MINING INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 27, 5 April 1866, Page 3

MINING INTELLIGENCE.

The Okarita correspondent of the W. C, Times says — The rushes both north and south of Okarita have turned out failures, to a great extent. The number of miners attracted to the north rush was so great that the pegs stretched nearly seven miles. The great majority of the miners left for the south rush a couple of days after, where a great many were equally disappointed. However, on both rushes several parties have set in, determined to give the ground a thorough trial. The Southland Times gives the following satisfactory report of the diggings at Riverton : — The reports from the diggings, especially Pahi, are highly satisfactory. The number of miners now on the field is from. 80 to 100, and all are doing well, making from 10s. to 30s. per day per man ; and what is strong evidence that all are satisfied, not one returning. One gentleman has purchased eight pounds weight, aucl another party has five pounds weight on hand. Mr. Commissioner Weldon has gone overland from Riverton to Pahi, with the view of ascertaining if there is sufficient gold being got to warrant the Government in sending any resident official there. Mr. Dawsou has also received instructions to explore aud report upon the best road to the Pahi. Mr. Weldon started this evening, and we expect an important report in a few days. It is looked upon here as all but an established gold-lie Id. The project of connecting the two chief towns of Westland by a tramway has not only been seriously entertained, but the first steps taken towards the commencement of the undertaking, for yesterday a deputation from • its promoters, consisting of Messrs. Gibson, Campbell, and Captain Aguen waited on the Superintendent with the view of obtaining a grant of land, and certain privileges in the way of protection, aud his Honor courteously received them, when Mr. Campbell explained to him the advantages that would accrue to both communities and the intervening country, if a line of rails was laid down. Mr. Gibson and Captain Agnen described the method proposed to be adopted in the construction of the tramway, and the manner in which it would be worked. His Honor expressed much gratification that sucli works were being undertaken by private enterprise, and said the Government would give every encouragement to private enterprise. He made a memorandum that a grant of land should be allotted to the company, and certain privileges allowed them under due restrictions. — W. C. Times, March 28. We are informed that some very good prospects have been found in the Snowy Ranges, three days' journey from the Arnold, in an easterly direction. The gold is coarse aud impregnated with quartz. One piece weighed 2 1 dwts., and the majority were from Ito dwts. — G. R. Argus, March 31. The latest account from Invercargill respecting the diggings near Riverton, is con- j tained in the official report of Mr. Commissioner Weldon, from which .we make the following extracts: — "The place where the gold has been found is very hilly and thickly timbered, so much so, that a pack-horse can only gee within a mile and a-quarter of where the men were working. The washdirt varies in thickness from one foot to five or six feet; it is of a sandy clayish nature, intermixed with quartz and boulders, and varies in color from a bluish grey to a light yellow. I must say that the prospectors gave me a great deal I of information as to the probable richness of the country all along the coast from the Longwood Ranges to the Waiau ; indeed one of them said for two and twenty miles around the present diggings lie got fair samples of gold in every creek and gulley he tried. Notwithstanding the good accounts from the Pahi, and the likelihood of its being a permanent gold-field, yet I am fully convinced that should a large rush set in just now, great disappointment would be the result, as the country is not half prospected, and those who go there with the view of taking up a claim on their arrival, will be woefully disappointed ; claims are only to be had at present by going from creek to creek and gully to gully prospecting."