THE GOLD FIELDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1090, 17 June 1865, Page 10 (Supplement)

THE GOLD FIELDS

But little change has taken place in mining prospects since our last summary. There has been a gradual return of many from the West Coast, who migrated thither on the first discovery of gold there; and on most of the old and settled gold fields, the miners look forward with hope of abundant success as soon as the season of the year admits of a steady prosecution of their work. As a rule, the miners are well satisfied with the returns they are obtaining ; for although there have been no extraordinary finds, the yield of gold has been fully equal to what might reasonably be anticipated, considering the reduction that has taken place in our mining population. It is no doubt much more 'difficult now than formerly to learn the produce of the various claims. In the excitement of a first discovery, good finds are more disquently blazed abroad than aftet wards when gold raining has assumed the form of a settled industry. The return then becomes more a thing of every day occurrence ;it excites no wonder, and is not made a matter of boast. Occasionally, however, a glimpse is obtained as to what is doing, and such an one is given in a report of the Warden at the Lake District; who, writing thence about the period of the departure of the last mail, says:— "During the last few weeks, I have been enabled to report a steady improvement in mining matters. This improvement still holds, and instances of individual success are more frequent. In a late report I mentioned that a party of men at Moke Creek had divided LIOO per man as a week's work ; the same party last week divided L7O per man also as a week's work. There is an enormous extent of ground in this direction untouched. The Moke, however, is fast regaining its old character." " The Bucklerbum has suffered less from the exodus to the West Coast than any portion of the district; the population there is, however, increasing. During a recent visit there I found every one doing well. Some of the extended claims will give reumuerative work for two or three years" : But other evidence than that of the report of the yield of particular washings up is sometimes given of the value of shares in mining claims, aDd the most reliable is, the prices they will command in the market. Turning to the Tuapeka district, on the 29th of May, a report was published of the selling prices on that Gold Field. On the Blue Spur, Clayton and Co's claim, in six shares, was valued at LBSO per share without water; Speers and Co.'s, consisting of four shares, LSOO per share ; M'Kenzie and Co.'s, seven shares, L6OO per share, with water; Strong and Co.'s, 8 shares, L 650 per share, with water; Hales and Co 's, two shares, LISOO each, with water; Hughe3 and Co.'c, six shares, LBSO per share, with water; Kirby and Co.'s, four shares, L6OO each, without water; Riches, one chare, L2OOO without water. And these are not imaginary values, for Bales have been effected at these quotations. The rush to the Nevis mentioned in the last summary has opened up what is likely to prove a valuable extension of the Gold Field. A systematic examination has been made of its probable area, and the result is favorable. The surface is variable. Entering at its southern boundary, a s}'stem of gullies proved to be rich, is traversed. Large quantities of gold have been obtained from them, but from the severity of the climate, and the scarcity of fuel, they can only be worked at present during eight months of the year. The gullies open on to a flat, about four miles in length. This has only been very partially, prospected ; but, " taking into consideration the richness of the adjoining gullies, the description of gold found, and that the ranges on each side slope for miles into it, and form a well-developed basin, there can be little doubt of its being highly auriferous." In Wnitton's Gully, through which a creek flows, available for working both the gully and the terraces, a large party of miners has, "uninfluenced by rushes, wrought steadily on for the'last fifteen months, in a succession of claims, merely shifting up their pegs as cround becomes worked out." There is therefore every reason to suppose that valuable ground exists there. About half a mile to the north some terraces, formed by land slips, have proved exceedingly rich, and very good dividends are realised. The middle gorge commences' each about half a mile below the ranges on si ie of the river which flows through it. The ground is steep and r..cky. G.ol-J was found in the bed of the stream, which will mo9t probably be reworked with success. Leaving the gorge, the river is joined by a creek known as Commisbioner's Creek, and flows through a flat on which some rich claims have been worked. A lead from it is being prospected with every indication ot success. The scene of the new rush is about half-a-

mile further down the river. The workings are' in its bed. The lead has been traced about a mile, by an average breadth of. one hundred yards. The prospects obtained in the claims last bottomed are equal to any previous ones, and already in machinery and appliances about L2OOO has been invested. The earnings pf the miners are estimated to average LlO a-week. Passing two gullies that have been worked for two years, an itnrnense area of ground is reached, the portion of which that has been tried, has yielded a high rate of wages. There are numerous other creeks and gullies presenting every appearance of being rich in the precious metals, but which remain to be tried; and scattered over the western slope of the Carricks are the Roaring Lion and many small workings. These present difficulties which have prevented their being mined, not withstanding their known richness— the principal impediment being their elevation, which is estimated at from 3000 to 4000 feet above the level of the sea. A large area has through this rush been added to the already large extent of our known auriferous land. But extensive as the known fields are, they bear but a very small proportion to the probamV gold-con-taining area of the Province. On the 31st of May, 1864, in accordance with a rcEolution of the Provincial Council, a Commission was appointed to inquire into and report upon the value of the unsold knd in the Province, to classify it, and also " to ascertain the auriferous character" of the waste lands. The Commission laid their report on the table of the Council on the 11th of May last. In addition to the political head of the Land Department, Mr H. J. Miller, the Commission comprised Mr W. H. Cutten, Chief Commissioner of the Waste Land Board; Dr Hector, F.G.S., Geologist to the Provincial Government; and Mr J. T. Thomson, C.E., F.R.G.S. The portion of the report having special application to the gold fields is as follows:—

"There is every reason to expect, judging from the reports laid before the Commissioners, that at least the present yield of gold will be maintained for many years to come, and as miners acquire confidence in the results of those processes which require an outlay of capital, it is probable it may be greatly increased. The mining population appears to be settling down in the various localities where they obtain steady employment, hence the limits of the areas which will require to be reserved for mining purposes, from lease or freehold, are becoming more easy of definition. At the present time, however, it is impossible to indicate what particular districts it is desirable to withdraw from sale. In some forms of mining, such as ground-sluicing and "hydraulicing," which require large outlay of capital, and totally destroy ground for all future purposes, it would be advantageous both for the miner and the country, that the operations should be conducted upon freehold land. With a permanent mining population it would be necessary to afford facilities for acquiring freeholds in detached localities, which object would not be obtained were any general system of reservation of the auriferous lands adopted. With regard to the value of the Gold Fields, in forming an estimate of the natural capital of the country, it may be stated that the produce of gold up to the end of the year 18G4, or three years and a halt from the date of the discovery of Gabriel's Gully, was L 6,316,340. But judging from the present escort returns, which have for some time past averaged 10,000 oza per fortnight, the annual produce may be estimated at a value of L 1,000,000 sterling. This amount, according to the estimate made by the Secretary of the Gold Fields, in November, 1864, is procured by the labors of 12,000 actual miners. With respect to the area of surface which is occupied in mining operations, it is to be observed that out of 10,000 square miles occupied by the auriferous formations, it would appear that only 677 square miles, or roughly, 400,000 acres have been practically ascertained to be auriferous. From an examination of the reports of the Mining Surveyors, it may be inferred that each miner occupies about one-third of an acre per annum, so that at present there are probably not more than 4000 acres actually occupied by miners, which is only one-hundredth part of the country which has been ascertained to be auriferous by practical test. Of other products of the country, comprising principally coal and building materials, and prospectively copper and other ores, no accurate estimate of their value can be formed ; but it is certain that there is a large amount of natural capital to be included under this head."

It is right to remark that the estimate of the mining population was made from data which only enabled the Commission to arrive proximately at the truth, and before the Hokitika rush took place. From the revelations of the census and the numbers that went to the AVest Cjast there is every reason to believe that not more than between 5000 and 6000 person 3 were actually engaged in mining.