THE SHAMROCK LEAD.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 581, 16 November 1869, Page 3

THE SHAMROCK LEAD.

(from our own correspondent.) Unless it be in the purchase and disposal of scrip among the various shareholders in the companies on this Lead, there is but little to report in the way of work being done. Indeed, the number of transactions in the share-market must be limited also, as no quotations of even nominal prices can be heard alluded to. A brief outline of a few of the claims and their doings may, however, be readable, and may go some way to prepare speculators' minds for future reports, prior to the great rush of stock-brokers, jobbers, and stock exchanges, all of which may some day, let us hope, be established in the Buller district. First in the order of companies, claims, or grants, is the Shamrock Gold Mining Company, known as Howe and party's, which consists of a grant of ten acres. This company has been at work nearly six months. They have a 25-feet water-wheel, which works an 8-inch lift pump. This they procured from Melbourne at an expense of £l2O, and it has been at work for nearly two months, having during that time had a tremenduous quantity of water to contend against, which, however, it has mastered, and they have been able to bottom their working shaft. They are nearly ready to open out the prospecting drive, and they have great hopes of striking it "right," as some pretty good stutf was seen when they first tapped the water. This party have shown a great amount of energy and perseverance in their work from the first, especially Howe and King, who are the originators of it. No 1, south of the Shamrock Company, is Gallagher's, or the Excelsior Company, consisting of a seven acre grant. It is also six months since this ground was taken up, but no work of any kind has been done on the claim to the present. They will have splendid prospects if the Shamrock Company once strike it. No. 2 South is Clare and party or the Golden Hope Company whose ground consists of seven acres also. This party have been doing a good deal of prospecting in the immediate vicinity, but with no success. It is nearly six months since this claim was taken up, and they are making a start.

No. 3 South is Booke and party or the Homeward Bound Company. They have the same number of acres, which were taken up four months ago. Prospecting has been done by this party on the other side of the Totara Eiver, but with no success, and they are now to make a start with the lease. No. 4 South is Barkly's Caledonian Company, of the same extent, and taken up about the same time as No. 3, but there is as yet no appearance of any work having been done on it. There is a good chance of testing this piece of ground by means of a tunnel. No. 1 North is Doherty and Mulligan's Emerald Company, taken up six months ago. These six claims mentioned are all on new ground, and, with the exception of one party, all may be said to be shepherding as yet. One would think there is need for amendment in the Leasing Regulations under such circumstances. Coming now to the claims that are taken up on the abandoned ground, which had been partly worked, No. 2, north of the Shamrock Company, is Sogers and party's Britannia Q-old Mining Company, working seven acres, and taken up six or seven weeks ago. The manager in this claim has been taking levels and doing other necessary works for the purpose of bringing in a tunnel to drain the ground. The length of the tunnel will be between two and three thousand feet.

No. 3 North is Dees and party's Ballarat Company, whose ground has been taken up about a month. No. 4 North is M'Laren and party's

Thistle Company. In the seven acres there is included their original claim, and there is also a claim of two men's ground, belonging to Rogers and Peters, known as the Cuckoo party. M'Laren and party are getting on a good deal faster with their tunnel than was expected, although one of them met with an accident a few weeks ago by falling down a shaft, thus reducing their number to six men. It is now about eight weeks since they started, and their tunnel is in nearly 1100 feet. When completed it is expected to be 3000 feet long. Dees and party have amalgamated with M'Laren and party in the tunnel, and are to do a portion of 1000 feet. This work is one which ought to have been done for the Shamrock Lead at the opening of it, but no one party would make a start, for the reason that shepherding is much more desirable to some than working. Dees and party are at work now, bringing up a portion of the tunnel, but they have had a great deal of water to contend with. Thomas's party have been driving for the upper lead. In my next, I hope to be able to report more activity and less shepherding.