MANUAL OF THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS, FOR THE USE OF NEW ARRIVALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 408, 11 April 1863, Page 6

MANUAL OF THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS, FOR THE USE OF NEW ARRIVALS.

The proclaimed gold fields of Otago are five in number, namely:—Tuapeka, Dunstan, Mount Benger, Nokomai, and Wakatipn.

The Tuapkka goldfield is divided into three districts—Gabriel's, Waitahuna, and Waipori. In the former, mining operations have hitherto been confined to Gabriel's, Wetherstone's, and Monroe's Gullies, the adjacent fiats and spurs of the ranges, anil the banks of the Tusipeka River. The workings are shallow, rarely exceeding twenty feet. At Gabriel's, the hillsluicers have practically demonstrated the existence of gold in the older tertiaries, constituting what is termed a " second bottom," and beneath the false bottom originally wrought, auriferous strata, 45 feet in aggregate thickness, have been discovered. At Wetherstone's, a large fiat, previously unworkable on account of water, has been rendered available by the cutting of a Storm-Water Ohauii Iby the Government.

The favorite mode of working throughout the Tuapeka gold field is by sluicing, the wash-dirt being gravelly and free from clay.

Wood is scarce at Gabriel's, but there is a fair supply of scrub for firewood in the neighborhood. Lignite is abundant, and easily procured.

The route to Tuapeka from Dunedin is by the main south road via Tokomairiro, and thence by the Woolshed and Waitahuna diggings. Distance, sixty miles.

At Waitahuna, only a few gullies have yet been worked, and these have yielded magnificent returns. The Woolshed is included in this district. The latter is a branch of the Tokomairiro River, and it is still successfully wrought for gold. Route, as described to Gabriel's; distance, fifty miles.

The Waipori District iucludes the river of that name and its branches. The workings consist principally of creek aud river claims, and hill sluicing. The gold is coarse and nuggetty, and is frequently intermixed with fragments of quartz. A payable quartz reef has been opened up near the river, and two companies of experienced Bendigo miners have commenced operations on an extensive scale. Another reef, from the surface of ■which some rich specimens have been taken, has been discovered near Waitahuna, in the vicinity of the Burnt. Hill. The route from Dunedin is by West Taieri and the Mangatua Ranges. Distance, forty miles.

All these localities continue to afford remunerative employment to the miners engaged upon them, and there is ample room for many more.

The quantity of gold forwarded from the Tuapeka gold field per escort to the present date is as follows: —

07,. From Gabriel's District .. ... 373,240 From Waitahuna District, including the Woolshed and Waipori ... 111,976 Total ... • ... 473544 Population. — Owing to the superior attractions,of newer fields the population of this field is very small. We give the following from the latest official returns :— Gabriels-District ... ... ... 1200 Waitahuna district inclusive of Woolshed ... .. ... 050 Waipori District ... ... . ... VoO Total ... ... 1980 Of whom 1360 are reported to be engaged in ' mining.

The DuNsrtN gold field is situated on the Clutha, or as it is more frequently termed the Molyneux River, at the base of the Dunstan mountains. It also includes a portion of the Manuherikia —a tributary of the Clntha, on the east bank; and Conroy'f, Meredith's, Butcher's mid other gullies, together with the F.arnscleugh River, (sometimes called the Frazer) on the west bank, and some small gullies in the Carrick Ranges. On the Clutha the workings are at present limited to the river-beaches where flue trold is found intermixed with magnetic iron-sand. The waters of this river are highest in the summer, owing to the melting of the snow on the lofty mountains around Lake Wanaka and Laka llawca whence the Clutha derives its principal supply. Bnt the extensive terraced country on the eastern bank between the Dunstan Ranges and the Manuherikia presents indications of being highly auriferoua. This portion of the district consists principally of terraced plains and "made hills," beneath the surface of which lie immense beds of drift gravel and waterworn boulders. A few short tunnels commenced on the banks of the river, reveal the fact that under the gravelly superstratum there is a bed of stiff pipeclay, and on this coarse gold is found. When this field is more systematically wrought there is little doubt of large deposits ,of gold being discovered over a very extensive area. The Manuherikia river and its banks are being worked for about six miles from its confluence with the Clutha. Portions of the river have been turned with great success. The Manorburn, a tributary of the Manuherikia has also proved to he very rich.

Conr'oy's and the other gullies on the west bank of the Clutha have largely repaid the miners engaged thereon. Only the richest portions have as yet been wrought—owing in a great measure to the attractive force of newer rushes, and consequently much available ground yet remains to be worked.

Fuel and Timber are scarce at the Danstan. The latter is supplied from the forests at the head of the Lakes, whence it is floated down in rafts. Firewood is difficult to obtain and very dear, but very rich beds of lignite exist on various parts of the banks of the Clutha. That at the junction of the Kawarau is very extensive and the fuel of a superior quality.

The climate is almost Victorian in the summer, and very mild and dry in the winter, owing to the moderate elevation—about 600 feet only—of the district along the river banks. In winter also the waters being at their lowest, the largest yield of gold may be expected from this field and the adjacent district of Mount Benger.

The escort returns to date show that 120,886 ounces of gold have been transmitted from the Dunstan since September last.

Population —At present the population of this district is comparatively small, numbering only 5,950 persons, of whom 4,400 are actually engaged in mining.

Route —There ai-e several routes to the Dunstan. For miners, at the present season, the best and most direct road is by West Taieri, over the Lammermoor Ranges to the valley of the Manuherikia. Distance, about 110 miles, passing the following stations; — Healey's, distant from West Taieri 10 miles ; thence to Thompson's, 12 miles; thence to Valpy's, 3,5 miles ; thence to Murison's, 5 miles ; thence tp Newton's, 14 miles; thence to Lowe's, 12 milesi

The other routes are—rone via Wakouaiti and Shag Valley, and the other through the Tuapeka and Mount Beuger gold fields. Persons desirous of visiting the whole of the Otago gold fields should take the latter route. Prom the Dunstan they can proceed to the Wakatipu and Cardrona, and return via Nokomai.

T'io Mount Bengkr (or Teviot) district comprises that portion—about 50 miles—of the Clutha River situated between the Tuapeka and Dunstan Gold Fields. The workings are confined to the river beaches, and the miners are patiently waiting lor the waters to subidde so that they may resume operations. A great deal of gold was obtained there prior to the rising of the river. Most of this reached town from other fields and by private hand, 10,0 having yet been established. Tiie ■ population is now estimated at about 1,000 persons, and these continue to earn fair wages hy.working in the banks, whilst watching their flooded claims.

Koute.—This field is most accessible via Tuapeka, following the Dunstan track, which leads through and in the vicinity of the river The Nokoma-i Gold Feld may be regarded as only partially developed. It includes Victoria G-ully and the Nokomai River—a tributary of the Matanra, and the large valley of the Nevis Stream —a branch of the Kawarau. Potter's and other rich gullies are in this district, the eastern boundary of which joins the Dunstan Gold Field, the dividing line being the tops ol the Carrick Ranges The population is at present but small. A new rush lias set in to this gold field within the last few days; but nothing definite is yet known of the result. 1,984 ounces have been transmitted per escort siiice the discovery of the field; but I large quantities are known to have reached town by other channels. Miners are still doing well there, although the difficu'.ties attendant on sinking have disheartened many. Timber is plentiful on the Nokomai River. Route. —The best route is by the Main South Road to the Molyneux Ferry, thence to Longford, ori'the Mataura River. From this point the road keeps on the west bank of the Mataura to near M'Kellar's station, a few miles below which the Mataura is again crossed, and the east bank of the latter is then followed to the Nokomai. Distance about 170 miles.

The Wakatipu gold field is the last discovered. It comprises the upper portion of the Cardrona ' River, the Arrow lliver, better known as Fox's, the Shotover River, sometimes perversely termed the Overshot, and several minor streams, tributaries of Lake Wakatipu. The Cardrona is a branch of the Clutha which it joins near Lake Wanaka. It is 26 miles in length, but the upper part, about eight miles, of the valley aloneOias yet been worked. The population, never large, is now estimated at about 500. These are doing well, and some of the claims have yielded enormously. The Cardrona may be regarded as another gold field in reserve for future occupation^:.' ■■■■" The . Arrow and Shotover Rivers are branches of the Kawaraxi. The workings on and around these are very extensive.' The Arrow is being worked for 25 miles from its mouth, and the Shotover for a still greater distance. The beds and beaches of both rivers, and their banks, together with numerous tributaries and brauch gullies, afford ample remuneration to many thousands of miners, and it is no exaggeration to term thisidistrict the richest gold field in the world. Up to the present date the escort returns show that 130,075 ounces have been forwarded thence to Dunedin, since 28th December last, and large quantities have been sent via luveroargill, and by private escort. The present population is estimated at about B,COO persons, of whom 6,000 arc miners. .The climate of this field is fine and salubrious. Very little rain falls—the rivers being supplied by the melting of the snow on the lofty mountains which, everywhere surround the workings, are high in the summer. It is confidently anticipated that a rich harvest will be gleaned from their beds in the winter season. '.Timber'is everywhere abundant.

Route. —There are two main routes to the Wakatipu:—One, via West Taieri and the Dunstan, whence the road branches off; the short road beimr by the ranges abutting on the Kawarau River, and a more circuitous track is by the Clutha River to Wilkin's Station, and thence crossing at the Ferry and following up the Cardrona to the Crown Ranges, at the western ba-<e of which is the ArrowRiver. Disiance from Dtiuedin, via the Kawarau, 160 miles; and via the Cardrona, 190 miles. The latter is the most level road.

The other route is by the Molyneux Ferry on the Main South Road, thence by the Longford on the Mataura. From the Long-ford, the road keeps along the west bank of the Mataura-—through the Province of Southland —to the Dome Pass; thence through the Pass to Trotter's Station at the foot of Lake Wakatipu, whence the journey is completed by boat. • Distance to the Lake about 200 miles ; thence to Rees' Station, on the Lake, by boat, 26 miles ; thence to the Shotover River, 4 miles, and to the Arrow, 12 miles.

In addition the proclaimed gold fields, there are mauyflqcalities in which mines are working with more or less success. The Lindis diggings, near the LindisPass, at the eastern extremity of the Dunstan Mountains, was the earliest discovered of the Otago gold fields. A few miners are yet located there. The distance from Dunedin is about 160 miles via Wakouaiti and the Shag Valley. The Dunstan River, in the Manuherikia Valley, has also been proved to be auriferous.

In Shag Val ey there are several small gold fields. Of tliese, the principal are known as the Highlay diggings. The workings are at Timbrell's Gully and Deep Dell Creek—tributaries of the Taieri River—and, at Murphy's Flat, about seven miles from Mount Highliy. Coal Creek, about twenty miles above Mount Highlay in a northerly direction, has also been prospected with success. The population is at present very limited, but these localities will probably receive iiiSre attention etc long. The beat route is by way of Wakonaiti.

Several promising gullies have recentlybeen opened out in the western slopes of the Umbrella ranges, near the Mount Benger gold field ; and on Switzer's run, between the Umbrellas and the Mataura, a number of miners have set in, and are making good wages. The best road to these localities is by the main south road and Mnlyneux Ferry, thence to Roberts' station northwards.

The Wakala river and several creeks in the same direction have also been found to contain payable gold. About 700 persons are now working at Moair Gully, Macpherson's Run, in the Raggedy Ranges, and are reported to be doing well. Gold has also b:en discovered on the sea coast at Moeraki beach, where it is intermixed with iron sand and fragmentary gems. On all the roads, provisions can now be obtained at inns, accommodation houses, and stores, and when these fail at any of the numerous stations.

Dunedin, Ist April, 1863,