CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 728, 25 October 1870, Page 3

CHARLESTON.

(PHOM OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.) Oct. 23.

During tbe last fortnight things here have been remarkably quiet, and the disastrous accounts of affairs in Europe are occupying the minds of all classes. Throughout the diggings in this locality a better supply of water is giving a brisker aspect to the more permanent workings, and business peo; 1 are looking to do a steady trade for many years to come. On the once rich beaches which

caused the first influx of miners to

these parts, the surface sea deposits are still being turned over with payable results. In Constant Bay, which, unfortunately, is daily becoming more confined by the banking up of tailings ever being discharged into it from the Town Lead, there are one or two parties still engaged ; while at the Quartermile Beach three or four more are making fair wages with greater anticipations before'them, when Messrs Christenson and Stewart have completed their work of bringing in water over the Nile, thus affording a constant supply. The next scene of operation, travelling towards the Totara, is the Ninemile, better known, by parties engaged there, however, as Fred Hall's Beach, which has at present 10 or 12, exclusively hatters, working in tho usual manner; supplied with water from Mr Rail's extensive dam, which, since its enlargement six months ago, has never furnished, during the driest weather, less than from 8 to 10 black sand heads. It is let by the proprietor to the parties at a rental of 15s per head weekly; and with twelve hours'work per diem, they are making from £2 15s to £4< 5s weekly. This is belowthe average, but they hope, with the next westerly gales, the wash will be considerably enriched by the action of the rolling Burf.

Iniiaediately beyond this, passing the Race-course, Mr Harle, the proprietor of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, Charleston, is supplying water to seven or eight more at £1 per week, but at the present time these parties are doing very little, there being too much grey sand to contend with. The expense of bringing in this water to the beach has been extreme. The race waa originally the property of Taylor and party, but has been considerably extended by the present holder, who became the purchaser in April last. It is altogether more than four miles in length, and commences 3f miles east of Brown's Terrace. After supplying Hutchinson and Kelly, at this point, it is further extended miles on to the beach ; the prospectors, another party between, also making use of a portion of its waters.

The fluming, along the beach is one mile in length, and in the main race there is about three-quarters more of timber construction.

A feature yet worthy of note, in connection with the above, whereby the precious supply is stored, and a uniformity of quantity ensured, is the chain of lagoons, between Brownlie's paddock on the north and Green's garden on the south, (at the back of the sand hills,) which form a natural reservoir, a connecting channel having been cut between the same for this purpose.

Very fair prospects, I hear, have been found on the north side again of the Totara, and it is to bo hoped that the time Mr Jack Loriog—formerly of the Ferry—expended in fetching in a water supply, but was so unfortunate in getting his clam constructions swept away, will have some good effect e'er long. There is little doubt, that as water is afforded, the beach diggings will be correspondingly extended; and from the industry of the few I have referred to, as engaged between this and the principle sea port, no insignificant quantity of gold is thus contributed to the fortnightly escort.