CALEDONIAN

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 308, 27 July 1868, Page 2

CALEDONIAN

(FROM OUR OWS CORRESPONDENT,) On yesterday evening the Revd. Mr Thorpe held divine service at the Alliance hotel. The different claims continue to progress satisfactorily. That of Bartihwaite and party is being worked ou the same lead of gold as yet, this run will be shortly worked out ; they purpose making another lead available in the same claim.

Marshall and party's claim is turning out one of the richest on the terrace and will amply repay them for the dug period spent in looking for the run of gold. Steel and party, have also a very goo.l claim next Marshall* and party, and it is a high paying claim though not so rich as their neighbours. At German terrace, Langrish and party have their crushing-machine completed. South of the Arowaite three tunnels ai-e being put in, and they have sanguine hoj>es of coming on a fair run of gold. At Giles' terrace there is no news of importence, since my last. Davis and party have not, as yet, struck the lead of gold, their tunnel has become very wet, but they are in hourly expectation of reaching the run of gold. Two stores are erected on the top of the terrace, and a butcher and baker's shop. Quite a tow r nship has sprung up in a short time, and it is quite astonishing, how quickly a little gold creates a towuisbip. Perry and party iu the fifth claim are getting on very quickly with their tunnel and it will be very shortly in the supposed distance of the lead of gold. At Deadman's some new parties have arrived, and are about opening fresh ground. Simon and party have not as ye,t come on the run of gold, .but are hourly hoping to do so. M'Farlane and party, have got in about one hundred feet with their tunnel, which is very good progress, notwithstanding the great difficulty experienced in penetrating the ground. Barry and party are working about a mile further up, and are makiug about £lO a w r eek. A few men are at work down the creek, near the old workings in the bush, and are making small wages, some of the parties engaged on the beach are doing very well, but they are familiarwith every gully and rivulet between Deadmans and the Waimangaroa.

A party left Westport for this quarter, a few weeks since, but I have been unable to learn their whereabouts, or whether they have been successful in their;first attempt at digging. The late rains have been in no wav attended with any disastrous result"; at the Caledonian, in fact, water is of an advantage—on this ground—as the

the several 'clamis are enable to have it running by their heap of wash dirt, and if this dirt had to be carted to wate the ground would not of

course return the same amount of money it at present does. The Otago fields have suffered much for want of water, and there is plenty of ground in Otago which would not pay in consequence of not being in a neighborhood to procure a head of water. In consequence of the German terrace men not being able to be present at the Amateur Concert, in aid of the hospital at the Caledonian last weak,

i they purpose making arrangements for an Amateur Concertand Theatrical, in Mr David Barries store, —on the terrace—for the Westport Hospital, and from the way they are taking it in hand I think they will place Gernian terrace in a prominent position amongst the list of subscriptions to the institution, the assistance of the Caledonian Amateurs will of course be obtained, but I think there is a little local talent on German terrace, both vocal and instrumental, and we wish them every success. At the Caledonian Terrace things are just the same as usual, a Casino is about being opened and several balls are talked of"

Every person is speaking about the track which remains in the same state, and 1 see very little probability of its being open for the public this month, and if things go on as they are at present, it will not be finished for a month to come. This is hard on the packers. I saw a horse whoso forelegs were for some inches deprived of

skin by the old track, and after such a time has elapsed, one would have thought wc would be near having a passable track, but from the aspect of matters at present, it is very probable we may go from bad to worse. When an overseer had charge of the work, it was certainly the chief part of his duty to see that it was performed according to specification, and nut have money fruitlessly expended both by the contractor and the Government. The tide on Wednesday night covered the small island in the cent re of the Orawaite lagoon, and rose about two fort deep at Molony's house, at the commencement of the track leading into the bush.