THE DIGGINGS AT THE WEST TAIEKI.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 12 August 1863, Page 3

THE DIGGINGS AT THE WEST TAIEKI.

The Government have placed at our disposal the following report:— Police Department, West Taieri, 27th July, 1863. Sergeant Eagarty reports for the information of the Commissioner of Police, that he has visited a new diggings known as Frazer's, distant about 12 or 14 miles from this station, on the eastern side of the Taieri River, on M'Uregor's run. There were at the time from 45 to 50 persons settled on the ground. The discoverer, Frazer, stated that his claim produced 1£ to 2£ dwt. to the dish, his party, consisting of three men, washed with a cradle, in the presence of the sergeant, the result of one hour's digging, and it turned out f of an ounce of coarse gold, one piece weighing about 2£ dwt. Another party close by had a few minutes previously found a nugget f of an ounce ; all on the ground are sanguine of doing well after they get properly to work. There is a flat extending for about a mile from the river, varying in width from 50 to 150 yards; the sinking is from Bto 14ft., with from 12 to 14 inches of wash-dirt. Those on the ground are shepherding, being unable to bottom on account of the water, most of them have sent for pumps. At the extremity of the flat the hills close in at each side leaving only the banks of the cieek to work on ; this continues about 200 yards, when it opens into another flat, where the creek divides itself into two. The prospectors* claim is situate in this narrow part, where the surface dirt is but from 3to 4 feet. There are alse several other gullies in this locality where persons are prospecting, the general opinion being that payable gold exists over a large extent of country in that neighborhood. There is an abundance of firewood at hand. Sergeant Eagarty begs to add that many of the men at present working there do not possess miner's rights, that should there be a rush of diggers there would in all probability be a disturbance, unless some person authorised to issue them visited the locality. Several of the diggers stated their willingness to pay for the " right," but would not abandon their ground to go to Dunedin to procure them, and that they would work their claims without, unless they could be obtained there, or somewhere convenient.— Otago Daily Times.