left the Cross on Thursday.  The Newcastle mail was then three days
overdue.  Much indignation is expressed in Southern Cross at the delay in
the receipt of the mails.

There has been abundance of rain on the fields.

Alluvial gold is still being found.

Another reef has been discovered two miles south-west of the Central
claim.  It has been taken up by some new arrivals.  All is going well.

FRASER'S GOLD MINING COMPANY.

Yesterday, a report was received from Captain Oats, mining manager of the
above company at Southern Cross, and dated 13th inst. Captain Oats states
as follows: — "The boiler will be finished to-morrow, excepting the fixing
of screw caps, which I hope are on the way up.  I also want a brass
lubricator to inject kerosene into boiler, or any other neutralizer of
salt; the cost is about 10 s. I want to take proper precautions to prevent
a repetition of the past.  It will take us all next week to make ready for
a successful start.  I might have been a few days sooner but kept the cost
as near as possible the sum you mentioned to me.  I have horse-feed to
hold another week, but understand Mr Simpson contracted with Adams for a
quantity, some of it not yet delivered.  I hope the rail bars are ordered,
to finish tramway, as until this is done I shall be obliged to haul the
ore in dray at a cost of 25s. per day.  Our own horses will be fully
employed at other work.  The tramming ore on rail will only cost 10s. per
day.  I put three men to work on Fraser's shaft last Monday.  Find
considerable preliminary work required there.  I will send my report to
the directors next post, with pay-sheet, &c.  I quite understand your
anxiety to start battery.  I have only had charge a fortnight.  There is
considerable work yet to do to satisfy me, but you may depend the best
shall be done.  We had little rain early in the week, increasing the water
in the dam two inches.  Please attend to lubricator promptly."

ALLUVIAL GOLD AT SOUTHERN CROSS.

Our correspondent writes to us under date Southern Cross.  June 12: — Last
week quite a little rush to a new alluvial patch set in at the Cross.  The
ground is situate about two miles south-west of the townsite.  It was
found by a party of new arrivals, who are reported to be making 2
pennyweights to the 50lb bag of dirt.  Other parties are out prospecting,
and we hope to hear of something good and extensive in alluvial being
found this winter.  Continual rains are the new order of things up here
now, and water is abundant everywhere.