GOLD FIELDS WARDENS' REPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 649, 16 January 1864, Page 5

GOLD FIELDS WARDENS' REPORTS.

The folbwiog is extracted from the reports of the Wardens of the fields nameJ, for the 'week ending on the 9th inst. :— Wakatipp.—Mi- Beetham states that a new rush is reported to have taken place some distance up the Rees River, but he had no reliable information respecting it Some wepks sL-icp, parties left the head of the Lake, wi'h tfle inten tion of prospecting in that direction, ani they were reported to have stru k pay ble gold about, 40 miles up the Rees. The weather during the week has been cold and boisterous, and snow has fallen in the ranafs. The estim ted population of the district is 3780, of whom 28<lO are miners. Upper Shoiovbr. Mr Broad writ.-s that at Maori Point the United and Pc severance Go's have successfully repaired the wall of ths-ir ra^e, and Sullivan's party hay bottomed a paddock which i 9 expected to be vtry rich, the gold being clearly visible, and thick, in the wash. dirt. From the Sand Hills and kipper's Gully the accounts were encouraKing, and the miners generally were in better spirits owing to the fall of the Shotover. Ths machinery in connection with the quartz vein was nearly completed, and the producing capabilities of the loie would be fully tested. Miners, 2600 ; others, 250. Manoherikia.— Mr Hicksoa reports, that the race belonging to Brusnmins and Company was progressing favorably, audit was proposed to extend it spven miles more, so that a more liberal supply of water would be secured. There were eager applications for extended sluicing claims near the terminus of the race on the banks of the river, and it could not be douhted that. many men would eventually obtain good wages from that source. The Molyneux was subsiding, and from there being no snow in the ranges, was expected to continue to do so. DuNSTAN.—Mr Bobinson writes that the rush at Hamilton's had drawn away many men lately, but it was by no means certain hat they were lost to the district. The estimated population was—miners, 2000; others, 40tt. Mr Robinson adds—"Kvery day.the interest that attaches to .the extensive terrace flats which border the River Molyneux increases. In some ot my late reports,! have had to notice the vigorous way in which some of the miners in the immediate vicinity have been setting about tunnelling. I have now the satisfaction of noting that a company of townspeople and others is being formed with the special object of testing the auriferous capabilities of the Dunstan Flat, by sinking _a shaft at a distance of about a mile from the river bank. ; This company seems determined to set about the thing in a business-like way, and to risk a conaiderable expenditure to set at rest, if possible, the .iqie«tion of the value of the terraces as fields for mining industry; The weather has been variable but generally hot on the low grounds, althoueh snow-/ell On the Obelisk Bange during the week." Arrow. —Mr Broad estimates the number of minors at 2120; others, 380. He writes- " Mining matters are still brisk, a»id upon the, whole going on very smoothly. Sluicing is still paying up the. Arrow and its tributiries. The Twelve'mile Creek i> very active, and there is at present a considerable portion of ground in that locality which has nevi r been tried. To all outward appearance it is auriferous. Bracken's ■(Jully.i'9 still being worked, and operations there are carried on in a very spiri'ed manner. I have lately.seen some fair specimens of qunr'z found about three-quarters of a mile behnv the Gamp. The prospect is not sufficiently good to warran' my granting any extended claims, but at the same lime I think it will yield good wages, tl'hs reef is from 6ft to Bft below the surface.