OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 75, 4 December 1862, Page 3

OTAGO.

The Otago Daily Times in speaking of the goldfields, says : At the Nokomai a steady improvement has been manifested. One effect of the improved’ prospects of the new diggings and especially of the opening- of rich new gullies has been that a considerable number of the miners who had returned to the Tuapeka district with the intention of setting in there for a spell, have once more been tempted to roam. The escort which is a tolerably safe guage of this success of the miners shows a very decided increase, the last which arrived on the Ist inst. have brought down 15,505 ounces, 3 dwt, against 11,480 for the previous fortnight. This was from the Dunstan Tuapeka, and Waitahuna. The Molyneux still continues, high and the river sinkings are therefore at a stand-still, but with the numerous rushes in the neighborhood, there is no lack of employment for the mining population. Most of the river claims are now registered for three months. Provisions on the Dunstan Lave been gettin ocheaper flour being now retailed at Is. per pound. From the Nokomai. a variety of accounts come to hand, the latest and best being that tarnished by Mr. Worthington, who has recently gone up to tiie charge of the district, as Commissioner. According to ins account the majority of the men at work are satisfied with their earnings and prospects. The average gains he estimates at about A 3 per week, but, in individual cases, as much as AG or £7 has been obtained. The sinking is <>-o nerally through loose shingle, and boulders, varying from six to twelve feet to the wash dirt, which consists of a layer of slaty gravel, of a thickness of about eighteen inches. The great drawback is the wetness of the ground, and in Moa Flat, which is the lower continuation of Victoria Gully, it has hitherto been found almost impossible to bottom. In the valley of the Nokomai, a prospect of 3 dwts to the tub has been obtained. Prospecting parties are about being organised to fairly test both Moa Flat and the Nokomai Valley. Mr. Worthington states that besides the 247 ounces sent down by the constable, there were, to his knowledge, about 200 ounces in the hands of diggers in Victoria Gully, and lie was also able to trace about 500 ounces

as Laving been forwarded recently to Invercargill, with which place most the storekeepers at the Nokomai are connected. There had been a rush to the head ot the river, about twelve miles north from the camp, but most of those who went were dissappointed.