COAL ISLAND DIGGINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 12

COAL ISLAND DIGGINGS.

Mr Rusha, who ha» just returned from this latest uncovered fil Dorado, has furnished the Southland Times with some information concerning the field which will be both interesting and useful, especially to those who may be thinking of trying their fortunes there. He aays there are now 114 men on the eround. Pour claims are in full working order and getting fairly satisfactory returnß. while three Claims are in process of opening up. These workings absorb about 30 of the men, and the remainder are prospecting, bringing In water, or otherwheengaged fn necessary preliminaries. The whole of the population, it may be said, is Bettled upon what is known as No 2 creek. This rivulet is reached by a tramp of a mile and a-half from the landing place; and although the intervening country Is pretty rough, a " eood* 1 man can do it in about half an hour. The creek is about two miles and a-half in length, with a small lake at Its head, say 30 chains long by 10 wide. The little valley of this miniatuie river Ib about one Chain and a-half wide, and gold has been foundthat is, the colour all over this area, which, by the way. is covered with pretty heavy bush. The 'fall is not very great, and in working care will have to be exercised to prevent a " jam from tailings and debris generally. The hland is pretty well covered with timber and scrub, and is pte-eminent for huge boulders, bo that locomotion is accomplished with difficult?- swamps, of course, lending Variety, if not new delights, to the taik of getting from one »pot to anoth°r. So far the water supply has been sufficient but it need hardly be said that. With to small a rainfall area, the quantity available must bd limited, except during unusually wet ■weather. The four claims on payable god are Treseder'B, Payne's, Ourran's, and West's. Theflrittiaraed party bottomed a 12ft x aoft paddock just before our informant came away. After getting to the wash, which lies on a slate bottom, they cleared the paddock in 2J days (six men) and gotrtoz _of gold. Mr Treseder, who returned with Mr Kusha, brought a Dortlon of the gold with him, inoluding a nugget of 16dwt; while Mr We«fc had in his possession one of 3ioz, one of 17dwt, and one of Udwt. AH the gold got is good rough stuff. A small sample of what Ib there called the fine gold, Bhown by Mr Ruiha, would pass as course on a good many fields. Mr Rusha was three weeks on the island, and was of ooune In the thick of it. The weather was broken during the visit but was not cold, the bush affording shelter. The boat harbour, where everything Ib landed, is sheltered from most winds, and with a very primitive jetty would be a comfortable and convenient landing place. Mr Payne, the original prospector, opened out first on what Is called No. 1 oreek, but although he got the colour he found it difficult to bottom, and bo shifted his operations to No. 2. with the successful result already known. A good deal of the No. 1 creek has. however, been taken up. and so haa the likely lookIng spoti on Nob. 3 and 4. A small rush set In to No. 3 a week »go owing to Mr Thomßon, of Invercarcill, finding a pennyweight bit there, but nothing further worth mentioning has been pioked up since, although the colour is found on all the creekß Two nartlea had gone to tho mainland to " give that a try." one of them being Me»rß Oullen and Clarke, of beaching fame, who left in the ketch Annie before the Janet Ramsay iaiU 1. Mr Huaha thinks there b a good deal of the ground that will pay few waaeß, but would advise none to "go without being well equipped, both with regard to provitionß and mining gear, especially Implements for blasting and moving timber and huce boulders out of the way." Mr Rusha returns to the field by the sb. Invercargtll next week. Before dosing, attention may be drawn to a considerable objection to the methods presently exlatlng with regard to the iaaue of the various documents required from the warden by the mit era. They haye now to proceed to River' on and make personal application for the ' righto," &c. whioh may be required, and the" hive to return to Invercargi.l to get theae documents signed. Of course, the connection between the island a^d civilisation i>, and will be, byveisel either to Invercargill or Bluff which ia the same thing; tiie warden retides in Invercargill. and vet applicants have to go to the district office at JMverton fur their papers This involves a lo« both of time and money. Fortunately Warden Hawoon ha! seen the inconvenience of the present arrangement, and it i« probable, if he can induce the Mines deDarfcmonfc to me the matter in the same light as he do^s. Hint, the method will V»e made more convenient ahortly.