DEADMAN'S CREEK DIGGINGS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 325, 15 August 1868, Page 3

DEADMAN'S CREEK DIGGINGS.

A deputation of miners from Griles' Terrace, situated between the Deadman's creelc and the Orawato river, waded on the Commissioner and "Warden on the lOlh, in order t'o obtain protection over an extended area ofground until their tunnels were driven into their claims. The case was' briefly stated by Mr Coe, Mining Surveyor, and t!ie details very clearly given by one of Davis' party. The tunnels are peculiarly situated, as they all all run parallel to the line of the lead of gold, and tho tunnelling frontage provisions in the new mining regulations will not meet the requirements of tha case. Some oppose the extension, as they have themselves pegged out a portion of the ground marked off by parties who have been for the last three months driving in tunnels, and who now seek protection for the ground until they have struck gold, when they are to mark off the ordinary sized share of GOxGO feet for each man. The Warden and Commissioner appeared inclined to give such protection, but declined doing so until after survey and a full hearing of the case in Court. Mr Coe proceeded to the ground last evening, ar.d will make a full detaded survey of all, after which the case is to be in open court. The ground is the richest that has yet been struck in the neighbourhood, the prospects tried being fully equal to the best ground on the Caledonian lead, or over £3O per week per man after all expences. The lead has been struck at both ends, viz. the Deadman's creek and Orawate ends beween these two points, about 150 men aro at work, about one half the tunnels going in from tho Orawiti and the remainder from the Deadman's creek, Three distinct leads, almost parallel to each other have been struck, tho second thirty feet below tho firs and the third twentyf below that again. Most of the tunnels are now between three and four hundred feet in.