T HE NOKOMAI.

Otago Witness, Issue 568, 18 October 1862, Page 3

T HE NOKOMAI.

OFFICIAL REPORT. The following was isssucd from the Daily Time.'i Office on Saturday in the shape of aii Extraordinary : — Dailt Times, Saturday, 11th Oct., 2 p.m. By the courtesy of the Commissioner of Goldficlds ;\ve are enabled to publish the following official report received this day :—: — REPORT, ife-tSc^-. 2nd Oct., 1862. Sergcrmt Bayley reports, ior th"S-*i. n<i ">rmation of the Commissioner of Police, with rctercav*.'!* to the Nokomai rush, that these dig^in^s aic I not turning out so rich as was at first chough. , thi?y would bj. The population has itmch decreased during the last ten days, the number at present on the field not Ivnnn- above .100. and although there have been a great many arrivals, the departures have far exceeded them. Most of the ground in the lower part of the gully has been abandoned. In many of these claims tail-races were cut from 200 to 300 feet in length, and from 8 to 1 0 feet in depth ; paddocks then sunk sto 6 feet further (hi all fifteen feet), but not bottomed, the amount of water to be contended with, and want of proper appliances to keep it clear, rendering the proving of the ground impos ible. Neither have there been prospects struck sufficiently rich to induce the'miners to go to the amount of labor and expense necessary before the ground could be properly tested. The depth of sinking in this part of the gully cannot be less than from twenty to twenty-five feet, and through nothing but loose shingle. In the upper part of the gully, for about a mile above and below the prospecting claim, parties arc at work both in the bed and banks of the creek ; but, after careful enquiry, Sergeant Bayley cannot learn that any claim is paying more than bare wages, imwt even not that ; the sample °of gold encouraging the miners to < hold on in the hope of striking something better. Generally speaking Victoria Guily i-s as yet a failure, and great disappointment is evinced by most of the miners. The only claims to be quoted as doing anything, a>-e the prospectors, Knlcoy and Co., andMaories. Even these j at best, have not averaged more than halt an ounce a day per man. Sergeant Bayley further begs to report that the jSTokomai has been prospected in several places, but from the depth and loose nature of the sinking, and quantity of water, bottoming I has as yt been found impossiblp. In conclusion, Sergeant Bayley begs to inform the Commissioner that a great many are prospecting the neighborhood, but as yet but one party have struck anything. These men (Scott and party) applied at the Camp for a prospecting claim, stating that they had found payable gold j about ten miles from Victoria Gully. Sergeant Bayley accompanied them on the 30th ult., and found that they were working at the junction of a small creek, with the Waikaia River, S.E. from Mort Creek, on the opposite side of the Steeple Mount, and about ten miles distant from the junction of the Moa Creek and the Nokomai. The prospect washed from a dozen dishes while Sergeant Bayley was present, was about half a dwt. each, coarse gold, more waterworn than Victoria Gully, but not so nuggety; about two (2) feet of wash dirt, and soft slat}' bottom. It is a question at present whether there is much ground in this place or not near the prospecting claim, they being at work on a point jutting into (and most of the miners are of opinion that tlie patch struck is merely a deposit from) the river. Whether the river will pay for working or not, remains to be proved; but, from the size and rapidity of the stream a great deal of difficulty is to be expected. That it is auriferous, there is no donbt. The small specimens enclosed were picked up by Sergeant Bayley on the bare reef, about 200 yards below, and on the opposite side of the river from the prospectors. To reach this locality from Victoria Gully, the Moa Creek lias to be followed up to its source, crossing the Dome and Steeple Ranges at the Gap, proceeding thence S.E. to the Waikaia. The prospectors are working on the river. This route is impracticable for anything except men on foot and even then difficult from the precipitous and rugged nature of the country. In the event of this becoming a payable gold field, Sergeant Bayley believes that a practicable road for drays could be found on the south side of the Waikaia, via Mr Shand's station, on whose run these diggings are supposed to be. A great many diggers have left Moa Creek for this place, concerning which Sergt. Bayley will be able to forward full particular in next report. A. large and extensive hush is on the spot, suitable for all mining purposes. (Signed) Rekjjaspn; Bayley, „. T . _. . Sergeant, at. 4ohn Bramgan, Usq., J,P., Commissiouer of Police, Duneduu