DIRECT NEWS FROM THE TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1611, 23 August 1861, Page 4

DIRECT NEWS FROM THE TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS.

. From the Southern News, Aug. 10th. Mr. William Lind, late of the Albion Hotel, has just returned from a visit, to the Tokomairiro Diggings, which he made,m company with Mr. James Grieve, for the purpose of persoually ascertaining what, was the real state of affairs up there-— whether the reports that have hitherto reached this town were exaggerated or well founded ; and he has furnfelied us with the following particulars of bis observations. ;On the road, he says, they passed great numbers of persons bound the same way i^some pretty well, many very indifferently furnished for the work they would have to do, and the life they would hare to lead. The asoonmodation houses and eyery other house on the road where , a night's lodging could be got was crowded 1 to, inconvenience ; charges " stiffish "— ••3s. a meal (salt meat, bread, and apanakih of tea), and to get a shake-down considered a luxury cheaply bought at 2s. 6d. Weather cold and damp, and the neoessity of woollen underclothing admitted beyond dispute.

Arrived at the diggings, Mr. Lind and his oompanionfound nearly 2000 people assembled, their, shelter being tents of canvas or calico. Firewood was very scarce ; nothing but small Manuka sciub growing on the hill sides. The diggings are in gulleys between various ranges of lofty hills, with very steeps side ; and the sun pays but a very brief visit to the diggers at work in the mud and wet at the bottom of the gorge — for water is constantly welling out of the sides of the hills.

The gold is entirely confined to the old water courses in the bottom of the gullets—none has been found in the hillsides : and as these gulleys and watercourses [wind in and out the hillranges like net- work, should the influx of diggers continue at the present rate (doubling the numbers nearly each week) we may soon expect that, through their following up these water-oourses in seach of the precious metal, the Tokomairiro gold field will meander through a wide extent of country — and where there may be a large population in one gully one week, the next may find the greater portion hard at work in another watercourse a mile or two away. This will make it rather a hazardous speculation for any. person disposed to set up a store, since he will fiud it difficult to tell which is the most likely place for business.

The gold is obtained at about 5 feet, sinking through the slate rock forming the bed of the water-course ; and the gold is found from 4 to 8 inches in tbV rock itself, which is broken up and the gold washed out. It is of a fine rich colour and of good quality —mostly in water-worn scales; one nugget, however, was found, which Mr. Lind saw, weighing 17 dwts. The price of the gold at the diggings id £3 10s. the oz. In some of the back gulleys, the gold was heavier, and furnished some of the finest samples. From one dishful of stuff on one of the claims, Mr. Lind washed out half an ounce. A considerable quantity of. gold was sent to Dunedin by th 6 Escort the morning Mr; Lind left to return to Invercargill j at the diggings it was said 7000 ounces were to be sent in. We observe that the Otago Wlness of July 27, ,says that it was anticipated that 10.000 ounces might come down. The diggers generally, in spite of bad weather, were in spirits and. satisfied with their success. Msjor Richardson, the Superintendent, was at Tuapeka, to make further provision for the preservation of peao.e and order, though very good order is maintained by the diggers.

On his return, and near the junction of the roads from north and south, Mr. Lind met several hundred persons evidently from all the surrounding districts, on their way to the gold-field, and it was said that numbers were to come down from Canterbury.

Having had five years experience on the gold-fields of Australia, Mr, Lind wishes us to state for the information of intending diggers, that unless they are woll provided with tents and good implements be would by no means advise any one 'to start at this season of the year — to ' Wait for at least six weeks,, till the weather becomes more settled.