CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 711, 15 September 1870, Page 2

CHARLESTON.

THE DARKIE'S TERRA.CE. (from a correspondent.) This terrace was first opened nearly four years ago, since which a large quantity of ground has been worked and gold obtained from the locality. A visit to the ground at once reveals the amount of labor that lias been expended—large blocks, some exceeding 300 yards, square, have been completely taken away. There are at present but four claims working—The Nile Company (Limited), Hunter and party, M'Mullin, Fox, and Gregory; Rogers and party are ground-sluicing, while the others mentioned are crushing the eetneut. Those engaged are foi" the most part doing well, although several companies are not paying the handsome dividends of twelve months back.

The Nile Company, which first commenced operations about three and a half years ago, has been long noted as one of the most payable claims in the district. Their ground consists of a five acre lease, besides the ground purchased from the Southern Cross Company. The machinery and plant are the best in the district, and consist of a very powerful water-wheel driving eight head of stampers each 4501b5. The splendid water-supply held by the company, obtained by means of a race from the Nile, some four miles up the river, places them at a considerable advantage, inasmuch as they are totally unaffected by long spells of dry weather. In addition to this, the superiority of the crushing plant, and tbe large quantity of cemeDt usually passed through the' batteries, together with the facilities possessed in raising the cement, enable good returns to be obtained from those portions of the ground which were scarcely deemed payable. The effective and economic mode of working is chiefly due to the good management of Mr Morria, who has been connected with the company in the position of manager nearly from the outset. About 500 tons of cement are crushed weekly, and the last monthly cleaning up gave a result of 450 ozs. of amalgam. Twelve men are employed in the claim, and the ground at present held will give about three yearß' employment. Hunter and party have also been engaged in this locality sinco 1800.

At that time they commenced bringing in a race from the Deep Creek, intending to carry the same on to Fenian Flat; in 1867 they extended the race to the terrace, the work from first to last entailing a cost of £1485. The race is about two miles in length. Their machinery consists of a water wheel of about eight horse-power, driving eight iron stampers of 3501b. each. About 300 tons of cement are crushed weekly, and there are ten wages men employed in addition to the three shareholders. The dividends average from £ls to £l7 weekly per shave, exclusive of £4 derived from the sals of water, making a net income of £l9 to, £2l weekly. There are fully three years' work in the claim. Mr Whiteside, one of the shareholders, bought into the claim on the Ist instant for £275. lam informed that the lengthened litigation between this company and Haines and party with respect to the right to take water irom Deep Creek, is in a fair way to be amicably settled, each party consenting to leave the dispute to arbitration. M'Mullin and party, who hold an extended claim, have also the advantage of an independent water supply. They crush about 250 tons weekly, by means of a water-wheel driving four head of stampers, each 2501b5. There are three shareholders and two wages men employed. The weekly dividends vary from £lO to £l2, and would be larger if the battery was more powerful. The cement in this claim averages 12 feet in thickness, with a prospect of 3dwts. to the load, and there is about twelve months' work in the ground. Fox and party and Gregory and party have also batteries erected, and are doing well. Fox crushes about 250 tons of cement weekly, and employs three wages men. With the exception of one or two parties ground-sluicing, the above are all the parties engaged on this terrace, although there is a vast auriferous area on this lead, as on other leads around Charleston, which will be found payable when an abundant supply of water is made available so as to admit of the ground being most economically and advantageously worked.