CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 409, 21 November 1868, Page 7

CHARLESTON.

Business people complain of the dulness of the times, but such a fact can scarcely be taken as a decline in property, but the reverse, as the mining community are so occupied bytheir own pursuits, in consequence of the fine weather, that they have no time to lounge about the precincts of the town. The harbour is still free of shipping. The "Waipara is looked for with some interest, her suitableness for the requirements of this port making her a favourite with the mercantile community. Several applications for extended ground on the Old Town Lead, for ground-sluicing it into the bay, are now before the Court. This lead is nearly all occupied in large claims.

On the Deep Lead, Groenslay find party, who are ground sluicing, arc averaging about £lO per man weekly. Kelly and party and Gordon and party are each averaging from £2o to £"jo per man weekly. Henderson and party have go!. their water in, and are now putting in a tunnel for a tail race, and will shortly bo ready to commence groundsluicing. This is a claim which is much prized and will be a long and. doubtless, profitable undertaking. On Victoria Terrace,- Mace and party aro now crushing, and, from the appearance of the plat«s, there is every reason to believe they have finally succeeded in opening valuable ground. Parsons and party are erecting a new wheel, and expect to commence crushing shortly. This claim i 3 paying good wages. Woodcock and party are also erecting a new wheel. On Argyle Terrace, Allen and party are earning good wages. Cruce and party—this ground, after being abandoned, i 3 again taken up, and is now paying satisfactorily. Alex. Thompson and party's claim is yielding handsome returns, and, from the well-known character of the ground, will doubtless continue to do so for a long time. Amateur's party —this claim is paying very good wages. Hill and party — some new ground on a spur close by the old claim, is now being worked ; the last washing produced handsome returns. Kelly's old claim—the party who have taken up this claim have brought water in, and will be ready for crushing in a few clays.