CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 705, 1 September 1870, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

THE BACK LEAD. (from a correspondent.) August 30. These workings have proved no exception to the rule applicable to the majority of diggings, aud, after a shortterra of extraordinary bustle and activity, they have subsided into a quiet but steady field, affording employment to a small proportion only of the population oncelocated there,butat the same time those now engagedare obtaining very satisfactory results. The claims now at work are the Maori Chief, Enterprise, Excelsior, Cosmopolitan, Dublin City, Jolliffe and party, Hurley and party,two claims known as O'Brien and party, Carroll and party, Brennan and patty, Harris and party, aud Pratt and party. The present population of the locality is about 120, while when opened, about three and a-half years ago it cannot have been less than 1500. Some conception of thoaltcred condition of the workings may also be gathered from the circumstance that about three years ago Mr Harry Mnnn constructed a tramway from Charleston to the Back Lead, at a cost of £I6OO, and now the line is being pulled up, the sleepers &e. having been disposed of to Messrs M'Carthy, Murray, and Smith, of the Town Lead. When the tramway was laid down the

road to the workings was very indifferent, but the Government have long ago constructed an excellent road which is maintained in good repair, and the tramway has in consequence been but little used.

The decrease in the mining population has necessarily led to a corresponding reduction in business places and resorts of amusement; a butcher, a blacksmith, two restaurant keepers, and one hotel keeper, are the sole representatives of the many business people, who wero once so closely crowded together that there was barely room to turn a horse in the main thoroughfare. The returns of gold do not, however, show a decrease corresponding to the falling off of population. The ground has fallen into fewer hands and is, without doubt, more economically and advantageously worked, but T will give you a detailed account of the various mining companies, the mode and cost of working and returns obtained in a future letter. A share in the Maori Chief Gold Mining Company was disposed of today for £4OO.