LATEST FROM THE WAKAMARINA GOLD FIELDS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 179, 17 June 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

LATEST FROM THE WAKAMARINA GOLD FIELDS.

We (Southern Cross) are indebted to our Wellington correspondent for the following supplement to the Marlborough Press of last Saturday morning : ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT WITH 1,736 OUNCES.—2SO OUNCES OBTAINED BY TWO MEN IN A FORTNIGHT! ! At a late hour last evening we found it necessary to publish a supplement to appear with our ordinary issue this morning, owing to the news which has come to hand being of more than usual interest and importance. In it will be found the intelligence which we print from the Havelock Mail “ Extra,” issued late on Thursday evening. The escort arrived in Picton yesterday evening, under the charge of Sergeant Moore, bringing down 1,73 G ounces of gold, but it is reckoned that, at the lowest estimate, from 7,000 to 10,000 ounces remain on the ground in the hands of the mining population. There is no receiving office, no Government receiving officer, and no warden on the diggings. The miners for the most part are utterly ignorant of the time when an escort arrives or departs. There is no notice or intimation of any kind given, beyond a printed piece of

calico tacked up to a tree here and there, miles on this side where the miners are located. The rumour of 72 ounces of gold having been obtained at a depth of 44 feet at the deep creek is fully confirmed. The hopes of the miners have revived, and there is much excitement along the whole line. The Government is now called upon to establish an efficient police force on the diggings. Every day the necessity becomes more apparent. Biot, disorder, and outrage prevail, in many cases to an alarming extent. But a police force cannot be stationed at the three centres of population—Havelock, Canvas Town, and Beep Creek—because no quarters have been provided to receive them, and nothing appears being attempted towards this end. The Council will re-assemble on Tuesday, and it is to be hoped that before the estimates are gone into some enquiries will be made and steps taken towards placing a staff on the field commensurate with its importance, and such as will inspire confidence in the peaceably disposed miners, while it will tend to check the inroads of the vagabond element, which prevails in so many cases.

We republish the following from the Havelock Mail, published yesterday, at five p.m., as an extraordinary ; Havelock Mail Office, Thursday, 5 p.m. “ The escort has just arrived, conveying 1,736 ounces 5 pennyweights. “ We are indebted to the sergeant commanding the escort for particulars. “ The sergeant and thr.e constables, accompanied by Messrs. Murdoch aud Wakefield, special correspondent of the Nelson Examiner, proceeded to the Deep Creek. The roads were in a very bad condition, aud in many places impassible. “ The miners complained bitterly of the non-appointment of a warden, witli proper authority to settle disputes as to claims, and the absence of police protection. Great disorder prevailing and claims jumped with impunity. “ The prospects of the gold field are highly encouraging. “ The comparatively small quantity of gold conveyed by the police must not be taken as a criterion of the value of the goldfields, as many persons observed, had notice been given of the approach of the escort, a very large quantity of gold would have been forthcoming. “ The amount brought down consisted of 1,73G0z5. Sdwts. Two men contributed 2500z5. of this amount almost at the departure of the escort. THE DEEP CHEEK. “ A correspondent furnishes us with the following:— “‘ At the Deep Creek, deep sinking has been begun, and the first hole bottomed produced 720z5., at a depth of 44ft.; and it is to be presumed that this is not the only spot where gold is to be fouud in that quarter. “ ‘ To the 1,73G0z5. brought down by the escort, must be added SOOozs., which arrived in Picton from Blenheim, on Wednesday hast, in the custody of Mr. Warren, manager of the bank of New Zealand, and Mr. Commissioner Morton, making the total two thousand aud thirty-six ounces.’”