THE GOLD FIELDS' WARDENS REPORT.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 96, 2 October 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE GOLD FIELDS' WARDENS REPORT.

(From the Daily Times) Reports under date of the sth inst have been received from the various Wardens of Goldfields: — Mr Warden Hickson estimates the population on the Arrow River at 2450, of whome 1969 ara miners. He reports: — The weather has been very fair all the week, but Friday and Saturday brought a heavy fall of snow wliicli turned to sleet, and made everything mnddy and disagreeable, and the roads are again in a very bad state. The Arrow has risen slightly, but not to such an extent as to prevent working, Very good accounts have come from the Twelve-miles ; stores, &c , are in course of erection, and everything promises a flourishing township. The number of miners at Wakatipu is estimated by Mr Warden Broad at 2,000 and 770 others. Mr Broad gives the following information : — The discovery of copper ore in large quantities at Moke Creek is exciting some attention, and two verbal applications have been made lo me for ground. I have requested the applicants to make written applications, stating the area they repuire, which (after the Mining Surveyor has reported upon the nature of the ground) will be forwarded for the consideration of the Government. Mr Warden Williamson reports ofthe uppei Shotover district and Maori Point, as fojlowe : — The United party and Sullivan's party are busily employed, forming their extensive flood races at Maori Point, which join on each other. They hope to have them completed by the end of another week. Should thny be tuccessful in turning the stream, an extensive area of exceedingly rich ground will be opened out — some of the ground having been already tried. The celebrated Maori claim from which there has already been a large quantity of gold taken forming part of it. The river has been successfully turned in several places in the neighborhood of the sandhill with splendid results as to the yield of gold. The Bank of New Zealand and the Union Bank of Australia have established gold buyers here, whose joint weekly purchases amount to about 800 ozs. The quantity taken away by storekeepers and others is also considerable. I have this day (September 7) received an application for a prospecting claim in alluvial ground, situate at the Deep Creek. John Hiberly reports tliat he discovered gold at the Deep Creek, about nine niiles up (he Creek from the crossing-place. The prospects obtained were from half to one dwt to the dish. Stripping on the banks varying from 10 to 20 feet, with two feet of wash-diit In the Creek, the stripping is about iive feet. The gold shown to nit* is rugged anrl coarse, some of it crystalised. Rumors < f this discovery were current during the past week, many parties having watched the prospectors and followed them as they went from here, there was a general rush to the spot yesterda}*. The rumor is confirmed, and prospects have been obtained for two miles along the Creek, and also on the terraces. The locality is christened as a second Skippers Creek, and will give profitable employment to ovea 1000 miners I intend visiting the locality thi a week, and on my return I shall be able to give you further particulars."