MR PYKE'S SECOND REPORT ON THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 103, 19 October 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MR PYKE'S SECOND REPORT ON THE OTAGO GOLDFIELDS.

; k -/r (From the. D.dihj Mmesty > ■>..",'■" Mr iVincent Pyke has. jiist presented ;his .second annual report on the gbidfields of Otago, and the document, prepared by a responsible and well qualified Karid, and'atteated throughout by inexorable logic of facts and figures, affords us ;an invaluable standard by which to measure the /truthfulness jof the thousand and one flying rumors with reference to the condition and prospects of the miner in this Province, that are ia circulation throughout the neighboring coloniesi It gives the best answer to those who systematically cry down Otago ; offers the safest and surest guide to those whose enterprising spirit inclines them to try their fortune on the goldfields, but whose proper and wise spirit of caution makes them desirous of consulting authorities ;|*and it will effect more good even than this in confirming confidence in the future. • The report bears evidence in ■*£" < Vy page of it of being the production i» a man of competent knowledge, and ofi careful habits of observation and induction. The portions . of the report referring to the history and progress of the gold discovery in Otago may for the present be dismissed. It is more pertiuent to speak in the first place of the general results of that discovery. Mr Pyke reports " a considerable increase ia thj produce of the Otago goldfields during the year ending the 31st July, I^6V The figures he quotes are not speculative or conjectural. They are obtained from the returns of the Chief Gold Receiver. From the tabular statement prepared^ it appears that the yield of sold as' per escort during the year 1861-2 was* in round numbers, for the spring quarter, f 0,700 o2s ; for the summer quarter, 180,000 ozs ; for the autumn quarter, 97,5^0 ozS ; and for the winter quarter, 46,000 ozs ; making a total for the year of 801,200 ozs. During the year 1862-3 ending with the 31st July last, the yield was — Spring, 66,000 ozs ; summer, 123,000 ozs; autumn, 139,000 oz* ; and winter, 121,600 ozs; making a total for the past year of 450,531 ozs. Upon this result Mr Pyke observes : — " It is noticeable that whereas in the winter of J862 the returns fell to a' minimum, which excited general and serious apprehensions as to the permanent productiveness of the goldfields, the yield in the corresponding season of 1863 was nearly as large as in the summer ; whilst iv the autumn ; months of that year the Escorts attained to an amount greater than that of any previous quarter." Coming to an analysis of the Escort returns, he states that the Wakatip goldfield alone has sent down no less than 191,825 ozs in seven months, the first Escort arriving in Dunediu on the 10th January last. This is at the rate of 27,000 ozs. per month. Dunstan has* contributed 185,736 ozs., and Tuapeka, 116,637 ozs during the year. ButMTr Pyke observes that these figures by no means represent the total produce of the gold mines of Otago. In the year ending 31st July, 1863, 514,385 ozs. 17 dwts. were ex. ported from the Port of Dunedin ; and 9240 ozs., the produce of Otago, from other ports in New Zealand. To these amounts must be added 23,657 ozs. 3 dwts, which at the^above date was lodged in the Dunedia Treasury, in excess of the balance on hand in 3 1st July> 1862. The ascertained total o¥ the year's produce is, therefore, 547,283 ounces* Calculating 24,000 ounces as a ton of gold, this quantity is equal to 22 tons, 1607 pounds troy, representing a gross value of L 2,188,932., 188,932. The total quantity exported from the Province during the two years subsequent to the revelation of its auriferous Wealth, by "Mr Gabriel Read's famous discovery,'' is 42 tons 210 lbs troy, of the estimated value of four millions fortytwo thousand and eighty pounds sterling. ' Mr Pyke considers that, at least, 30,000 ozs. more than this quantity have been obtained. On the 3 1st July last, there were 10,000 ozs. ascertained \ to be in the hands of the Banks in Du-* nedin, besides considerable quantities in the hands of up-country branches, storekeepers, and miners themselves. What is the amount of the goldfields labor by which these results have been obtained ! The report computes the average mining population during the twenty-four months at not more than 12,000 soul s and sajs:— "lt is impos* sible to avoid recognising the fact as one of the most splendid results ever attained in any golchproducing country j of ancient or modern times." As the relation of the gold yield to the population is of course a consideration of main importance, the following precise evidence on this point may be ( cited with advantage \ — " The total population-of Otago maybe estimated I at nearly 60,000 souls. It appears from returns furnished by the Wardens and Mining Surveyors that there are 21,000 persons residing wi hin the limits of the proclaimed gold fields. To this number must be added 3000, who are located in various jgullies beyond those boundaries, making a total of 24,000. it is computed that two-thirds of the whole, or 16,000, are actually engaged tin . mining operations^ the, balance consisting of persons engaged in business and professional pursuits, aiid of women and children. The ave*-

rage numbetf of miners tor the r entire 'year -may- be '-set' down l at 1 14, 000, and their average jjarniugs at £164 per head. In maklng~this calculation, however, it, must, -be, borne.; in irnind that Efdjd, by .its veryinature/iOffeVs unusual facilities for evading the revenue ; and it is therefore not' improbable that,] in spite of all precautions, a y higher estimate Would be *i; '} r ' As to the present condition of our gold fields, Mr Pyk'e declares' tnat they are in a state of unabated f prqsperity^~a 4 fact amply evidenced by the escprt returns. f~ Of their: 'future prospect ;he says, "I_am.able to speak Without reserve or 'hesitatiou.'- TJie ,te,mptati[on to quote the paragraph "of His report referring to this, point is too strong} to be resisted. It may appropriately close this brief fesuifte of a portion of; a most interesting and valuable document, and may stand a$ a sufficient answer to those of our critics who-haye amused themselves by talking of Otago as " a second Port Curtis." Mr Pyke says.:-— .. :■:■','{ \ "tittle more than twelve months since the gold workings were confined to the districts of Gabriel's, Waitahuna, , and Waipori, and little 'or nothing was known of the geological character of the far interior. A hastily formed idea had taken possession of the public mind that our gold mines were nearly exhausted, and few were sanguine enough, or sufficiently well informed, to believe in the permanence of our j auriferous resources. AH this is now changed. The discoveries o* Hartley and Reilly have effected a co nplete revolution in the aspect of affairs. Since the Ist August, 1862, five large J fields have been proclaimed, and gold has been found throughout an immense extent of country, and under almost every possible variety of circumstances. . From the Taeri River to the West Coast Ranges, and from the Kakanuis to the Mataura, the existence of a geological continent of auriferous rocks has been fully established ; and within those limits it would be difficult to find a creek or gully which does noi contain gold in greater or less quantity." '