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Messrs. Ewing and McConochie have also a claim in this locality, which they are working by hydraulic elevating, the material being lifted about 16ft. They were formerly working ground in private property belonging to Mr. Butler, but as a satisfactory arrangement could not be made with the proprietor for future working, they purchased some ground in the gully below where Messrs. Hesson and Simmonds' claim is situated for £450, and at the time of my visit were engaged in washing up a portion of the sluiced ground. From the prospects shown me, taken from the washdrift, this ground ought to pay very well for working. The supply of water is, however, limited; they have to rent a supply-race belonging to Dr. Hyde, which came from the Old Man Eange. The ground is shallow, it being only about from 6ft. to Bft. in depth, and the gold is confined to a thin layer of wash-drift on the bed-rock, which is of a very soft nature, and easily cleaned up with the sluicing-nozzle by blowing the whole of the material with the water forward to the elevator. Mount Ida. This is a large district (which includes Naseby, Kyeburn, Hamilton, Blackstone Hill, and St. Bathans), and one where the gold-workings are carried on by hydraulic sluicing, with the exception of three or four men, who are engaged in working quartz lodes. There is a large area of auriferous country in this district; but the number of claims that can be worked is limited by the quantity of water that can be brought on to command the ground. The whole of the small creeks and tributaries that are near the places where gold-workings are situate are utilised and brought in to work the ground ; but in many parts of the district the small drop of water available is totally inadequate to carry on mining operations to the best advantage. Naseby. The last season being exceptionally wet, and the alterations which were made in the Mount Ida Water-race, has given the miners a steady and liberal supply of water, and they have done fairly well; still, at the same time, the ground is very poor, and, it being in most parts very shallow, the miners either have not the means, or they do not see their way, to place an efficient plant on the ground. As year by year passes by, improvements are, however, made in the methods of works, and, although these progress slowly, they are steadily gaining ground, and the miners find that with a good plant they can make their claims pay much better. At Speck Gully there are seven or eight claims being worked, and, of these, the holders of six of them are using water from the Mount Ida Water-race. One of the claims is held by Mason and Donnelly, who have rented Hit-or-Miss Water-race, which is brought in at the highest level on the field, and these men may be said to have the best plant for hydraulic sluicing on the field. Their main line of pipes are llin. in diameter, and, having a fair supply of water and a considerable head with moderately shallow ground, a large area is washed away in twelve months. These men have gold-saving tables at the end of their sluice, which, they find, saves a large percentage of the gold which otherwise would be lost. The same party have a claim in the bottom of this gully, which they were working a few years ago with a hydraulic elevator ; but they have done no work here for a long time, as they find that the shallow ground on the face of the range pays them better. Home Gully. —The principal working in this gully is carried on by Chinese. The most of the land in this gully is freehold, and some of the Chinese have purchased small portions of Mr. Joseph Creighton's property, at the rate of £20 per acre. There is, however, very little fall for tailings in this gully, and therefore mining operations are limited. Hogburn, or Main Gully. —There are a number of claims being worked into the Main Gully, and some of them have paid well for working. The Extended and Dead Level Companies have done very well last year. The Dead Level Company are working the bed of the gully, and elevating the material about 16ft., with water from the Undaunted Water-race. A continuous supply flows into a dam which the company has constructed at the head of Home Gully, and, by having this dam, a fair supply of water is obtained for about eight hours per day to work their claim. Roach's Gully. —This is a small gully in the Township of Naseby which had been worked in the early days, but no one for many years ever thought of prospecting it any further. About two years ago this ground was taken up by Messrs. Gufiie and Indor, and a hydraulic elevating plant put on the ground. The claim is now nearly worked out, but, during my recent visit here, one of the shareholders informed me that it had paid them £100 per month for the time they had been at work, clear of all expenses. Wet Gully. —There are four claims being worked in this gully, but, as far as can be ascertained, the ground is far from being rich. Enterprise Terrace. —There are four parties of miners at work, and if these claims can be made to pay there is work in this locality for many years. The ground is from 30ft. to 50ft. in depth, and with a good head of water ought to be made to pay very well for working. The quantity of water used is, however, very small. The miners in this locality have not been accustomed to use a large head, for the reason that the water has not hitherto been available. Some new ground was opened up last year by Messrs. Wheeler and Fennessy Brothers at the Idaburn, on the upper side of the Mount Ida Water-race. This party purchased the right of two heads of water, which Perry and party held from the Idaburn, for £150, and got the right to lift one head instead of two, and shift the head of their race about four miles higher up the creek than where the water was originally lifted. This ground was prospected by Mr. Wheeler during the time repairs were being made to the Mount Ida Eace, and, as far as can be ascertained, the ground is paying very well. Another claim has recently been taken up in this locality, but there will be a difficulty in getting water to work it. There is a considerable area of auriferous ground between this and Hill's Creek. Gold was got many years ago at the Little Idaburn, below the Mount Ida Eace, and there is a great probability

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