THE CALEDONIAN LEAD.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 148, 21 January 1868, Page 2

THE CALEDONIAN LEAD.

These diggings are still progressing, and the storekeepers are busily engaged in erecting stores, but both them and the miners complain bitterly of the heavy charge made for packing —lss per cwt or £2O per ton—occasioned by the wretched condition of the track. No new holes have been bottomed since our last report, but one of the claims on the new terrace has struck a second bottom at the depth of 70 feet, the prospects of which are very good. On the terrace north of the creek that separates the new terrace from the old Caledonian workings, Watson and party are down about 25 feet, and expect to bottom in about eight or ten days. There are from twelve to fourteen tunnels being driven in from the northern face, of this terrace, but it is expected that it would not be proved for a month. The washing resembles that of the Hau-hau diggings, and it is the opinion of the miners located here that the Caledonian will turn out to be the richest diggings in the Province. The old Caledonian Lead still continues to yield handsome returns and the prospectors sent down a heavy parcel of gold to the Union Bank on Monday. The claims of Farrell and party, the Welshman and party, Braithwaite and party, adjoining the prospectors, are all yielding handsomely. On the Cornish or Middle Terrace, saven claims are in active operation, all paying good wages, and tunnels are going in in every direction. In the next terrace to the German Terrace are seven tunnels, some of which are paying very good returns. A shaft is also "•oing down in the Pakihi, near the German Terrace, which will be bottomed in a few days. The whole of the ground leivveen the German Terrace and the Caledonian is taken up, and prospectors are busy at work on every spur and terrace in this neighborhood.