CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 August 1861, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

The first sod of the proposed railway from Lyttleton to Christchurch, was turned on ITth July by the Superintendent, W. S. Moorhouse, Esq. The weather was unfavorable, being described by the Lyttelton Times as “ one of the worst of days of one of the worst of Julys” The company present was estimated at 1,500 to 2,000, and included the Provincial Authorities, Volunteers, Fire brigade, Ac. A repast followed when the usual toasts were given, and the proceedings were wound up by a ball at Christchurch in the evening. Something like a riot appears to have taken place outside while the magnates were refreshing the inner man. The Times says;—” We understand that the damage done by the crowd at the turning of the first sod of the railway, is estimated at about A2OO w e never recollect having witnessed a more disgraceful scene or one which reflected greater discredit upon the persons concerned in it.

A VISIT TO THE TUAPEKA GOLD FIELDS. BY T. B. ftir.T/lES, ESQ., M. X>. C„ M. H. R. Having long been aware of tbo existence of gold in small quantities in various parts of the Province, and warned by the failure of the Hindis in realizing (he higli expectations formed respecting it, I was not inclined readily to believe the glowing accounts circulated regarding the discoveries Tuapeka. Well authenticated as these accounts in many instances were, 1 still felt that they might bo the result of sanguine minds seizing on isolated forming too brilliant anticipations on insufficient data. Willi these doubts resting on my mind, 1 determined to enjoy a few days’ relaxation from tlie toils of business by pal ing a visit to the Tuapeka Gold Fields and to satisfy myself as to the true position of affairs. ***** * * Jfc On arriving at the valley about -1 p.m., it was a strange sight—drays just arrived looking about for a vacant claim, men of all ranks, trades and professions (except the clergy) dressed in every conceivable style, digging or washing what they had dug—parties working alongside each other but scarcely a word passing between them, all earnest, intensely earnest at their work so that although on the arrival of his Honor tin; Superintendent, some few evidently late arrivals got up a cheer the others looked wonderingly out of their holes and quietly returned to work again. The valley or gulley in which the greatest number of the diggers are at work is from 3 to 4- miles in length, with a slight bend about the middle, which prevents its being seen all at one view. The ridges on each side are pretty steep with patches of Manuka scrub, which supply fuel for diggers and the bottom of the valley varies in width from a few yards to a quarter of a mile, the upper part of the valley being widest. Down through the valley, winding from side to side, runs a small creek or stream of a few feet in width, having in some places a considerable fall, while in others it is almost motionless. The tents studding the valley numbered on Wednesday last, the 10th inst., from 150 to 180, which would indicate a population of about 800 men which, by Saturday was, I have no doubt increased to upwards of 1000. The great majority bail but recently arrived, and had not fairly set up to work, having been engaged in setting up their touts, putting together their machinery (sluices etc.) and looking out claims. Jsy the temporary regulations adopted by the diggers, each individual is allowed to have 24 feet square, that is to say 24 feet frontage in a right line on the crock, by 12 feet back therefrom on each side ; and if any individual’s claim is unoccupied by him for one dav, it is open for appropriation by another person. Ihe greater part (if not all) of (lie creek frontage being now occupied, new arrivals are driven to take back claims, unless they happen to pick up an abandoned claim, and from this will arise a fertile source of disputes, which along with other little difficulties likely to occur, demand the immediate presence of a Commissioner on the field. The mode of proceeding to dig for gold is usually as follows. Having selected their claim, a portion of it is marked out to be opened, usually within a .few feet of the creek side. A trench of from 12 to 20 feet or upwards in length, by from 4 to 8 in width, according to the strength of the party, is dug ; soil and clay from 2 to 1 feet in depth is soon got through, and pick and shovel pierce the gravel which varies from 1 to 2 feet in depth. When from the sound of the pick it is found that rock is at hand, the sluice, long-tom, or cradle is brought into requisition, and (he stall'adjacent to the rock washed. The gold is found in some places lying on the flat surface of the blue slate rock, and in one rich claim I saw it lying sprinkled about as you see oats in a field as you follow the sower. In others, and more generally, it is found in ledges of the rock and deposited in tlie hollows,- where the ledge or hollow crosses what has formerly been the course of the stream. In some places T saw it imbedded in the blue slate rock several inches. In the course of digging I picked up a quartz boulder, with numerous specks of gold imbedded in it, which gives promise of the gold finding operations being extended to quartz crushing* when the country is more fully prospected and capital and machinery arc brought to bear upon this source of employment. In almost all the claims water comes in freely, and this has to be kept continually baled out, and many parts of the valley cannot be worked to any advantage untill the diggers are furnished with pumps. This is especially the case in the upper part of the valley where the sinking is deepest, the gold in the heaviest particles, and apparently in the richest deposits. That the gold is distributed over the whole valley in paying quantities is beyond a doubt. I made very careful enquiries from at least 100 individuals who had been longest at work, ascertaining the number of persons, number of days at work, and weight of gold obtained, and I am in a position to state as a fact, that the average earnings of these persons have been over two ounces per man per day ; and from all the information I obtain, I believe the average earnings of all who have fairly got to Y ork with proper appliances, and who have gone steadily and systematically to work, will be at least one ounce per man per day. One party I know averaged four ounces sixteen dwts, per man per dav-; but this I believe is the most fortunate in the field. In one day a party of seven took 38 ounces for their days work ; and other remarkable finds have been made, svich as from j to 1 ounce of gold to a tin dishful of washing stuff. These, however, must not be supposed to be the general rule, but only remarkable instances, showing that the gold is there in large quantities, not that every one who goes there can expect such good fortune to fall to their lot. Many have gone there unprovided with the means and appliances for successful operations, and will return dissnppointed. Others have gone well provided, but take a claim, dig one hole, and finding nothing, march off to some other claim, to repeat a similar process and meet with dissappoint■ment! while a more persevering party take up the abandoned ground and make handsomely out of it. Many, 100, have gone who are utterly unfitted for the exposure to cold and damp which the diggers must endure, and I have no doubt but ore long many will return convinced of this fact by serious illness. The cold at night and in the morning is severe, the ground damp, and in wet

weather, of which wo may reasonably expect a considerable share, during winter and spring the privations to be sullbrcd will not be small. Hitherto the weather has been most propitious, but it cannot always bo so, and when a low weeks of bad weather sets in, so as to stop draying, there will be considerable risk of a scarcity of provisions for so large a multitude, from my own observations and from information received I am satisfied that the gold is distributed over a large tract of country, in some places as richly as in the valley in waioa tnc juasa c/f urc now usi'ombli?ci and that it is therefore likely to bo a permanent as well as a rich goldfield. The country around is beautilally grassed, and in the Tuapeku and Waitahuna valleys there is some of the richest agricultural land that I have seen in the province. Although so large a number have been congregated together, great harmony and good feeling seem to exist and the deep gravity, almost solemnity, on every visage struck me as very peculiar. Men whom I never met before, save with a smile on their countenance, and a joke on their lips, I met there grave and solemn as if the cares of a nation entered upon them, they could not elen appreciate a joke. All seem intensely earnest in the pursuit of gold ; and even round their fires of an evening, the sound of mirth and jollity, which one might expect in the midst of such success, is all but unheard. To their credit he it said, that they unanimously resolved that they wished no grog to bo permitted to be sold on the diggings, and we only trust that in pursuance of their resolve they will make short work with tho supplies of liquor which I observed on the road. The person who, in face of such a resolution, and in defiance of, dares to place tho temptation in their way ought to beheld up to public detestation. Parties who purpose going to the diggings really to work and obtain gold should go in parties of from three to seven or eight in a party. The smaller number may bo sufficient in dry claims and where the sinking is shallowest, and these small parties have hitherto been most successful, but my impression is, that the larger number will ultimately prove most successful. Each party ought to be provided with a tent, or at least a strong canvas roof for a sod hut which can very easily be erected ; blankets, supply of dry clothing, cooking utensils, and provisions for two months, a pick, spade, shovel, and tin dish for each individual ; a couple at least of iron buckets, a sluice, long-tom or cradles ready to nail together on the ground, and hammer, nails, and a few of the common carpenters’ tools will be found very useful in a variety of ways ; also a pump of from Bto 12 feet in length. Sluices have hitherto been the most successful method of washing for the gold hut my impression from what I saw is that cradles will soon become more in demand, for though not so speedy in working, I think there is loss waste of fine gold by that method, and sluices can only be worked on the stream where there is a fall. Long toms do not appear to he great favourites among the diggers. It would be difficult to describe these several implements satisfactorily without tlic aid of disgram, but there are many who can give intending diggers such a description as to enable them to construct them at. a small expense. There should be immediately provided by Covernment a strong receiving house on the field under the charge of the Commissioner and a guard, in which (lie diggers could daily deposit their earnings so as to obviate the risk of robberies which with the probable influx of population will be certain to occur. This too would prevent the necessity of an escort so frequently as might otherwise be necessary.