MINING SUMMARY FOR TRANSMISSION BY THE ALDINGA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 295, 29 November 1862, Page 5

MINING SUMMARY FOR TRANSMISSION BY THE ALDINGA.

Our usual "Narrative of Current Events" was published on the 27th inst. for transmission to Melbourne by the ss. Oraeo. Since then further important intelligence has come to hand, and as it is not impossible that the Aldinga may arrive in Melbourne before the Omeo, and it is of the utmost importance that a clear and reliable account of the new discoveries should reach Melbourne at the earliest possible date, avg shailnow proceed to summarize the most important intelligence.

Since our last Melbourne Narrative was published onthe 10th instant, there has been quite a rush of interesting and important mining intelligence, in fact new discoveries have becoTue so frequent as scarcely to cause any excitement compared with their importance. We have to note the discovery of two actually new and distinct gold fields, besides a variety of rich finds within the bounds of those already* constituted, and an extension in almost every direction beyond those bounds.

On the 20th, Dunedin was startled by the report of the finding of rich ground at the Cardrona River, a tributary of the Molyneux, but .which is distant from the Duustau Camp some seventy or eighty miles by the trade that has to be followed to reach it. although as the crow flies the distance is very much less.

Reports respecting the Cardrona had been circulated, but nothing of a definite nature was known until the 20i;h, when we received from our own correspondent a long account of the discoveries made, and were also enabled to publish an official report from the Commissioner at the Dunstan. This report was as follows :—

OFFICIAL REPORT. 'Gold Fields Department " Warden's Office, "Djnstan, loth November. 1862. " Sir, —I have the honor to report, tor your information, that on the 12th instant two miners whose names appear in the margin (Michael J. Grogan aud James Alullius), waited on me, and reported that they had discovered payable gold in a tributary of the Upper Clutha, near the Cardrona, about twenty miles south-west of Wilkinson's Station. "Their written statement of the facts of the discovery I forward herewith attached.

"I authorised tiie party of three (one of them being left in charge of the ground] to mark out such an area as they were entitled to, under the Gold Fields Regulations, i.e., quadruple the area ol: an ordinary claim, the same to be confirmed in the event of its being comprised in auy proclaimed gold field. "The amount of gold exhibited by these men was of a very coarse description, consisting of flat irregular nuggets, in weight 9 ozs Gi dwts. Out of this I selected seven pieces, and their weights were as lollows:—

Ist .. 1G dwts 2nd ... 10 „ 3rd .. 101 4th .. 6 , sth .. 7A ; eth ... 4 7th .. ?',; T.he following is the statement referred to :— " Grogan's Diggings, Wilkinson's River, Cardrona River.

*' On the 9th, while a crowd of diggers were camped on the banks of the Cardrona, about ten mues from Wilkinson's station, this young man and myself took a walk to see how that part of the country looked. On walking along the bank of the river, upon what I call a slide, where there _ had been a track formed by the cattle, I being a little further up the creek, sat down until he came up; and he immediately told me that some persons must have lost some gold, and produced about four pennyweights that he liad found on this cattle track. We still continued up until we thought it time to return to our campingground, and on the way he show* I me the place, and on searching for more we could get none, and by the appearance of the black soil both of us certainly thought it must have been dropped by Fox or some other person. However, when we came home, and after supper the matter being well discussed, ib was the opinion of all, with one exception, which is my mate—his name is Patrick May, when he remarked that he got gold in California in such black soil; and I alsoremarked the same, that I had worked ground in California that was regular loam. On Tuesday, the 11th, after receiving some information as to whereabouts Fox was working-, myself and mates were ahead of the others, and on coming to this place, I took my swag and laid it on the bank, " There," said I, "is where the gold was got.', Then I walked to the spot, and in breaking up the surface the first thing that I discovered was a bit of about 3 dwts, and that afternoon we nuggetted out 9 ozs 6 dwts 12 grains, which all hands that were there could see, and I believe all hands were looking on after I showed them the gold. As soon as they came up, " Gentlemen," said I, "I wish to get a prospecting claim, and here is my authority," so I started on the following morning, and acquainted the Commissioner at the Dunstan of it.

" Michael J. Ghogan." "The appearance of the country. It certainly looks remarkably well for creeks and gullies, and I do not know but there is gold in abundance in all those slides. There may be, aud there may not be. It is very hard to try the gullies, as the gravel is very loose and water very plentiful. "

■ The publication of these reports caused great excitem-jjif. "on the Dunstan, and a considerable body—of men, estimated at about a thousand, at once set off for this new field. The accounts since received have been of a very conflicting nature, but the general tone of them leads to the impression that the ground is patchy, and that while some are doing exceedingly well, the majority of those who went with the rush have as yet been disappointed.

It will be noticed that allusion is made in the reports above quoted to a miner named Fox, who was supposed to have found rich diggings, and to be working on the quiet. The whereabout of this man has since been discovered. It appears that the suspicion that he had found rich ground was not unfounded, but, on the contrary, that he has discovered an entirely new and rich gold field, on the Arrow River.

It seems that Fox and his party .were known to be out and to have taken the direction of the Cardrona, and it was on the strength of their supposed, success, that the rush in that direction first took place. It was known that they had been " laying on" their friends, and it was reported that they had obtained GBO oz. as the result of a fortnight's work. It turned out however, that their discovery was over the range, on the Arrow River, which flows from the Grown Mountain in the opposite direction to the Cardrona, the Cardrona flowing into the Molyneux, and the Arrow into the Kawarau River near the Wakatip Lake.

Fox's party were discovered by Dr Hector, the Government Geologist, who was on an exploring expedition, and who dropped upon Fox and his friends, who to the number of about forty, were quietly working the secluded valley of the Arrow. Dr Hector in his report says—

" They made no secret that they were doing exceedingly well, but of course it was impossible to get precise information as to the quantity of gold which had been obtained. The gully was first prospected and its rich treasures discovered about the 13th of October last, almost simultaneously by two independent prospectors, M'Gregor and Fox. With their companions, numbering in all fourteen, they had worked quietly for about three weeks, nntil they were discovered by one miner after another, and their nnmbers increased to that mentioned above. The portion «f the gully as yet worked is about I mile in length and contains five (5) flat points of very limited extent. For eight miles above this I was informed there can be no workings, as the stream is closely hemmed by perpendicular rocks, and this agrees with what I myself observed. Higher up.it is said to widen out in flats, round which there are many land slips. The gold obtained in this gully is all coarse.and water worn, the largest they got I was told weighed 2 » ounces, but half-ounce and one ounce nugget» are frequent.* Some of the late comers to the gully stated that they were making at the rate of three ounces a man per day, but this must fall far short of what some of the first arrivals obtained.

From the best estimate I could make, I believe lam understating the amount of gold which has been obtained in this small gully at 1,600 ounces. Of itself this gully is quite inadequate to give employment to a largcnumber of. miners, as a very few more than those already working there would completely occupy every portion of available ground,

tn the course of a few days and before I left the district, the number had already been augmented to 150, by miners from the Nevis and Curdrona. The gully is upon Mr.Bees'run, twelve miles to N.W othis homestation."

A practical miner, specially despatehad to report upon the Cardvona and the Arrow Rivers by our Dunstan reporter, furnished the following report, which is the latest, and we may add, the most reliable account, he says : -1^ T crossed the river (Clutha) near the junction witbtlieKawarau.aiidfollowtidnpthewesfchank. From thei junction tins branch runs through extensive flits. lable Ranges, with gravelly ten-acesiatersecto.Uhe.se fiats. Some parts of this formation are likely to be auriferous, but the woildng of th-in is not at present prooaule. Better means of string timber, mid a supply of provisions are required. It is a sluici'i* country, and would entail an outlay of capital, or large co-operative bo-iie* of miners to get sluice heads °i Kat£\K J ork eifectively. I followed and crossed these i able R:\nctes till I reached the Cardrona Creek I found 1,000 persons here on last Wednesday (lSbh November.) The projectors had then obtain, d, .-is far as I coulrl find out., about three pounds wd«ht or gold. JNo other persons 1n..l then done anvthiti" All seemed to be in a daspondinsr kind of mood, fcuou«h they did not blame the prospectors, who they thought had only dropped on a patch, I think from ihe observation.-", 1 made of. the .surroim.iing cuutry that Sold is to b=j found, but that it will require peiwverauee- I would not advise anyone to co there, though very rich patches mi-iht at any moment turn up. °I think it is an auriferous country, but thai. tin-, pros-' pejt'.irs finds are of a peculiar character. Heavy gold hke theirs might turn up any day. They have so far found it ou a laud 3 !ip. I think good sold must bo iound somewhere about this pi ice, but would go further backwards from the creek. I will not state in which direction, as it iniitht mislead weooie If not succeed elsewhere, 1 shall try this portion of the country. Leaving this qa-ir'oer, I followed up tlie Canlrona Creek ou the ri^ht hand. It split* into two streams, about ten miles up from the workings ou the creek. You must still keep the riglu hand branch till you come to a s:iduie ran.^ Immediately after coming upon this saddle hill, you sea the R;:zor Back lt-i-ig*, as it is 'called tnere. Tins formation consists of burnt shte but the gullies proceeding iVoui it are more c- iess ruinierous. Good gold will probably be found h^re Passing the ltizor 13 ick, you descend iulu a rotHi fiat, Wiiieh you travor.se for about a mile and a haU\ and then reach another leading range which wiii take you to the Roy or Arrow Iliver. This river is very deep, but you can ford it in places at two feet det>p io arrive at Fox's claim you mU :it cross it, I found tliere fifty tents, and perhaps two hundred and fifty people. They were all contented with the results and prospects. 1 can give no general idea of the gold obtained, as people would no& tell. The answer was 'I am satisfied.' I do not think it was very rich) but good. It is a very large river or creek, and the gold is in the banks. Ree.-;, the squatter, charged three pounds twelve shillings for a sheep, and ' kilt it yourself.' The sheep average about fifty pounds weight each. Butler, a storekeeper, had packed up flour, winch he sold at three shillings per pound. Provisions are almost impossible to obtain. Learning that Fox and his mate had started for the Dunstan, 1 startedback at once to place you in receipt of this information, according to my agreement. I do not wish ray name made known. There is plenty of ground there, and any amount of likely looking places. I return at once.''

The reports from Conroy's Gully are of the most satisfactory character. Immense yields seem to be the order of the day, and some of the reported finds are almost fabulous, and were they not well authenticated would appear exaggerations. Our special reporter writing on the 15th inst. says :—" To give returns of all the rich finds is an impossibility. Pounds weight per day are freely spoken about, and cause no surprise, and people here will believe almost anything that is reported. The mention of ounces is treated quite cavalierly, such is the excitement prevailing. On the Eight-mile Bush, or Conroy's Gully, as at first named, about three hundred people are working. This field is a narrow long stream with a large number of blind gullies entering into the main gully, if it can be so called. These latter are almost unprospected, and while the present feverish state of feeling exists, the further development * £ of their resources will be postponed. Large and immediate finds are the order of the day, and nothing is systematically carried out. Small returns that would anywhere else attract attention and lead to important results, are generally ignored, and the influx of a very larce body of miners seems the only probable means of steadily developing the complete resources of these outlying places. The number of these detached rushes are so many, and the reports in circulation about new discoveries are so numerous, that very few are contented to settle down upon anything that is not extraordinary. It brings buck to memory the time when gold was so easily procured in the first days of the Victorian Gold Fields. It may have been more regularly and steadily distributed on them, but it was never obtained with less trouble than here. But this is a digression. The nature of the wordings in this rush, and those throughout the district, are of the same easy character. Williamson and party have cleared up, and note some four hundred ounces. They washed as high as a pound weight per dish. The Germans will probably exceed this return. They also have washed over a pound weight to the dish. It was in this rush that the fifty pounds weight was got by two men. It is useless to mention other instances of success, as the list would extend to 'arge dimensions. There are also a series of small fiats which are neglected except by a few parties. The returns of those working tl'iuin is given to me at from £4 to £~> sterling- per man a week, The grid is coarse, heavy, and waterworn, and many pieces weighing over an ounce have been obtained Corcoran and party informed the sergeant stationed here that they were making six pounds' weight per day.

Eight miles beyond Conroy's Gully, in a westerly direction, over the Snowy Ranges, another gully equally as extensive as " Conroy's" lias been opened. The party who opened it are Cornishmen, and have washed as high as thirty-five pennyweights to the dish. It is likely to attract considerable attention The gold is again, in this instance, coarse, heavy, arid water-worn.

The Earnscleugh River is one of the latest developments, and promises not to be the icast of them. The two prospecting parties have churned, the one upon fifteen pennyweights to twelve tin dishes (coarse goid), and the other upon from one to two pennyweights to the tin dish. Both claims have been granted, and as they are widely apart every confidence in its ultimate productiveness is felt. About two hundred men are busily engaged, and the results so far obtained lead to the confirmation of these representations.

It is reported upon reliable authority that 200 ounces were yesterday washed out of one tin dishful of stuff in Conroy's Gully. The pocket looked so rich that the holders of the claim thought they had dropped upon an immense pile. It is a narrow crevice, and is running into the hill side. In my next I shall be able to give the full reports of tliis extraordinary find. It will probably be the heaviest one yet obtained on the Dunstan.

The Eraser River is also going to turn out splendidly, and three to four pennyweights per dish is the prospect obtained. It is thiriy miles from this beyond the Ernsclugh, and over the Snowy Range, as it is here called."

The reports from the older gold-fields are favorable, although the paucity of the population there at present prevents anything like a proper development of the fields. At "Wetherstone's the cutting of the storm-water channel is being rapidly proceeded with, and it is anticipated that the work will be completed iv about ten days, No new leads, have, however, been discovered, although some of the ground cut through has yielded payable prospects, such as, in less exciting times than the present, would readily be worked.

The last accounts from the Nokomai are more favourable. The population is aboat {.400, besides about a thousand beyond the boundaries' of the field. There was at the date of last advices (November 15th) a good deal of gold in hand, and it was expected that there would 1,000 ounces to send down by tlie Escort. Potter's Guily, where the largest population is congregated, is a new rush forty miles from the Nokomai camp, and much nearer to the Dunstan. It runs into the Nevis Valley. Many were doing exceedingly well there, and the majority making more than wages. ■

The latest news from the Dunstan will be found in the letter of our special correspondent, which appears elsewhere. .

Mention has' been made of Dr Hector's report*. This report was published in our issue of the 27th, The report is the account of observations

™aJ* jl l ilJl)U™ey throng the Dunstan district o.v to the Gardrona, and tfie.ice Sou Hi and WVst by the Arrow River and the Wakitip Lake, and thence by the Mataura IW, and back to Duneum. Dr Hector notices particularly that the new discoveries are still j n S i InTYT. direction, and that their position is but little dependent on the action of rivers at present in existence. Having noticed briefly the Dunstan workings and the remarkable terrace-formation of the banks of the Molyneux, he proceeded to describe his journey to the lakes, when hearing that di--gincr was on at the Girdroua, lie ufc once started to 'and the spot. His account of the Cardrona workings corresponds with that of the special reporter, "whose statement is quoted above, as to the patchy nature of the deposits. Slill, he believes the valley to be highly auriferous?. It is 26 niiUs long. \Viii> respect to Grogan's discovery, lie says "the gold was obtained hi the black surface soil ; and I believe has slipped down from the bottom of a lead, which crossed the valley, at a much higher elevation, resting probably on tertiary strata."

Dr Hector's account of the Arrow Puver, which he next visited, is quoted above. He deprecates any largn rush as the known auriferous ground on the Arrow lliver is of limited extent-

The following particular* we take from the report, under date of the 22nd inst., of Jackson Keddeli, Esq., the commissioner of the Dunstan held, winch has been placed at our disposal by the Government:—

1 op::j,ation.—'• The population had received a steady increase during the week, but numbers had left for the scene of Fox's discovery. The population may be estimated as follows :—bunsian. Township, 2.0U0 ; Junction of Tvlamiheriku, 1U00; working in proclaimed area, 500 ; Conrov's Gully 2:>0 ; adjneent workings 300 ; Eaniscluegh, Gold Hmit£r's Gully, and others, numbered 300. Estimated numbers left, fu- F>x's discovery and Cardrona Creek, 3.o(.)o—total, 7,8;10. jSlkw Discovicmr.s—"The reported finds of rich deposits by a person named Fox wore veriik-d on the 2 lit by the arrival of Fox and his mate John Ciillayhan, wlio deposited 23G ozs of gold in tiie Treasury for transmission by escort. *" They state the place where they have boon working is about 15 miles eastward of Like Wakatip/'on llees's run. They reported the country as being highly auriferous, and that they obtained as much as five pounds weight in one day's work. The workings were chiefly alluvial—7rc«\lijri^iiigrs —depth of sinking varying trom 3 to 5 andis feet, increasing according to the distance gone into tha banks. The locality is on the Arrow River—a tributary of the Kawarau—and the route taken by horsemen is, up the west bank of the Clutha, by the foot of the range to the Cardrona, thence, following that creek to its source, and then crossing the ranges to the Arrow. The country they report as being well timbered. ' Prospecting claims granted.—"An application for a prospecting claim for a discovery o payable gold on a creek tributary to the Arrow and about two or three miles lrorn Fox's workings, was made by four men named Mills, Pennington, Hinds, and Ferguson. Their prospect was but small, according to their statement, being from a quarter to one pennyweight to the tin dish. Permission given to work out the area permitted in the regulations. New Rushes.—"The rush to Fox's Discovery, or rather that part of the country near Lake Wakatip, which has been reported by Fox, but the honor of the discovery of which is disputed by Messrs McGregor and Lowe, has attracted the attention of all the miners who are not in possession of first-class claims. In the beginning of the week the locality was known to few, but. on Thursday it was no longer a secret, and great numbers left for the new field. The Cardrona has not realised the sanguine expectations of its prospectors, and is reported as being very patchy. Unfavorable reports of Fox's rush were also promulgated by interested parties, but as the same persons were known to have returned to the place they had been depreciating, the object, if it was to prevent a rush has not succeeded, and as will be seen by the return of population, a great number have gone thither," " Rumours of discoveries of very rich yields, in most cases worthy of credence have been in circulation during the past week."