ADDISONS FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 306, 24 July 1868, Page 2

ADDISONS FLAT.

(PBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. I am glad to inform you that the claims at the north end of the Shamrock lead still continue to maintain their richness, especially that of Sherlock, Linehan and party who average from nine to twelve ounces of gold per day, to a party of five and two wages men. The other party adjoining, average from eight to ten pounds per week per man. I am sorry to say that the extended claims to the south, on the Shamrock lead are probably not in the line of the lead. The claim holders in their sinkings followed the line of workings north of them, which are on good gold, but it is feared that some of the spurs from the ranges must have diverted the course of the lead, as after sinking about thirty feet some of the parties procured boring tubes and sunk them some twenty feet further, lifting the stuff from the interior with an iron jumper; this is certainly an unfair test to the ground, as the boring apparatus is only about three inches internal diameter. Some of the parties -jtill continue their sinking but Barry and party are preparing to sink further out into the flat, and likely others will soon follow their example, as the j ■

richness of the lead at the North end is so great as to encourage them to much further exertion, and the Addisou men have already proved that they are not easily discouraged; however a damper has b-jeu given to applications for further extended claims on the Shamrock until the exact position of the lead is determined. On Addison's generally the' usuas activity is undiminished, the late rainl not having inuohr affectei their operations.

A " good few " are at present leaving Addison's, some for Auckland, and others for Queensland, but the majoritv for Nelson creek on the Grey, which was thought to have been worked out two years ago ; the Creek has I understand actually been so, but some very rich ground is reported to have been struck in its terraces, thus proving that our whole Province is one vast gold-field and only requires developing.

Within about three miles from Westport, on the Nelson road, and about three-quarters of a mile fromthe junction with Addison's, some parties having discovered the bed-rock cropping out, drove in a hole about three feet in diameter and only twelve feet in, and took firm it fire and a half penny weihgts of gold by cradling. Their appliances are all on the ground yet, as finding the bed-rock to dip they abandoned the place, while if it was given a fair trial it would be sure to pay, as unquestionably the reef will soon be found to rise again when gold is sure to be again struck, as the overlying formation is alluvial drift consisting of large boulders and considerable gravel, and a stream of water with a rapid fall in it runs within

a few yards of the spot. I venture to predict that this ground will not be I long unworked, when we shall have the diggings at our very doors. A prospecting party under the leadership of " Mickey French " who keeps the ferry on the Big Ourki on the south hank of the Buller, and about ten miles up from Westport, have been out for the last fortnight on the uorth side of the Buller and have struck coarse payable gold two miles above the Ourki, or twelve miles from Westport. They are now about to lay in two months' provisions, and set in in earnest to work. Birds are very plentiful —kiwi pigeous, &c, and to use their own words, they live "like fighting cocks." This is the nearest point to Westport that the diggings have approached, the next being 22 miles up, or about two miles above the Blackwater, where Lovell and party set in a couple of months ago, and finding good coarse and scaly, as well as shotty and fine gold, have built a comfortable winter-

house, and are doing well, having supplied themselves with hose and other sluicing apparatus for working the ground. The stripping is about six feet, and the whole sinking about fourteen. They put all the stuff through their boxes. Their success will, I have no doubt, tempt others to try up the Buller. The ferry that existed at Hawk's Crag, near the Blackwater, has been abandoned, and now parties going up the Buller have to go about three miles round by the old track, which one hundred yards of ferry wouM save. It is to be hoped that as the Commissioner has now returned this great evil will be remedied, and the grant for the improvement of the Buller and Nelson road be spent in making it passable, as a good road up the Buller will have a material influence on the opening up of the country, and the prosperity of the town. I understand the Commissioner has the matter under consideration, and it is to be hoped that he will soon put the necessary road parties on, as at present from slips, growth of scrub, &c, &c, the road is all but impassable, and a few hundreds judiciously spent would make it a good road for pack-horses, leave the miners and merchants independent of the fitful pranks of the Buller and its dangerous snags, and materially reduce the cost of provisions, which comes so heavy on prospecting parties before they have struck gold, the carriage alone being now twenty pounds per ton.