THE MATAURA DIGGINGS—OFFICIAL REPORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1364, 23 February 1865, Page 3

THE MATAURA DIGGINGS—OFFICIAL REPORT.

(From the Southland Times, Feb. 15.)

The following interesting report has -been forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent by Mr. Baker, the Deputy Chief Surveyor:—

Chief Surveyor's Office, Southland, February 11th, 1865. Sir,—l have the honour of forwarding you a report on the different routes to the lately discovered goldfield, on the east bank of the Mataura, in the Otago province. _ There are four practicable dray roads from Invercargill to the goldfields, via Menzies' Ford, on the Mataura, which is the only crossing place used up to the present time by the different teams proceeding to the diggings. The road most generally used is via One-Tree Point and the Seaward Downs. The first five miles of this route, on the Main Dunedin Road, have been formed and metalled, but owing to the light character of the gravel used in the formation, the constant wear and tear of the traffic of last winter has cut the road into deep ruts, that will, unless steps are taken to prevent it, render this part of the road utterly impassable during the ensuing rainy season. , The next four-and-a-half miles on the One-Tree Point-Road have been formed, but not metalled, excepting a few chains in places where the road crosses small swamps and gullies. This portion of the road will, undoubtedly, during the winter, if subjected to heavy traffic, wear into an adhesive bog. The natural turf on the surface of the ground having been removed, without a coating of metal or gravel to replace it, leaves the road in a far worse state than it would have been if the surface had never been touched. . From the One-Tree Point to the Mataura Plains, the road following the leading ridges is, with the exception of a few chains of soft peaty soil, on firm sound ground, and can easily be kept in repair, and made available for dray traffic throughout the winter. ■ From the Seaward Downs to the ford, the road on the Mataura Plains is on a dead level and on excellent hard ground, and will (as long as the country remains unfenced, leaving the drays room to select their own ground), require nothing but a small bridge across the Oteramika Creek, and a few chaius of formation and metalling across a swamp at the foot of the Mataura Terrace, half-a-mile this side of the ford. . , The length of this line of road is 28£ miles from Invercargill to the crossing place on the Mataura. The other line of road is via Dacre, leaving the main Dunedin road 21* miles from Invercargill, and half-a-mile before the crossing of the two creeks. It then follows the track along the terrace to Stuart's Bush, and then across the Mataura Plains to the ford, the total distance to the Mataura River being 28f miles. . , There is a little difference in length between this and the One-Tree-Point road, but I am afraid that this line will not stand any heavy traffic until you reach the dry ridges beyond Dacre, sixteen miles from Invercargill. The most direct, and perhaps the best line of road is along the main Dunedin road to the far end of Long Bush, ten and three quarter miles, then by the track to Mr. Hamilton's home station, and through the gap in th<> Oteramika Bush to the Mataura Plains, and across the plains to the ford, the distance being twenty-six miles;, but, unfortunately, several miles of this line of road pas? through private property. Another line of road is via Dacre and the Spurhead Bush to the Mataura Plains; but as I have never travelled by this route, I am unable to give any decided opinion as to its practicability to carry heavy traffic during the winter. It is about the same distance from Invercargill as the last mentioned road, and, like it, passes'through private property for several miles. , I find that the place selected for the ferry is about half a-mile above Menzies' Ford. The river banks are considerably higher here than at the ford, ahd are not liable (excepting in a case of an extraordinary flood) to be inundated. The width of the river is about 120 yards, and the steep banks render it a most desirable place for a workable punt; but, unfortunately, the existence of a gravel spit in the centre of the stream, which, during the present low state of the river is not covered with more than twelve inches of water, will render the working of a punt sufficiently large for dray traffic during several of the summer months impossible. A few chains higher up, the river is deep the whole way across ; but if a punt was placed here, a landing stage of considerable magnitude would be required on the east bank of the Mataura, as a lagoon skirts along the foot of the high bank on that side of the river. Undoubtedly as soon as some arrangement can be effected with the Qtago Government regarding the leasing of this ferry, private enterprise will (if protected by a proper lease of the ferry rights) erect a workable punt for dray traffic during the frequent floods that this river is liable to. Three ferries have been established for foot passengers. One (the' first on the ground) is a small punt working on a rope extended across the river. The other two are boats, one worked by some halfcastes from the Bluff, the other placed on the river by Messrs. Wilson and Moffatt, who intend erecting an accommodation house here, which is much wanted, and will prove a great boon to the public. The land on the Southland side of the Mataura here, and at the ford, is still unalienated from the Crown; but four chains above the ferry the land has been purchased for several miles up the river by Messrs. Douglas and Alderson, and Holmes and Co. The present ferry I selected as the site for a small township, and I laid off a few quarter-acre sections as the site for an accommodation house, a ferry reserve, and a police station. . The distance from the ford to the goldfields is about two-and-a-half miles in a direct line; but a large swarap at the foot of the hills renders it necessary for horsemen and draymen to make a considerable detour round by Dr. Menzie's station, and then to follow the leading ridge to the diggings, making the distance about seven and a-half miles from the ford. , I carefully examined the narrowest part of the swamp, and although I believe there is a considerable fall into the Mimiau Creek, the expenses of draining, forming, and metalling a road across it would be very considerable. . , This difficulty can be easily overcome,and a capital road formed at a very email outlay, by (after crosi-

ing the Mataura) keeping up the river to the Mjmiau Creek, then fording the creek to the river tjai on the other side, which is perfectly hard and souna, and then recrossing the creek to a spur opposite tne township. This would shorten the distance from the ford to the township by at least four miles; tne only works required would be the cuttings into tne Mimiau Fords, and the fascineing of three or four chains of soft ground between the creek and tne spur. I returned myself to the Mataura Fora oy this route, the banks on the Mimiau Creek not being sufficiently high to prevent my forcing my horse into the ford. My stay on the goldfields was necessarily short, and as the diggings were widely scattered, I was unable to collect much statistical information as to the success of the various miners, bo far. as I can learn, there are probably between four and five hundred persons scattered over a considerable area of ground. Many of these are undoubtedly making very good wages, if not obtaining any large finds. A good many of the diggers told me that they were averaging from seven to ten shillings per day, whilst others complained that they were not making wages; but I think that good practical miners will, for many months to come, be able to earn a very fair remuneration for their labour. The present diggings are principally confined to six or seven gullies, from one to three miles m length, but.they are so narrow that a claim is worked out in three or four weeks. The washdirt is from one to six inches in depth, and rests (in most of the gullies) on a slate rock. The gold is exceedingly fine, and strongly impregnated with iron sand, which renders it very difficult to clean. Most of the washdirt is being sluiced, and I think, from the fineness of the gold, that much of it is lost, when not sluiced by experienced miners. I heard from good authority, that heavier gold has been struck some miles higher up the river, but that the want of water will prevent the gully being worked until the rainy season sets in. Two trial shafts are being sunk on the spurs, within a moderate distance of the township, and if gold is found in payable quantities, I have no doubt that a permanent goldfield will be established for some years. The township of the goldfields has been named Menzies'Town, and is situated near two small bushes on the terrace directly above the Mimiau Creek. It consists of two lines of streets, named Menzies' and Dee street, with about two dozen stores, hotels, &c. The business-sites have been pegged off on each side of the street for some distance, and several new places of business are being erected, chiefly by storekeepers from Invercargill. I heard a great many complaints that no miner s rights could be obtained, and consequently might was right in any disputed claim. In the absence of any police force, it is remarkable that such good order is maintained. With the exception of a few

fights, the miners seem peaceably inclined—a sure sign that every-body is employed in mining or otherwise. I heard of only on? case of theft from a store. The township was lately visited by a sergeant of the Otago mounted troopers, who is, I believe, to be stationed there. Seeing by the report of Mr. Harvey, one of the wardens of the Otago goldfields, who has lately visited theMataura diggings, that the best and shortest route would be by shipping, via the Toi Tois, I proceeded there, for the purpose of obtaining some information as to the practicability of this route. I find that the Toi Tois can only be entered by small craft, drawing a few feet of water. The channel, at present in the centre of the bar (which is constantly shifting), is only from 70 to 100 yards in width, with a depth of two feet at low water, and not more than nine feet at spring tides. The entrance to the Toi Tois, from the extremely narrow channel over the bar, can only be effected by sailing vessels with a leading wind from the S. or S.W., and only then when the bar is smooth. The Struggler, a small schooner that occasionally the Toi Tois, with stores for the adjacent stations, has sometimes been detained for three weeks before a fair wind has allowed her to passover the bar to sea. There are from three to four fathoms of water inside the bar, with safe anchorage for vessels. The master of the Struggler, who happened to be at the Toi Tois, informed me that he constantly had to wait in the Straits some days, or to run to the Bluff to wait for a fair wind to enter the harbour.

The road from the Toi Tois to the goldfields is, j from the nature of the country, very circuitous, and, as far as I can judge, the distance is about 27 miles. The whole of this distance is over undulating downs or hills, which would require many cuttings and sidelings. The Wainok, Titirou, Kuriwau, and Wyndham, would require substantial bridges, besides several culverts over minor creeks. Doubtless, this line might be made available for traffic to the goldfields, but only by a very large expenditure on improvements ; and even then, the road would be impracticable for any heavy traffic during the winter season. I was much indebted to Mr. J. Campbell, of tho Waimahaka station, who kindly went over the whole of this line of road with me. In conclusion, I must beg to state, that if subsequent events should prove that the Mataura goldfield is likely to become,permanent, it will be absolutely necessary that some steps should be taken to keep the road open for traffic, for the first nine and-a-half miles on the One-Tree Point-road to the dry ridges, or for the first ten miles on the main Dunedin-road to the Long Bush, so that drays can proceed via Mr. Hamilton's Home Station to the Mataura Ford. The best means for effecting this object will doubtlessly receive the most earnest attention of the the Government.—l have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

John H. Baker, Deputy Chief Surveyor. To his Honor the Superintendent, Southland.