THE GOLD FIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 754, 18 May 1864, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE GOLD FIELDS.

The accounts from the Gold Fields received since the publication of the last summary, are encouraging. The Escort returns show that the increased yield of gold mentioned at that time has been maintained, and although there has been some excitement among the miners in consequence of the glowing accounts ot discoveries of gold in the Province of Marlborough, and several have leit to try their fortunes there, the inducements scarcely appear sufficient to warrant the idea that they will be recompensed for their change of place, as the Gold Fields of Otago when skilfully and persistently worked, afford ample return for labor. The various circumstances under which gold is iound in the Province, of necessity renders sliglit fluctuations in the yield inevitable. The rocks in which it is embedded yield to atmospheric and thermatic influences, and crumbling under the combined action of frost, air, and water are washed down by the mountain torrents into the river's bed. When, therefore, the river workings are practicable they give in return for effort an almost incredible quantity of gold ; but from their very nature they are iwcertain and fitful. The alternations of this class of gold mining industry are well indicated by two accounts which were received within a very few days of each other. The one, which came to hand immediately after the publication of the last monthly summary, states—" It is a very pleasing fact to record that the happy consummation of all our hopes and cares through so many months of patient expectation, has at length arrived, and that at the present moment the Molyneux is as low as at any period of last winter; and, better still, steadily keeps falling. Those who were once residents of theDunstan, and are now absent, may judge of how low the river is

when I tell them they can walk out; to the large rocks opposite the township near the ferry without wetting the soles of their boots, and, to all appearances, will soon be able to walk much farther. The numbers of men that are flocking in from all quarters is positively surprising. Heavily swagged diggers and heavily swagged horses, hourly arrive, whose heavy swags consist of all the household gods of a mining party, from the black billy which boils the tea to the torn cat that kills the rats and mice. The Molyneux is the destination of all these tribes of wanderers. They come creeping into the township by twos and threes and sixes and sevens, camp lor the night for the double purpose of rest and hearing the news, and then depart in the morning in long strings, looking like miniature caravans, as they slowly drag their way Indian file fashion along the winding paths of the great flat lying between the Duiistan and Manuherikia. Below the junction, down to the Teviot, is the favorite locality, and claims on either side the river are fast being taken up and occupied, wherever the chances are that the still falling waters will lay bare some of the golden beaches which promise such a rich harvest, should only the present season continue favorable for its reaping ; and the present sate of the weather gives a satisfactory indication of that. A few weeks ago you might walk along the river's banks arsd scarcely meet a man to the mile; now ali is activity and bustle, while tents dot the ground in every direction, long deserted huts have been repaired, and the multitude of cavernous dwellings in the nooks and crannies of the great rockssome entirely natural, and others only partly so—are all again re-occupied, and every place which affords a shelter, let it be in ever so inaccessible a position, finds an inhabitant, who always manages somehow or another to overcome the difficulties besetting both ingress and egress to his habitation. Mining operations have in a great number of instances commenced in earnest, and the yield of gold in many cases surpasses that of last season. Numbers of claims that were then worked are paying better, this, their second time of being wrought, than at their firs' ; and in every instance I find where the beach is uncovered the miners are perfectly satisfied with the reward they meet. Some of the claim?, especially at the Manuherikia Junction, Doctor's, the Half, Twelve, and Fourteen Mile Beaches, are yielding fabulous amounts, and have more than repaid already for the months of lost time spent in shepherding them through the long summer. There are, of course, some claims, particularly where the banks are steep, that will require a further fall in the river of some two or three feet before they become workable; but, in the majority of cases, payable gold can now be obtained, and no man who is not afraid of work need fear but that a day's cradling will leave him at its termination much less than a pound's worth of gold. A great many claims are employing a large amount of hired labor, and many more would do likewise were it not for the difficulty in obtaiuing it. Wages are from five to six pounds per week, but not many men are to be hired at the former rate. I saw an acquaintance on Sunday la9t who required the services of three men, and who came all the way from the Three Mile Beach to the Dunstan, a distance of eleven miles, to obtain them, but was compelled to give the latter figure. At the same time, I should not by any means recommend men to come from a distance for the purpose of seeking employment, as a rise in the river would completely put an end to all necessity for hired labor, which, it must be distinctly understood, depends entirely on the water keeping at a low level." The rise thus incidentally alluded to actually took place, and five days afterwards, the same correspondent advises: —" Since my last, the Molyneux has slightly risen. It oommenced slowly to rise on Thursday morning till about noon on Friday, during which time it increased nearly two feet; it then remained stationary till Saturday afternoon, when it steadily commenced falling again. Although we have had no rain here, judging from atmospheric appearances, there must have been some further up country. A number of claims that were in work are now idle, but it is to be hoped they will not long remain so. Miners are still flocking in, and a very large number of parties working on the river are doing remarkably well; the large increase of this fortnight's escort over the last will fully prove thnt." Ten days later, the following allusion was made by him to other changes in the level of the river:—" The Molyneux, which gave such promises a week back of doinjj our bidding and ' keeping down,' has once more become rebellious and made a sudden rUe. It commenced on Saturday last slowly to increase in volume, and during that night it went up rather over a foot. The appearance of the weather indicated that in the Lake districts a considerable quantity of rain had fallen, and was still continuing to do so. During Sunda}' and Monday the river rose very rapidly, and the next morning the flood had reached its highest, and the waters flowed at least ten feet perpendicular in height more than when the rise commenced. The occurrence had a very depressing effect both upon the business and mining communities, and the surprise was so great that people could hardly make themselves believe that the untoward event had actually occurred. Numbers of diggers, especially those who had but just come on (he river, packed up their traps and left in disgust, and took their departure for whence they came; but those who hold good claims on favorite spots were not to ba frightened, and signified thier intention of seeing the winter out, it being a well understood fact that no permanent fall can possibly occur till such times as the frost binds up in iron chains the torrents flowing from the mountains, and causes the moisture falling from above, to descend in the s-hape of snow instead of rain. From the fact of the river having; been some fifteen inches lower than at any time last year, a large amount of fresh ground was opened, and many claims that never appeared above the surface of the water gave promises of yielding abundantly, so that many parties, instead of calculating their gains as heretofore by pennyweights, could do so by ounces. One party of my acquaintance having a claim on the Half Mile Beach, after paying £36 for wages, cleared .£22 per share, and then by a long way had not got into the best of their ground ; so that you may plainly see that the accounts of so much gold existing in the beaches of the river is no idle dream or freak of imagination but a sterling fact. And although things look unfavorable for obtaining any more of this treasure for the present, yet we by no means despair of ultimately reaching it, and converting it into good and lawful coin of the realm "

While the uncertainty of the river levels thus renders gold-seeking in their beds a fitful operation, and while it follows that some idle time must be anticipated, when

the opportunity which must, from the nature of things occur, actually presents itself for gathering the golden harvest, the result has hitherto been beyond expectation rich. Thus, " Mining operations at Arthur's Point and its immediate neighborhood continue to be carried on with great though not undivided success. One large claim has yielded 150 oz to the paddock; and another, called M'Goffins, the dividend has been BOoz to 90oz per man per week ; while at Dunn's it has amounted to the enormous sum of 2700z a man. Cartwright's beach is worked out. Meredith's party are said to have cleared £1500 each; auother party £800 each; and others have done fairly. The original prospecting claim on the beach belonged to W. Arthur, and was sold by him for a large sum. It has not turned out a very satisfactory investment for the purchaser, having proved to be not much better than a duffer. The Hibernian Beach Company seem to have abandoned their ground ; at least, it appears nearly smothered with water; and I have seen no machinery or signs of work for some time. On the Big Beach, a few claims are being worked, but no repaid have been effected to lhe dam, which wa3 broken through in the centre by the last floods. Sutherland's Beach affords some instances of signal success; two parties obtained, respectively, this week, 300oz, and 224 oz to the paddock."

The accounts from the Arrow River a^e equally encouraginor with those received of the banks of the Molyneux. The Warden, in his last report in April, wrote: — "Since my la-t I have visited the Twelvemile, and seen the different workings in that locality, and I have every confidence in the succoss of the operations carried on. That they are of a lasting and remunerative nature is certain, from the size ar;d prospects of the workings, and the majority of the miners are doins well and in good spirits. On the Arrow they are doing well, and some very good finds are bein^ made. The Cordrona still contributes its share, and a number are still at work in Bracken's, doing fairly."

Atid again, early in May:—"Some very go.)d finds have been made on the Cardrona. One instance in particular has come under my observation, that of two men, who in a few weeks washed out 221 ounces. The ground is certainly patchy, bat in many cases parties who have been enabled to give it a fair trial have not gone unrewarded. Sluicing is paying well on the Arrow, and if this winter continues fine, the miners will amply make up for the inclemency of lait."

In the Mount Ida district fresh discoveries of some importance have been made, and very extensive ground has been opened up. These were visited, at the request of the Secretary of the Gold Fields, by the Warden, who transmitted the following account of his investigations :—"I do myself the honor to report that in accordance with your verbal request, I yesterday visited the Dunstan Creek diggings. The road from here is by a foot-track at the base of the hills to the main Dunstan road, about a mile on this side of Lowe's accommodation house, thence by the main Dunstan road to a point about one mile be3 7ond Hill's township on that road, and thence by a foot track across the country direct to Dunstan Creek. The distances are—from Vincent to the main Dunstan road, seven miles, thence to Hill's township,eleven miles, and thence to Dnnstan Creek, seven miles, making a total distance from Vincent to the Dunstan Creek of twenty-five miles. The Dunstan road provides good travelling as far as it is followed, and the remaining portions, although rough in places, are not bad bush tracks. The main workings are upon the terraces of an amphitheatre enclosed by hills, but having an opening to the northwards, and comprise an area of about one hundred and fifty or two hundred acres. This estimate includes several small water courses, which can hardly be termed gullies, between which and the "workings on the terraces exists some quantity of unworked ground. The water courses alluded to have most of them been worked out and are now abandoned, but would no doubt pay fair wages to rework with proper appliances for sluicing. On the terrace itself the lead of wash dirt i? very distinct, and about six feet thick. Its depth from the surface varies greatly, and at the upper part of the terraces it crops out, but it dips at an angle much greater than the dip of the terrace. Where the sinking is shallow the ground has been worked in paddocks, but this can only be done across the width of the lead and for a short distance down the incline of the terrace. Below that the working is by shafts, and driving, and the depth of the shafts increases very rapidly the nearer they are to the gully to which the terrace slopes. The depth at which paddocking is used seldom exceeds fifteen or sixteeu feet, but the depth of the shafts varies from twenty-five feet upwards. The deepest shaft that I saw was forty-nine feet, and the prospectors informed me that they anticipated sinking twenty-five more before arriving at the bottom. Upon the other face of the hills encircling these workings (i.e., on the southern slope) is another gully which contains the richest ground in these diggings; the depth of sinking here seldom exceeds from twenty to twenty-five feet. The yield of gold is variously stated by the different parties at work at from lOdwt to 2oz to the load, but allowances (in the lower estimate, must be made for a disinclination by some miners to state the full amount of their gains This gully is not large, and seems to be now fully occupied. On the whole, these workings struck me as being of an importance not fully appreciated. The yield of gold on the main terraces averages certainly not less than lOdwtto the load, with 6 feet of wash dirt, and there is a large quantity of ground. The supply of water is hot at present sufficient to enable the most profitable method of working the ground to be adopted, but this want may be expected to disappear as winter approaches. I did not visit the lignite pits, but their situation was pointed out to me, and I was informed that there was an ample supply, and that the quality was good. Wood in average quantity is a'so to be had in the neighborhood. The population is about 500 or 600 miners, and about 100 storekeepers and employees. I am, however, assured that a great number have lately left for the Molyneux, whose return may be counted upon when that river rises. A gold field at Waihola has also lately been discovered, and was visited and reported npon by one of the mining surveyors, who states :—" The workings are atipresent confined to the gully shown in tracing, situate about half a mile north of the Waihola Hill, and were first opened out by the prospectors near the upper end, and have since been followed for a distance of about qnarter of a mile, the gully gradually opening out into a flat varying from five to ten chains wide. The depth of working varies from four to six feet, generally through about eighteen inches of

surface soil, from four to five feet of clay, I and in some places abeut one foot of wash dirt. The general character of the gold is large, angular, and very little water worn (nuggets having been found varying from one to five ounces), and is chiefly found in the bed rock, which consists of blue slate lying horizontally, and of which from about four to twelve inches is taken up and washed. The gold seems to be found in patches, mostly on the lower sides of the dips. The prospectors have been at work for about four months, and state that the largest amount of gold ob(ained by them in one week was twelve ounces. On the Siturday previous to my visit, one party obtained six pennyweights to one tin dishful, and during the time of my visit I saw one and a-half pennyweights washed out of about six buckets of washdirt, the stuff being put through the cradle without being puddled. The present mode of working seems to be of a very desultory nature; in some cases the washdirt is taken out of the claim, thrown into the hopper of the cradle, and panned off. There is only one long torn being worked. From samples of the gold I have seen, and the character of the surrounding ranges, I have no doubt but that quartz reefs will be found in the immediate neighbourhood of the present workings. One reef having been already reported to have been discovered about four miles from the diggings, the discoverer of which, at the time of my visit, was about starting to prospect it, but clecined being accompanied by any one, not wishing to divulge the precise locality till such time as he had tested the capability of the reef. The general aspect of the surrounding country is very similar to that of the Waipori, consisting of a series of made hills, thickly : strewn with quartz debris. I would especially recommend the line of country between the Waihoia and the Waipori to the attention of quartz reefers, and am of opinion that, if thoroughly prospected, good results would accrue. lam of opinion that in most of the flats and gullies between Waihoia, Waitahuna, and Waipori, patches of payable gold would be obtained if properly prospected, and that a large tract of auriferous country between the above named places still remains to be developed, and might be made the mean 9of affording profitable employment to many thousands of miners. Gold, in supposed payable quantities, was found some time ago near the Waipori bush. Timber for fuel is within easy reach of the diggings, a considerable amount being also obtained

in sinking." The accounts from Mount Benger accord pretty muc'i with those from other new workings, but there, the miners, confident of the value of the wash dirt, employed their opportunity to throw it up and wait for the river to wash it. "In the beginning of the week," says the Warden, "the river fell considerably below last winter level, admitting of a good deal of work being done on the beaches. All along the district was one busy scene of miners assiduously constructing wing dams, and getting the wash-dirt out, most of them being wise enough not to take time to wash it, but stacking it, in case a flood should come down and put a stop to more dirt being got out. To prove the wisdom of those who are doing so, the river rose a foot on Monday, and put a stop to some of the workings. It is almost impossible to give an estimate of the gold obtained in the district during the week, the miners, perhaps wisely, invariably avoiding interrogation as to the fruits of their labors. Suffice it to say, that there has been more gold offered for sale at many of the stores than the storekeepers had money to purchase. The population on the river is steadily on the increase, and generally things continue healthy and prosperous in the district."

A few days afterwards the correspondent of the " Daily Times," writing from the same place, remarked—" Within the last two days the waters have declined considerably, and this time, I trust, we shall not be disappointed. I may as well say that this rise was foretold on all sides, and is considered by all as only a very temporary matter, which must in the end prove rather a blessing than otherwise, by at once draining the country prior to the setting in of winter, at which time it is fully believed that we shall see a rapid and efficient fall. Mr Mining Surveyor Coates has paid us a visit within'the last week. He has been engaged in surveying land at Miller's Fiat, applied for by certain parties there under the " Leasing Regulations," for mining purposes. This is a very healthy sign, and fully proves the determination which many possess to settle here for a very considerable time, perhaps for life."

On the River Shotover, machinery, moved by the stream, is in several instances being constructed to aid in the extraction of the gold. No doubt the vast extent of ground which has proved to be payable, has been one of the inducements to these investments. From the Wardens' report in relation to that district, it would seem that these aids to labor are rendered necessary by the tendency of water to percolate through the drift, and thus to render mining unprofitable unless with the help of machinery. At the close of last month the Warden wrote: —"I have the honor to report that the miners are taking advantage of the continuance of fine weather and proving the richness of tiieir claims, which E am sorry to say in many instances has not proved so rich as their sanguine expectation led them to hope—the difficulty of overcoming the water, which percolates through the drift, is so great, that many claims have been abandoned in consequence. Other parties are taking them up and erecting undershot water wheels to pump tne water—the previous holders not having the means to do so. The Perfect Cure Company on Jack BB's Beach is yielding very rich washdirt—the richest I have yet seen, surpassing the celebrated Maori claim and Perseverence Company's claim, the original shareholders of which have cleared out with upwards of L 2,000 a man—their claims are being worked over again, the rich gentlemen not being content to work where the richest of the wash-dirt had been taken out. The terraces now occupy the most attention; little or no work having been previously done on them, in consequence of the gravel not being allowed to be sluiced into the river. It will take years to work out the terraces alone."

At Hamilton's, although the want of water forms some drawback to the present productiveness of the gold field, the races which are in course of formation will tend to remedy the evil. Great exertions are made to complete them, but they are not yet so far forwarded as to be useful. It appears highly probable that quicksilver will prove to be one of its products, as phenomena have occurred which lead to the belief of its existence in quantity. Our correspondent says:—" I have heard many miners say, in their opinion, there is quicksilver somewhere about the Hill. Several have had their gold fused together, simi-

lar to the action of quicksilver on gold in a retort —indeed, many have got sufficient quicksilver to use it in cradling." That various other products than gold are constantly presenting themselves in the process of mining is from time to time incidentally noticed; but time alone can fully develope the mineral resources of the country. Quartz reefs too are found, which promise to give permanent employment to a large population when the more ephemeral surface diggings are worked out, and from every hand accounts are received that on the soundest induction lea 1 to the belief that mines of wealth yet undelope J, await the application of skill, industry, and capital to realise handsome returns.