THE DIGGINGS AT DUNSTAN CREEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 658, 9 July 1864, Page 13

THE DIGGINGS AT DUNSTAN CREEK.

By permission of the Government, we are enabled to publish the following report: —

JUtjsstan Greek, 23rd June, 1864. Str -I have the ho* or to inform you, th it in accordance with instructions contained in your letter of the 10th inst., No. as per margin (884), I duly proceeded to Dunstan Orrek, after following the old Waikouaiti roa-1 from Manuherikia township for about (30) thirty mile-. I turned off to the north about (1] one mite from Mr Hhiel's station, crossed the Manuherikia River, and followed a dray track alomr a sour which, after about (8) eight miles, brought me lo the head of a gully about (1) one mile from the Uunstun (Jreek, at the foot of the Mount St B.ithan Ranee, where the present township of Duastan Oreek is situated ; it consists of one narrow street, with about (20) twenty good and substantial Bto~es, (4) four public houses, and an agency of the Bank of New Zealand. The diggings commence on the side of the lower portion of the street, to and over a ppur, anJ in the adjacent gullies, to tho north of the township ; tue be*f claims hive been on the too of the said spur, and somugo-xl ones are still being worked there. On the sides and in the gullies the average depth of sinking ia aoout (12) twelve feet, through fine loam and gravel. Some industrious miners Inve tried and found a second bottom at a depth of (60) sixty feet, but on account of tin expense of slabbing, few others hay* followed their example, although the gold is payable. The water supply is good. Patterson and party have brought in a race from a creek, locally named the Wild Duck Creek, running into the Manuherikin River, between the flawkclun Ranges and Mount 8t Bathan's, about (12) twelve miles, which f.upplies (10) ten sluice heads of water. Another party have also commenced a race some (2) two miles further, and expect, to have it completed in a month's tin.c. This will give every miner an ample supply of water on the principal di reiiifrs There is every probability of the miners, duriuomany days in the winter, being at a standstill, as the weather here is very severe, as much as (8) eight an<l (10) ten feet of snow ha 3 been known to lie in this gully. The gold is the finest nnd lightest weighing; I have ever seen, mixed with h«avy grey sand and mica, consequently requires great care in the washing, but c«n be found in any put, more or less payable, but hett-r adapted for sluicing ; the average yield is about (600) six huiuKed ounnoa per week, which, ns the population is about (1000) oue thousand, gives an average of one-half an ounce per week per man. I have also visited Dunsian Creek Pro Dec, which is about (i) foar ruiUs from this township, under the Du~ sten Ganges, and on a creek of the same name ; there bave been soms ■ good claims here, bat most of the old ground is worked out, however, the diggers remaining, about (100) one hundred, are all doing well (principally Cornishmeu), and have made themselves comfortable in soJ hu 8, evidently with the intention of remaining duriutc the winter months ; indeed the whole population iv this district appear to he settled for the winter. The scarcity of timber is of course a great drawback, but a good substitute, In the Bhape of lignite, is found very plentifully, and of very fair quality. The ttorekeepur.? andjdigcers complain (utterly for the want of a post office, the nearest being at Hill's (Jreek, a distauce of(l) eight miles. Mr Barr. however, who visited this plaes a short time since, held out hopes of them being ono established. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, GeORQE STEPHBN3ON. Vincent Pyke, Esq , R M., Secretary, Gold Fields' Department, Dunedin.