of what has transpired since she was last down south, 3'et from the information then received strong hopes may be entertained that payable gold will be discovered ere long; perhaps the ground may not be reported on her next trip, which takes place on the 15th, yet we feel pretty certain that it will be un fait accompli before many mo- ths are past. At the Brighton Lead there is nothing fresh to repot t. The claims which are held in the vicinity of the prospectors are being worked with energy, but as yet the supposed lead has not been picked up. The parties who are engaged sinking and driving are sanguine that they will be able to pick up the lead, and the general opinion is tlmt they will be successful in this matter. Accounts to hand from the old settled districts are of the most meagre description. All complain of 'he want of water, a matter which is to be regretted, living as we do in a country where water is plentiful and only waiting the advent of capital to make it a source of profit to thousands. We, as usual, append reports from the \arious districts, which will be found underneath. December 16. Mining matters are still improving, and the- record of each succeeding week shows that the future of the County will be more brilliiint than the past, has been. During the week just ended there have been no extraordinary i ushes ; there have becMi no reports of rich finds ; but from all the di>tricts comes news of a cheerful nature, and, with one exception, no disappointing intelligence has to be told. That exception is, we must confess, a very disappointing oue — it is, that Messrs Miller and Rankin, who pome weeks ago srt out under the ausi'iccs of the "Wcstlaud Prospecting Association with the hope of finding a payable field in a portion of the Arahura district hitherto untrie.l, have returned to town, and reported themselves to have been unccessful.But their report though discouraging, is nothing to be much deplored, for it must be remembered that they have only achieved a portion of the work they intend to achieve, and that they purpose returning immediately and try ngain. It is to be hoped, too, that the first failure will not cause any diminution of faith in the Prospecting Association. That association will have done a great deal of good, even if nothing more is done than ihe setting ot our doubts at rest by the knowledge obtained of the capabilities of the fields prospected. Tv ningfremttiis temporary failure, after expressing the wish that the operations of the association may not be checked, but that, as it is the pioneer of such associations, it may be the most successful, we now refer to the good ones. The Brighton Lead has, in spite of the hope deferred, turned out to be a real lead, and miners, with renewed energy, are setting in .to work. Good news has come from the Maori Reserve Company, and after all the delay and discouragements, the company is likely to be rewarded for their perseverance and energy. The worked-out beaches down south, or rather the beaches supposed to be worked out, are again attracting attention, and to one place machinery is being shipped Good news comes fiom Okarito, and there is little doubt. that erelong a large tract of country will be opened up down there. From the Greenstone comeencouraging intelligence, and a good deal of gold is being got, the miners there having the advantage of a good and cheap supply of water. At Maori Point, the find of a big nugget lias again exerted hopes in what has always been a good field. The old workings at the Waimea, Kanieri, and Totara are steadily prognssing. We do not hear so much about quartz-mining now, but there is li tie doubt that the Moonlight Ranges will soon give a return — will pay, and pay well. In other directions, prosj pecting ior reefs is going dp, and we believe that, early in the coming year, quartzmining will be a si-ttk-d, established, and wealth-bringing industiy. December 23. It is not often that we can write so trustfully on mining matters as we can on the present occasion. Notwithstanding that recent legi-lation has, by improvidence and misguided action.*, left, as it were, our miners in the lurch, yet the sturdy fellows themselves have proved equal to the emergency, and surmounted all difficulties, and they are and were not few, and have rescued the country from a state of despondency to a state of the utmost confidence, for the full effects of then' recent discoveries arc not yet generally felt, yet they are sure to come. The news of fresh gold fields being discovered here is sure to bring back a large population to our shores, wh» will only be to glad to set in when they see there is a chance of their earning something more than mere tucker. Our population is far too small ; indeed, it nvght be trebled, for the quantity of auriferous country we possess. The cry was

two years ago that the country was worked out, and that it was n > use prospect, i^ my more ; that the back country \v:is valueless, and proved to be barren of mineral. Kecent events have proved this to be a mere fallacy— a cry got up to suit the views of a few parties, probably steamboat owners and others to fill their steamers with passengers, and probably refill them with the same men in bringing them tiack. Be it as it may, the miners in times of prosperity, when they had money in their pockets, had been induced to leave the country through artifice or other, ai d it is well known now that they have been so, if we judge from the pitiful letters which came from men of known respectability in proof of our state•mont. But, to digress, the m.ist recent and most important discovery that bas been made is that which is supposed to be a continuance of ihe Brighton Lead ; we say supposed to be, because that fact is disputed, not by the many, but by the few ; but. that it is so. ive fVel almost certain ; but a week or two will prove it. It was said at first, by those who considered themselves knowing ones, that the prosppctors 1 claim on the Brighton was bit a patch, and that it. would so >n be worked out, but what has been the fact? Why, that not only have the prospectors struck gold, but half a dozen others, or el c our information is at fault, and it id like'y that ere many days more, now that the lead is properly denned, that a good many more will drop on the precious metal. Then, again, further east (about a mile and a half) of the prospectors,' another party have tapped the mine. True, it is said that their tunnel is only on a spur, but that spur runs parr.illel with the terrace, or as nearly so as possible. One thing is certain, that some men feel satisfied that there is some hopes of the continui'y of the lead, or, indeed, that perhaps a fresh lead may be discovered, from the fact that application up to 21st instant, had been made for protection to fifteen tunnels, and we hear, although we will not vouch for its truth, that the whole length of the ground, from Arthur's Towi: to Woodstock has been marked out. While we are on this subject, we may state that great hopes are entertained that the proving of the Maori Reserve Co.'s ground is nearing an end. The men have now plenty of water, and are working night and day for the purpose of getting the shaft b ttomed. At the llau Hau and Blue we have nothing new to renort ; mining is steadily progressing, v.nd we hear few complaints. '1 he Caledonia Company are proceeding steadily with tneir race, which they expect will be finished in a few months. This race commands a great deal of country known to be auriferous, but, although too poor to he worked, when the great amount of stripping is take.i into consideration, will pay excellent wages when water can be brought on to the ground. For further information regarding mining, we must refer our readers to the correspondents' letters appended.