PELORUS GOLD FIELDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1230, 3 May 1864, Page 5

PELORUS GOLD FIELDS.

LATEST FROM THE WAKAMARINA. The Marlborough Press of April 12th, states as follows:— We are now happy to be able to furnish the announcement that tlie Superintendent brought down with him last night some " four pounds and a-half weight" of the precious metal, which had been submitted to his care by Mr. Wilson, and the whole of which had been obtain'ed from his claim during last week. We had the opportunity of inspecting this important sample, which (faijifig the Bank, at Picton, consenting to the rate of payment thought adequate by the finders), will, we understand, be lodged with the bank to the credit of the finders. The sample of gold now brought down is a very good one, being somewhat light in appearance, but still, apparently, of a very superior quality. The special correspondent of the same paper, writing on April 17, gives the subjoined account:— I write this evening from the tent of Mr. Wilson and party, to whose civility I am much indebted since my arrival here about noon to-day. During yesterday evening up to a late hour there were continual arrivals of intended diggers both from Nelson and various parts of our own Province, many of these being well provided with provisions and every requisite for camping at once availed themselves of their effects and selected a good spot. Notwithstanding the number of various camps, Wilson's Accommodation-house was as full as it well could be, numerous parties continually arriving, who, having come with the intention of staying during the night, had not prepared themselves for any emergency, and were only too thankful to get a shakedown anywhere. A more jovial party than the one that met together at Wilson's last evening could hardly be imagined, and the activity and energy displayed by tlie Host and Hostess in providing continual suppers were almost miraculous. I may remark that Mr. Wilson himself was at home, having left his claim to the working of his other mates, as the rush that was taking place absolutely necessitated his presence at home.

As may readily be expected, it was getting pretty late, or more properly speaking, early the next morning, before all comers had retired to rest, whilst day had commenced to break before many who were anxious to start were up and about, making energetic enquiries when breakfast would be forthcoming.

On coming down stairs, and taking a look outside, 1 found numbers already packing up their swags, in order to be ready to start with as little delay as possible, whilst streaming down the rise just before arriving at Wilson's came a party of six or eight wellknown faces from Picton side, already accoutred, and 011 their march for the Wakamarina.

A few minutes longer, and the welcome intelligence that breakfast was ready greeted our ears ; after partaking of which, as little delay as possible was allowed to elapse ere a party of five or six

of us hhoiildei'i ii our i.wh;,n jiii'l proceeded on our way. Arriving at the crossing place, we immediately, according to previous directions, took a track into the bush, 011 the left hand side—the information that we received at stiirting being to the effect that we could hardly (40 wrong, as there had been so many already ahead of us that a good track was perceptible for the greater portion of the distance, considered by Mr. Wilson to beabout five miles to thefirst claims

All along our route, at repeated intervals, we were met by other parties, most of them returning for provisions, being well satisfied with the prospects they had made, and having secured claims, left some of their mates upon them whilst they returned to the nearest spot they could obtain provisions from, which at the present time would be either Blenheim or Picton, the store at Hn velock being but poorly supplied for an occasion like this, as the cutter Thames, from Nelson, hourly expected, had not yet made her appearance. About half way we came across a party of four or five, who, on a nearer approach, proved to be wellknown faces to most of us from Nelson, among whom was Mr. Hibbel, just returning from the field (whence he had been sent specially by the Examiner) having arrived on the previous day. Each of the party had good specimens to show us, which they had in every instance procured themselves merely by fossicking about for a few hours; their report was a most satisfactory one, and I have little doubt that the next issue of the Examiner will induce a still larger influx of population here from the Nelson Province, notwithstanding the fact of the diggings progressing much more favourably at present than they have been doing lately at the West Coast.

We at length arrived at the first camps on the river, about one o'clock, having been travelling over a portion of what to some of us proved excruciating, country, since leaving Wilson's about eight. The fact of our finding the route such an arduous one, deserves some explanation, as it would otherwise lead some who have not as yet been here, but who may intend coming, to the belief that what Mr. Wilson stated in his letter to the Superintendent, published in a recent issue of the Murlborongh Press, about the facilities afforded by the country, was an exaggeration. Such, however, is not the case, as I can readily explain by stating that, in order to feel quite sure of our whereabouts we were induced to follow the river much closer than we should have done, sometimes getting down into it (which has uncommonly steep banks in some parts), by following one or other of the multitudinous footpaths which we used to come across, and which were probably made by parties like ourselves, who never having been to the diggings before, in their great anxiety to prove cautious in not going astray, gave themselves a far longer journey than they need have done, and consequently a much more arduous one; for, believe me, it is no easy travelling for a fellow, out of wind, perhaps not having walked two miles at a stretch for the last six months, to go climbing up and down gullies and creeks, with, perchance, a swag on his back, no matter how light, and having to make use of his hands and knees, progressing much more like some four-footed quadruped than a two-legged biped, now and then clumsily tripping over a stick, and precipitating himself headlong forward for a few yards in an excessively ludicrous, although by no means pleasant manner; his swag taking a summersault over his head, causing some assistance before he can be stood up straight again, with a chance of being tlirottled in the meantime by New Zealand flax, or some other equally useful appendage by which your swag may be fastened.

Were I only competent to give a graphic description of the many absurdities and ludicrous positions which some of the staidest of our party were obliged to occasionally assume, I could doubtless afford considerable amusement to some of my readers; but as there are two good,reasons to prevent my doing so, namely want of ability and candour—one not feeling at all inclined to raise a laugh at one's own expense, I shall refrain from doing so, and suffice it to say, that some of our party returned back about halfway, having had quite enough of it and being greeted with the pleasing intelligence, when they thought they were just approaching the end of the journey, that they had as least four miles yet to go. In justice to those who did return, however, I must say that they were obliged by business to get back to Wilson's that night, and they saw little prospect of doing so should they proceed onwards.

On arriving at the first claims I separated from my hitherto companions, who were bent upon proceeding further up the river, as there appeared but little chance of obtaining a claim for some miles further. Mr. Wilson had kindly directed me to his camp with an intimation that I should be very welcome there, and I at once proceeded to it, and after doing a little refreshment, and taking a slight rest I went with one of the Mr. Rutlands, forming a member of Wilson's party, to have a look about me, and in order to glean what information I could.

This being Sunday there were uot very many at work, but here and there in the bed of the river, parties might be observed "panning" a dish or two, and in every instance that I remarked, there was always a good show of color, and sometimes as much as about half a pennyweight to the dish.

The river about this spot, is, I should think, about sixty yards across, and below Wilson's claim a natural bar extends nearly across it, some twenty or thirty yards in length, composed of boulder stones. Almost down to the water's edge the banks of the river are very thickly wooded, the timber principally being totara, rimu, and various descriptions of trees intermixed with a good deal of fern and leafy foliage. Up to the time of my arriving at the Wakamarina, and even know, it can hardly be said that the river has really commenced to be washed, for, with the exception of a few of the residents of the neighborhood, and perhaps one or two others, none of the parties that intend remaining have had time to actively commence operations, as the few days, and in many cases hours, that they have been here, have been uniformly devoted to prospecting and marking out claims. Commencing at Wilson's, for there are not many claims as yet taken up below it, some faint idea may be ascertained of the number of diggers already on the ground, when I state that claims have been marked out in every available spot for at least six miles up the river, although some say much further, and I feel sure that I am within the mark in stating the above distance; therefore, it becomes necessary for any fresh arrivals to continue proceeding still higher up, and it becomes perfectly impossible to form anything like an accurate idea at the present time of the population now on the diggings, as many a score there are, doubtless, who go up without ever passing by this spot at all.

With very few exceptions, I have heard little or no grumbling from any of the diggers about here, as prospect wherever you will, you are almost certain to get the color, and in some instances a pennyweight or two to the dish

Wilson's claim is, I believe, about the best near this spot, but I hear of others above who are doing still better. Still I think lam pretty safe in saying that this party has got as yet the largest quantity of gold that has been taken out. Their last week's work, and there were one or two half days that they were not workieg, was about 4£ pounds weight. They are working with a " torn," and got a very fair average, sometimes as much as two pennyweights to the bucket.

Opposite them, on the other side of the river, Mr. S. Robinson, a son of the Superintendent of Nelson, and his party, have a claim at present paying very fairly ; they are washing at present with a dish, and next to them is a regular provincial party, including Messrs. G. Kite, J. Ellis, J. Shepherd, and another or two. They have hardly as yet commenced active work ; but their prospect is a fair one, and some of their party are now away cutting timber for a sluice.

Of course there are any number of faces surrounding one, and at intervals up the river, as familiar as familiar can be; about whom and their doings it would take volumes to relate instead of a hasty scribble jotted down at intervals, and packed off by instalments by any outward bound digger on the tramp after " tucker."

As it is already commencing to get well on to dark, I must perforce have done with this letter for the present, and take it. up at the very first opportunity. which in all probability will not be till to-morrow.