THE NORTHERN TERRACES

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 653, 3 May 1870, Page 2

THE NORTHERN TERRACES

(from a correspondent.) At the Fairdown, Hurst and party are ground sluicing. The claim is not paying much at present, as they are not far enough into the Terrace. Whyte and party have driven ahout 300 feet through the reef, and broke into gravel on Saturday. They have a little gold, but not yet sufficient to pay. They expect, after driving another 60 feet or so to strike the gold heavier. Further north about three quarter of a mile, after passing through a belt of bush and over a high terrace, Smith and party are at work. They have a half acre grant, and are sawing timber to flume water, but it will likely be six weeks before any returns are expected. They are, however, sanguine of the ground paying well in time. Another party are about starting from Hatter's Terrace to prospect between Smith and party's workings and the Waimongoroa river. That part of the country has been very little prospected and looks equally likely ground as many of the terraces nearer town.

On Christmas Terrace matters are somewhat dull. Emanuel and party, Dunn's claim, and M'G-owan's are all worked out. • The only remaining claims are those of Chambers and party, Pennyfather's, and Grant's, which are paying well and will likely continue to pay for some time yet. On Hatters Terrace M'Master and party are ground sluicing There are several other spurs which will most likely be worked should M'Master's claim be know to be payable. In Hatter's Creek and Deadman's Creek several parties are engaged washing tailings, and making small wages. On the North East Terrace, O'Shannassey and party are now working Cato's old claim, and they have got a little gold and mean to prosecute their search some time longer. Young's party are working there also and are making good wages. They have had consderable trouble with their ground, having to draw their wash dirt up an incline of 60 or 70 feet by means of a winch. "Were it not for the difficulty of working this claim, it would be one of the best paying in the district. Stewart and party have struck gold and had their first washing, with reported first.ciass results. Tho next to theirs is the Boatman's party, also doing well. Naisraith, Deegan, and

party are reported to have the best claim on Rochfort Terrace. Mee's claim is next to that and paying handsomely, also Barrowinan's claim is likely to turn out better than their first expectations and is now said to be yielding well, Soveral miners are prepared to prospect the abandoned ground on Hatter's Terrace if a doable urea will be granted them. They will not commence otherwise, as they would have a long distance to drive. It is the general opinion this right should be conceded, for the present extent is too limited to pay their preparatory labor and other expenses. On the Ruby Lead, the original prospectors are the only party working and are earning small returns. Then* were glowing accounts from this lead six months ajro, and shares changed hands at exorbitant prices, but alas, this picture by a local poet, is too correct : " The Euby Lead, the Ruby Lead, Where Charley Webb his bubble blew, Where Crapper made the false one bleed, And Smith the long bow deftly drew. Eternal " pug" surrounds it yet, And poor Jack West can't raise a wet."