HARTLEX TOWNSHIP,

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 2 December 1862, Page 2

HARTLEX TOWNSHIP,

251h November, 1862. The accounts received to-day from the Cardrona are unfavorable, though strong opinions are entertained that gold exists there in quantities. The valley or creek is about thirty miles long, and is represented as promising eventually to turn out well. The flats, spurs, and creeks are auriferous, but exceedingly patchy. The prospectors are not working at present to any extcnVbut ; Btick to their ground.

persons are prone to call it a storekeepers'rushy from the fact of a dray load of goods being found there when the first persons arrived on the spot, .and also because" the Banie dray Has often returned. The name of a leading house lias been freely, mentioned, but the chief cause of discontent and dissension is the effect of the news received from Fox's rush. No later reliable hews frofn that place has yet been received, and the most exaggerated statements are current. Some speak in the highest terms, and others: in -. the most discouraging manner. Which view is the correct one I trust soon to be able to state upon sound and safe information Two other discoveries have been reported to day, bet in neither insta'nee can the localities be proclaimed, in consequence of the Commissioner being unable to afford protection to prospecting parties beyond the limited proclaimed area of the Dunstan gold field. People are getting too shrewd to make fresh discoveries known, unless they can obtain extended claims. When this state of maters becomes more generally known, the difficulties of obtaining correct information will increase. The escort must come to be looked upon, under such a system, as the most reliable test and guide of the gradual and successful progress of the district. This delay will, however, mar its more rapid advance, as properly authenticated statements of new finds give a valuable encouragement to those prospecting for new places, and likewise lead to a more certain knowledge of the localities in which efforts may with great confidence be directed. Messrs. Miller and Gohen, large whole sale storekeepers in this town, report having purchased this afternoon 180 ozs. of rough, dark gold, the produce of a few days' work, from a parly of four men. , The same party sold, on the 15th instant, 34 ozs of a similar description of gold. It is almost black, and very heavy, and in large pieces. It evidently comes from a burnt reef, and is of a peculiar character. They refuse to state the locality, but it cannot be far from this place, in consequence of the frequent visits they make to the township. A party also applied to the Commissioner for a prospecting claim. The prospect obtained was 2 ozs. to five tin dishes. The gold was likewise in a few pieces. They stated that on washing the stuff they first threw away, it averaged from one to three pennyweights to the tin dish. The very heavy gold was obtained about a foot from the bottom. When they learnt that their request could not be complied with, as being beyond the boundaries of thi9 gold field they refused to make known the whereabouts of the discovery. A rumor of another discovery, in which five pounds weight is the prospect obtained for a day's work, is pretty generally believed, but so far I have been unable to authenticate the fact of its being procured. Parlies have just arrived from Fox's rush. From their account, they state that a Mr. Low and Mr M'Gregor, havebeen working there on the " quiet " and are large holders of gold, exceeding anything that Fox obtained. These gentlemen are stated to be connected with a station-holder, near this place, and at the time they found out the gold they were looking out for new stations. These parties speak well of the district; but found the ground verylimited on the Arrow Eiver, and very wet, requiring pumps, &c. The spurs of the hills were the richest places. Provisions were very dear and unobtainable. The country is by these stated to possess a most promising appearance; and they believe that enormous yields will be found in it. Provisions are the great drawback at present. They stale that Fox did not discover the ground, but found Low and M'Grrgor at work there. They also state that they heard it asserted, that these two men had obtained more gold than ever Hartley and Reilley did. They add that it is no use going without a pack horse, tools, and a stock of provisions. These are all the particulars I can learn of a truthful nature. Have just learnt that the five pounds weight is a real fact, and was obtained somewhere about the Bannockburn, on the road to ihe new rush. It is about a day's journey from this. The exodus has been so steadily kept up, that the main street almost looks deserted, in comparison with the last two days. It is now possible to walk down it, in compa rative comfort, and without being jostled at every step. The "shepherders" of frontages have followed the stream, and thinned the end of the street near the camp. Pack horses are in immense demand, and bringing most extravagant prices. One, possessing three legs and a "swinger," was sold for .£6O, less than an hour ago. The correspondent of the Daily Colonist, writing from the Dunstan, November 22, says: — 'William Fox and his mate reurned to-day from a prospecting tour. They deposited at the Camp 236 ozs. 5 dwts. of gold, the whole of which they have collected in less than a month, together'with 10 lbs. weight which was taken to Dunedin by two of the party some fort- j night since. Mr. Fox informs me that the locale where the whole of the gold was obtained is the Roy River running into Lake Wakatip. The distance from the Bunstan for foot passengers map be travelled in some forty miles, but the road for pack horses is about eighty miles. He imagines that all supplies of goods must be forward- \ ed from Inrercargill, their being no avail- ; able road from either Dunedin or any of the more northern ports of the Otago Province". There ar* at present no provisions of any kind to be obtained in the neighbourhood, but doubtless no length of time will be allowed to elapse before stores are forwarded. An abundance of timber is to be found in close proximity to the Roy River, but it is absolutely essential to impress upon all parties who may propose starting for this new El Dorado, that it will be some time before any stores can reach the place. ' Consequently those who dp not wish to starve must equip themselves with all the necessaries for at least a month's camping out. The field of Mr. Fox's labours is on Mr. Rees' run, and in close proximity to Lake Wakatip."