FROM DUNSTAN TO THE WAKATIPU.

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 2

FROM DUNSTAN TO THE WAKATIPU.

(PROM THE SPECIITi CORRESPONDENT OF THE

DAILY TIMLS.)

About four o'clock on a fine afternoon on the 14th January, 1 left the Dunstan township and followed, down the cast bank of the Molyneux to its junction with the Kawarau. Along this distance hardly any difficulties exist against the formation of a good dray road. Three small rivulets or gullies will have to be bridged by culverts, but as an abundance of stone is in the immediate vicinity of them, they ofFer no expensive obstacles. The sidelings are very few and four men in a fortnight would do all that is required in respect to them. Two rocky points intervene in this distance and will entail more labor and expense than all the other portions of the road put together. Under an effective system of small contracts, the road would probably not co?t more than three hundred pounds to make pcrmiunmtly and properly. The miners " shepherding" river claims and others wanting a start would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of contracting for thesi works, and under the most ordinary supervision they could by this plm be economic illy and effectively done. Day labor and the expenses dependent upon the supervision and control of it, would seriously add to the cost of making this road. The east bank of the river is bounded by extensive flats or p';iteans finely grasstd, with comparatively speaking, gentle bills, sloping down and bounding them. The opposite shle is bold and prceipitcu* ; barren and rocky hills bound with a narrow margin the river on that side. On the east side, are one or two spots adapted for agricultural pursuit*, and one gully and one flat at its foot is admirably adapted for market gardens. One enterprising man has here fenced iv about an acre of ground, which wa^ all turned up and under crop. The latter looked very promising, and consisted of potatoes, cabbages, peas, and the usual roots grown. It struck me that the absence of the silver beet was a mistake, as it is easily cultivated, g**o\\s well and rapidly, and the leave* can be cut off weekly, forming a table vegetable almost unexcelled/ A dairy with its milking pen?, and a herd of cows also tended to relieve the monotony of a country, that generally presents the appearance of being deserted.

These flats have all been formed by the action of the river. They present almost a similar appearance to the immen«e lower one situated between the Ilarley and Manuherikia townships, except that instead of the gravel formation coming to the surface, they have a coyering of good alluvial soil in several places. They are no doubt- auriferous, and as water could easily be brought to bear upon them from a higher elevation, they will no doubt yet recehe a fair trial upon a better and more suitable plan than that of sinking holes or paddocks. When describing the Kawarau, the plan alluded to will be seen in full work. This side (the eastern) is lined with those fine mieacious sandy beaches, the dust of which is so annoying to ihe residents of the township. The mineralogical formation presents no change from that of the Dunstan, which has already be,en fujly treated upon. If advantage was taken of the fall of the river in the winter season to blast some of the rocks and bars that are the most obstructive, j.t w.ould materially add to the inducements to attempt the navigation of the river at a future period. Parts of the scenery are very bold and grand, and the river from the Gorge is particularly imposing. All along the river are peen the tents of the miners shepherding their claims or working the river banks with the aid of -the primitive cradle or tin dish, a system as uusuitcd, as can possibly be imagined for this class of workings, .though admirablyadapted for those of the river bed and bars. On Hartley's Beach the scene of t^c first rush, a considerable cluster of tents are met with. Here Mr T. Hope Baird has a store and the eccentric peculiarities of this gentleman afford a subject to be remembered by those who have slept under the roof of his ■store-.

The miners c,ll along the river loudly exclaim against the registration system. The objections ngainst it are, that it is only necessary to tak« up an imaginary claim, get it 1 egistercl for three months, go to the Lakes, work another claim and then return and establish their right under this legal sanction to a piece of the river bed which others may have been zesilously " shepherding" (personally) all ,the time, or for which they may have also obtained q, registration ticket of a similar nature. The gianiin^ of these protection or registration ccrtifi.i-.itos, has b.cen an evident stretching of the mining rules and regulation?. The clause under which they are granted, was evidently meant to protect those who had expended some amount of work upon their claim, or had used appliances, cut races, and otherwise attempted to woik /jiound. Parties who had performed operations of this kind come fully under (lie '• Protection" clause, but the iran who throws in four stones at four different places in! 0 a wide river, and says " that is 1113' claim," she] ai once proceeds through the form of getting iL •'protected," is placed — by the system "the Commissioner of the Dunstan has pursued in this matter — upon the same footing as those who have expended capital, time, cud energy in working or atte'mptVng to work their claiiA* 1 - In point of law, not one out of a hand red I ' of these protection arrangements avohUl, I' am convinced, stand good. Illegal, unjust, and injurious in the^ action, they are certain to 1 prove a fruitful' source of trouble and litigation. Already it has commenced, and disputes about these registered claims hayelecl

i to scenes of violence and numerous fights. i Three months experience has only tended to j confirm the value of the suggestions that appeared in your columns last November. It j was then painted out by your correspondent that the then rules regarding river workings in force woro quite unsuitable, and 1 howtvtr excellent in theory, ill-adapted practically for the subject. Had a mining surveyor been then appointed, r.n imaginary water line in the river taken as a guide, and a frontage system on both sides of the river I laid down (allowing the holders of claims to I re^i'tev under it), things would have gone on j smoothly, litigation avoided, and cause of com- | plaint been removed. The suggestion has not j boon adopted ; the inspection of tho heads of , departments has caused no change in the 1 former rules ; but the public and the miners j now look upon this method as the only one adapted to meet the complications that river workings entail. Particular stress has been laid upon these facts, because half a dozen rivers are proved to be auriferous, and the sooner a defined system is adopted the better ! for all interests.