ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 679, 2 July 1870, Page 2

ADDISON'S FLAT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 1. The late persistently wet weather has been most discouraging to the miner here as elsewhere, and in many instances serious injury to the workings has been sustained. Keating and party, it will be remembered, some time ago had their drive entirely filled in by an extraordinary freshet in the creek which rose above the mouth of the same, and necessitated almost as much labor in clearing it out as had been at first expended. Notwithstanding such serious drawbacks, however, tilings are looking tolerably well in this quarter, and the population, about 450, are mostly old identities who are going in for extended ground and leases. In fact, the number of ordinary sized claims on the Flat is now very small. Since Cwle and party opened their tail-race, of about 2000 feet, to the south side of Dirty Mary's Creek, and O'Toole's tunnel, of some 1500 feet, was put in from the same level on tbe north, several other claims have adopted the same efficacious method of working their ground; and I doubt not that in a few months the result will be such as to more than answer the expectations of the projectors of this style of working their ground. On the Westport side of the FlatFahy and party have taken up a lease for ground-sluicing on "Wilson's Lead, and Gallagher ten acres for a similar purpose on the Middle Lead.

About one mile north of O'Toole's on the Cement Lead, Robinson and party hold a lease ami have erected machinery thereou. Also two other parties have been crushing on the same lead for some time with very fair results. The chief difficulty at Addison's is in getting a sufficient fall for yroundnluiuiug pm iJiinra-, stud a, ynotl nupply of water is much needed for working the whole flat, when handsome returns might be obtained from ground which at present is quite useless. It is to be hoped, that now the Grovenirneiit are turning their attention to this valuable district more directly, and are about to commeace the road to Charleston by way of these diggings, that they will take into consideration the advisability of bringiugin the waters of theTotara to supply this want, which, with a race of not more than four miles, would afford from 20 to 30 head it is estimated.

It is an encourage me nt to see by the financial statement of the General Government, published in your yesterday's issue, thete matters brought so prominently before the House. It is proposed by the Hon. Colonial Treasurer that the sum of two hundred thousand pounds be advanced ti the Provinces for watjr supply on the Goldfields amongst other amouuts to be placed at the disposal of the Provincial institutions.

I find so much to report upon concerning this part of the Goldfields that I have not time in this letter more than to introduce my subject, but purpose in my next to go into more minute details of the workings on several claims on the Skaunock and other valuable leads.