WAKAMARINA GOLD-FIELD. [from our special correspondent.] Canvas Town, June 2.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 70, 11 June 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

WAKAMARINA GOLD-FIELD. [from our special correspondent.] Canvas Town, June 2.

Since I hist wrote I have been up the river with the Escort, as far as Deep Creek. The encampment at that place has increased in a most extraordinary manner and will soon outrival this township, not only in the number but also in the size and importance of its buildings. Messrs. Allen, Lockhart, Askew, and others of the chief storekeepers here, have places of business at Deep Creek, and I believe trade is anything but dull there. The Escort only obtained about 200 ounces of gold up the river, but this is easily account for ; in the first place, no notice of their coming had been given, so that no diggers came up to meet them with their gold ; had they gone up on Sunday, due notice having been given, I have no doubt that they might have become receivers of 1,000 or 1,500 ounces, if not more.

A new road has been cut as far as Wilson's claim, and the men are at work to continue it still farther up the river. There were three horses in our party, and they made the journey without any great difficulty ; however, I fear a few day's rain would bring the two tracks to a common level of mud and impracticability.

Before the constables forming the Escort left Canvas Town, and while on their upward journey, numerous applications were made to them by diggers, who complained of the total absence of any protection to the holders of up-river claims, which, they affirmed were "jumped" with impunity, by mobs of people who could call an irresistible force to aid them in their attempts, and who, knowing their power, did not scruple to make show of force, in order to gain their ends. In some instances the holders of the claims have resisted successfully, but only by bringing firearms to their help, and endangering their own lives as well as those of their assailants. One man, an old Victorian digger, who, with eleven companions, occupied a likely claim near the Forks, having twice had his means of living wrenched from him by force of numbers, has gone straight to Picton to lay his case before the Superintendent, and to solicit the immediate issue of a miner's right and the appointment of a AVarden, to make the former of some avail. I only hope that his journey will result in a sufficient protection being afforded to all the diggers on the river. I can well excuse those revengeful feelings, which I so often hear expressed by diggers who have been disappointed in this violent manner, they are, in fact, nothing more than exponents of a stern spirit of justice, which is the natural consequence among right-minded men, of a total absence of all legal or civil authority. Fancy a man who has laboured for years without materially bettering his condition, and haß, at last, become possessed of a claim which cheers his heart with a reasonable hope of making the long-wished-for " pile," suddenly to have it taken from him, just, perhaps, as he has dissipated his savings in sluiceboxes or what not — and, what is more maddening than all, to know that the drones are making a rich harvest from the hive which he, the working bee, has so carefully prepared. Vos non vobis was not spoken more truly of the Hymettan bees than of the diggers who once held the higher claims on the Wakamarina, but who are now burning with excited and dangerout indignation (surely not inexcusable) at the manner in which they arc robbed of their pro-

perty, without the smallest hope of obtaining present redress. Let us hope that this state of tilings will soon come to an end, and that good police regulations, and the arrangements proper to a well-con-ducted gold-field, will render the Wakamarina not only a safe region for diggers and others, but a genuine source of benefit to this province and to the colony.

The yields during the last few weeks are, as far as I can learn, encouraging. While the bags were being sealed up for the Escort, two men came into the Bank, and sold 241 ounces of gold, the result of four men's labour. This brought the total amount of gold sent by Escort to upwards of 1,500 ounces. These men had with them, in addition to the large quantity thus disposed of, about eight or nine ounces, consisting of large and handsome nuggets, which they kept as specimens. This morning I saw a man sell 1360z5. lldwt. 18grs. of gold, the produce of four men's work for ten days. Smaller quantities, such as thirteen ounces, nine ounces, &c, are common. The fact is, that the diggings are finding their level, and the same parties come again and again to the Bank to dispose of the glittering rewards which their claims yield to their persevering toil.

Tlie gold-finders may be divided into three classes : those wiio have Kffnantica3l;y oy eityaDYfii'n&Tiiy Tick claims; those whose claims yield enough to keep them comfortable and to afford hope for the future ; and last, but unfortunately by no means least, those who only manage to obtain just enough, or not enough, to defray their daily expenses. Besides these, there are, of course, loafers and do-nothings without number.

Although I mention the larger finds, and write more hopefully than usual about the gold, I would not have it thought that there is room for even a small number of persons in addition to our already too great population. There are still numbers of people here who cannot obtain claims, or cannot mako anything of them when obtained. I think the probability of gold being found in payable quantities on this flat, among the very tents, is not small. A party of men have been sinking a shaft about a quarter of a mile from I this store, and have found about 6 dwt. of gold, which they sold yesterday. I have a small nugget of it in my possession ; it has all the appearance of having been in the river bed, and is of a richer colour than most of the gold found here. Almost every speck of this sample was more or less blackened with what is called " rust" here ; what it really is, I am not scientific enough to determine. A party of men are sinking a shaft in the midst of the encampment. Hopes are entertained generally of their being successful, as the men are poor, and have worked with great perseverance hitherto. A subscription list has been opened for them, and has been signed very generally. It is headed thus :—: — "Canvas Town. " To the Businesss Men and inhabitants generally. " We, the mining party who are prospecting behind Mr. Lockhart's store, being limited iv means, and feeling that all classes are interested in the result, desire their assistance. " Oliver Lan&, "Joseph Lakeland, " Patrick O'Connoe, "James Meaten, "Aethub Hill." I have been requested to state that a copy of the list is at the Union Bank, afc Nelson, for signature, and, as many of the people there are really interested in the affair, I hope it will be largely subscribed to. Of course, a fund on the spot would be of the utmost importance. Business at Canvas Town is dull, but the place goes on increasing rapidly. Ground is pegged out in various directions for substantial buildings, and one or two are in rapid course of completion. There are two forges erected, and I think the Bmiths do a good trade. They charge thirty shillings a set for shoeing a horse, and seven shillings and sixpence for a single shoe. No doubt other smith's work is equally reasonable. As yet no place of amusement, rational or otherwise, has been established, and the evenings hang heavily, to all appearance, on the residents here. Raffles for watches, chains, pipes, &c., form the chief excitement of an evening. Last night I heard a voice in the crowd offering to raffle a bullock, and this evening a very similar voice announced that its owner intended to raffle a flannel shirt.

I have heard nothing more of the deep shaking up the river, but have no reason, at present, to disbelieve the report as far as it goes. lam not certain as to the name of the unfortunate man whose death I recorded in my last. It is very difficult to arrive at the truth in these matters. I purpose going up the river to-morrow morning, as its low state opens nearly all the claims, and a great number ot men are at work. The river has been turned in one or more places, and with considerable success. June 5.

I have been up the river as far as Wilson's claim to attend the Catholic service at that place. I think it was the most singular sight I have witnessed, among the many curious scenes which these regions present. Father Tresallet read the service in an audible voice, and concluded with a brief address peculiarly well suited to the class of men who were kneeling before him. There were thirty men present the service taking place in a large tent ; and certainly the quiet devotion and reverential behaviour of the small congregation was never equalled in the most glorious pile of the old world. I cannot determine what there is in the Eoman Catholic Faith, which has such a hold upon the minds of its votaries, as to make rough diggers, living in the midst of a fortune-hunt-ing crowd, without any outward evidences of their religion, come quietly and devotedly at the call of an unknown priest, and go through the ordinances of their Church with the greatest care and regularity among tents and trees and the ordinary implements of their daily toil. I hope that Father Tresallet, or some other missionary, will soon come again on a similar mission, and will arrange for the service to take place at Deep Creek, or some other spot where a large congregation can be secured, I walked down to the river, to look at the lower claims. Wilson's is worked out now. I saw the last of the gold from it bought by Mr. Murdock. It was a beautiful specimen of light scaly gold, very different from the pale but heavy nuggets from Deep Creek and the higher claims. The river is confined within very narrow limits now, and rushes noisily along where I have seen its tide rolling down as sluggishly as could be. I saw one claim bounded in a very substantial manner by walls of boulders, logs, and earth. This had taken four men a week to do, yet twelve hours' rain would make their work of no avail, They have not tried the claim as yet, and did not speak very hopefully of it. This is within twenty yards of Wilson's claim, and in the very middle of the river-bed. The appearance of the stream has been completely changed from that which nature gave it, by the labour of the diggers, who have felled trees, constructed dams, built little dykes of boulders, cut sluices, and thrown up heaps, until the Wakamarina "looks like an Irish landscape during a flood, in miniature, with stone walls and the fields full of water.

Large quantities of gold continue to be brought to the banker for sale, but the diggers don't seem to like the reduction iv price at all. £3 14s. 6d. has been given to-day, but I believe that a further reduction of a shilling an ounce will take place immediately. Many will not dispose of their gold at the diminished rate, but a greater number grumble and sell, wliile a few say notlung about it, especially as the banker points out to such as will listen the necessity for the unpopular measure. I hear that the Escort is expected on Tuesday, and I hope that their returns will be as encouraging as they were last week. . A great deal of amusement has been caused here by an account which appeared in your contemporary of two mysterious diggers who vanished in the bush in an almost supernatural manner. I have not authenticated a single episode in the history of this place which would afford ground for a sensation novel, and the account I allude to is generally assigned here to that peculiar class of literary composition styled " Rigmarole."

Canvas Town has hardly ever had such a quiet Sunday as to-day. Very little business has been done, and I have only heard of one fight !