MARLBOROUGH.

Otago Witness, Issue 657, 2 July 1864, Page 22

MARLBOROUGH.

(From the '• Havelock Mail," 22od#June.)

Abeivalj of the Escort.— The amount of gold brought riown by the e»corc from Deep Creek on Monday proves most conclusively the auriferous nature of our gold fieids, and will tend to brighten the prospects of the hardy miner determiued to brave the winter amorgst'us, in hope the coming spring' will recompense him for privations and long suffering. The gold collected for transmission to.Picton, though lar^ein quai.tity, does not by any means give a correct idea of what has been taken from the Wakamarina during the last fortnight, parcels continually coming hero by hand, and much still remaining at eep Creek. Notwithstanding evpry publicity was given to the fact, both bj advertisement and poster, that the escort would rea?h Deep Creek on Saturday Isjgfc, many persons al eged they bad not heard of it, and were not prepared in consequence t> avail themselves of the services of the police. Of the amount sent down - 07! dwtgr Diggers contributed „. . . 945 2 19 Banks 14U1 10 0 Other sources 180 0 0 Total 2526 12 19 The fine weather we have enjoyed up to the present gives indications of a change, which must materially affect the yield of gold, aud a corresponding reduction in the returns be expected ; but this is not to be wondered at wheu we reflect we are now in mid- winter.

Th.c Superintendent of Marlrorough, by virtue of powers and auiht rity vested in him by Governor Sir George Grey, has proclaimed the Pelorus Gold tfieid, which is thus defined :—: — "All that territory comprising one hundred and seventy-five thousand acres or thereabouts, situate within the Watershed of the Ranges enclosing the basin of the Pelorus River to that point in th° said river as may be determined by the intersection of the said river with a line drawn North-west (true bearing) from the Northwestern boundary of the township of Havelock, being.the North-west corner of Sect on one hundred and two of the said township The aforesaid territory to include only such portions as are included within the boundaries of the Province of Marlborough." Cahjas Town.— -There ha 9 been more gold taken put of Wilson's claim during the last week than on any previous occasion. The value of what yeas taken out on Friday and Saturday, amounted to Ll5O. Two men sold out on Thursday for loz. each. ■ A meeting was held at the Golden Age Hotel, on Monday, 20th June, relative to the deep sinking at Canvas Town. Mr Allen .was unanimously voted to the chair. Mr Lockharti proposed and Mr Aymar seconded the following resolution, which was unanimously Carried ;*-•? That Mr Connor snd party proceed with the sinking, and, should more hands be required, .the Committee do find them." It was also proposed that Mr Alien and Mr Askew endeavor to raise, subscriptions. The gentlemen accepted* the, office, and pledged themselves to canvass for assistance. After a vote of thanks to the chairman^ the meeting separated. The other •haft at, Canvas. Town is progressing favorably, the sinking now having reached nearly fifty feet. The hole is slabbed, and every hope is entertained of seen reaching the bottom.

(From the •' Marlborough Press," 22nd June.)

The Correspondent of the "Press," writing on the 20th Jane, says :— . I have just visited the far-famed Forks, and have witnessed the success of many who still continue to obtain gold by the pound weight, but it is only by great perseverance and tact that you can get any reliable information from the miners, they Being particularly ehy of communicating to strangers the amount of cold they are obtaining ; and, perhaps, very justly so, as there is no police protection, But, once they became aware oi who I wst>, several .bad no hesitation in not only telling me of the amount, but showed me the gold j and in the possession of six persons, 1 saw •Tec. five hundred ounces, and I am satisfied,

from actual observation, that others are doing equally well, and that few of the miners dispose of more gold than what will supply them with the actual necessities of life. Tula may to a cer tain extent account for the srnalln^ss of our pscorr«, particularly when it is taken into consideration that the banks are offering a particularly 'ow figure for gold.

There ia a report current that, eight miles above the Forks, heavy finds are being made, and that seventeen ounces was taken off the bottom of one paddock : for the accuracy of this statement I cannot nor wili not vouch, but can positively assert that great exoitfinent prevails relative to it, and that several enterprising storeke c pers are already on their way to this, the latest discovery.

At the Beep Creek all is stir and activity, giving; evidence that all working upon this creek are well satisfied with the results of their labor. Of course, there are some who never can nor will do any good for themselves, but this is not the' fault of the field, but of the individuals, who. in mining' parlance, are downright loafers. The oily complaint I heard, and that is loud and general, is the low price offered for the gold, and the miners seem determined to keep what they have until they can obtain at least L 8 15a per ounce. They believe that at that price the buyer will have a fair profit upon his purchase ; but, as I am not an assayer, I must leave the matter to be decided between them and the banks.

On the Wakaraarina things are progressing sfeadi'y and favorably, and numbers of miners have settled down for the winter, aud ail wears the aspect of being permanent. I met some miners here with whom I was acquainted in Otaao, and they informed me that, after trying several phces without the slightest success, they struck into a claim that had been abandoned and obtained twp hundred ounces iv four weeks,- and they aiso said that numbers were doing well, and as soon as their claims were worked out, they pa -ked up their traps and made for Picfcon, and then<e to Dunedin or Melbourne, where they could obtain a better price for 'their' gold. " Be. sides," said one of them with a knowing wink, "the present Superintendent is such a kind fellow that he never thinks of asking for export duty, which adds another half-crown to the value of the gold." 1 was told by several that « great many of the miners who had left this place intend returning in the spting.

A great amount of satisfaction has been expressed by the mining community at the appointment of a Warden, and Gold Receiver ; this certainly ought to have been done at a much earlier date, but the miners say— ♦' better late than never." However, it is to be hoped now that a Warden is appointed that mining rules and regulations will at once be established, instead of those now in existence.

The eocjit will take down this time 25260z 12Jwt 19 »r. Sergeant Moore informs me that it wouW have been niueh heavier, but diggers will not part with the precious metal until a higher price is offered.

Havelock continues to stretch out in every di rection, ana cast your eye which way you will, buildings of every conceivable form and structure are to be met with. The Btreets are being formed and brought to their permanent level ; and Mr M uir, the contractor for the jetty, is pushing it forward witK vigor and activity. (Jpon the wholn, everything denotes a degree of energy and go ahead btyle.

t The road between Have'ock and Wilson's public house is wonderfully improved, and the packers all express themselves highly pleased with the improvements up to the point alluded to. but say that it will be imnos'ible to reach either the Deep Creek or the Forks when the wet weather sets in, unless something is at once done to remedy the present frightful state of ihis portion of the road, I can fully endorse all said by thr-m, and to my painful experience can say, that Inever travelled a muddier, dirtier, or worse piece of road in th.9 whole of my gold fields' experience.

In connection with this portion of the road, between Havelock and Wilson's, I regret to learn that the employed cannot obtain their wages for the work done, and although they have worked a fortnight they have not, bam able to receive one penny, and many of them have not the means of obtaining a meal's victuals. The meu do not blame Mr Chevannes, the gentleman superintending the works, bat all speak very highly of him At the same time they say, the Government have broken faith with them, inasmuch as they understood they could obtain the money for woat they had done at any time. I know of my own knowledge, that some such determination was arrived at by the Council, so as to enable men so employed to go to any rush that might break out. To say the least, Bueh treatment is very hard upon the men, aud injurious to the credit of the Province, and the sooner the evil complained of is rectified, the better it will be for all parties concerned.

While speaking of roads, I cannot forbear 1 noticing the disgraceful state of that portion be- ! tween Mahakipawa and the Grove. Some fire weeks ago I passed along this route, end at that time considered ifc a very passable track, but since then I am informed that the Government have expended a large sum of money, which, as the Irishman would have it, has tended to im- 1 prove it for the wor«e, and for fully two mites a succession of barrloades have been formed by felling huge trees, which have so completely blocked up the thoroughfare that pedestrians have fco clamber over the logs the best way they can, which, to the cost of your correspondent's shins, he is familiarly acquainted with. Why these logs have not been removed, or felled in a different direction, £ am at a loss to understand. However, I can only say that numbers who were travelling with me said, if. was for the accotn- ] mndation of the saw-mills. Of this I know! nothing, but do think it would be wise on the part of the Government to have these logs rolled j to one side of the road forthwith, and they would ' come in admirably for sleepers for the tramway | now in contemplation. By doing this, it would be a great Baying in the construction of such a work. : Several of the parties engaged in forming a portion of the road, near to MahakJpawa, informed me, that with (working every day, snd Sunday included, they could not make more than from three to four shillings per day. It is quite unnecessary for me to make any comment opoa this, but I will allow it to speak for itself. In conclusion, I may state that the weather is all that can be desired, with the exception of the first thing in the morning and at night*, when the frost is intensely cold. In fact I don't remember feeling it so cold in Otago, but this is to be accounted for by the general warmth of tie sun. during the day.