THE NOKOMAI.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 September 1863, Page 5

THE NOKOMAI.

(from a correspondent.) September 9, 1863. No event of any important* has occurred in our quiet locality since my last report. Our population is both orderly and industrious, so that the duties of our worthy Warden as connected with this particular locality are, comparatively speaking, light. The case of Chamberlain versus Cameron came on for final arbitration on the 26th ultimo. Plaintiff was awarded £5 damages, defendant to pay the costs—£2 10s. The damages would have been heavier, but Mr. Wood considered that the defendant acted more through thoughtlessness than malice. Mining matters are somewhat dull. A slight accession to the population has taken place during the past fortnight. I daresay the whole district, including Dome Creek, mav number some 150 or 200 souls, but should there be more terraces opened up it will doubtless rapidly increase. The last spur that was struck is turning out very well, giving profitable employment to 40 or 50 persons. Of terrace workings generally, the gold is seldom found to extend far back into the hill, but this particular spur is an exception to the general rule, for the payable ground is some four or five claims wide. Of course the sinking gets deeper as they work back. A party of Italians bottomed on Tuesday last at 50 feet and obtained one and a half dwts. to to the dish. A party of Germans are sinking still higher up the hill; they are sign of bottom. From the reef keeping level so far into the hill, hopes were entertained that a lead of gold might be coming off the range. These were, however, soon dissipated by a party bottoming at six feet, so that the limits of the auriferous ground on this particular spur are pretty clearly defined. The outsiders have to seek fresh fields and pastures new, and from the number out prospecting I feel confident something fresh will soon be struck. There is no doubt but that some day, not very far distant, the much maligned Nokomai will be an important district. Hitherto it has been quite thrown into the shade by the superior attractions of the Shotover and Arrow districts, and also from the difficult nature of its workings. The Flat has never yet been bottomed, and I do not think ever will be until it is taken in hand by well organised companies, who will bring machinery to bear upon it, and from the very fact that good payable gold has been found on its terrace workings I think there can be no doubt but that its bed must contain far heavier deposits. The district, however, at the present time, stinks in the nostrils of the mining community, a sure sign of its ultimate prosperity. I presume the powers that be give an occasional eye to our movements, for some few months back they made us a present of a real live constable, and subsequently a Warden was appointed for this place and Switzer's. Many thanks to the Government for its paternal care, they are a great boon and are both appreciated. I trust, however, it will not »iop here in its care for us, but deigrn to listen to the voice of one crying from this wilderness. To be candid, we have another little want, and one that cannot Le supplied unless the Government will put its hand into its breeches' pocket —I mean a bridle track over the saddle that leads into the Nokomai It is an acknowledged fact that the easier of access any gold producing locality is, the sooner and more thoroughly its resources become developed. Let the Government bear this in mind, and see that all tracks leading into such places are at least passable in any weather for a pack horse. That the track leading over the saddle into the Nokomai is not, is a well known fact, and I have no hesitation in stating (having travelled them all myself) that there very few parts of the three tracks leading to the Upper Shoto\er so dangerous as one or two places on that abominable sideling. A sum of from £7O to £IOO would be amply sufficient to form a first-rate track, and I trust that the gentlemen who have the power to dispense the good things of this colony will not forget to throw a few crumbs our way. If lam not very much mistaken they are not ignorant of that which I have now stated.

I have much pleasure in informing you that Mr. Wood, with active benevolence, assisted by Constable Gorman, armed cap-a-pie with the subscription papers of the Wakatip Hospital, had made a call on the miners and others here in aid of the above-named institution. The call was most readily responded to, every man giviug pn ttv much according to his means, and I thiuk our returns in aid will coinpare most favorably, considering the scantiness of the population, with any other part of the Lake district. I cannot give the exact amount collected, but I believe the consraole has some £3O in hand and expects to collect much more.