THE GOLD-FIELDS.

North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 38, 10 November 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE GOLD-FIELDS.

From the several Wardens' Reports we extract the following Items of mining intelligence : —

Mount Ida. — The weather continues to remain unsettled. The second water race company expect to have their race completed in about three weeks, and will, if not too exorbitant in their charges, be the means of supporting a large population for years to come. It is the general impression of the miners that nearly all the ground on the hill close to the township has been worked on a false bottom.

West Taieri. — The terrace on which the prospecting claim was granted is from 250 to 300 ft. above the river Taieri, from which it rises almost perpendicularly. The gold discovered is coarse, nnd is exactly of the same kind as that found in the river. Indeed, strange as it now appears, to reconcile the fact it would seem that the terrace now so far removed from the river, at one time formed a portion of its bed. It was the opinion of the prospectors that they had struck a lead, that it was dipping into the hill, and that it would prove richer as they progressed ; these calculations, however, do not appear to have been altogether realised. Several parties tried the ground in the immediate neighborhood without the slightest success; only one other party getting gold in the locality. The sanguine hopes entertained by the prospectors as to the results to be obtained, are not in the least impaired ; and the banks and terraces of the Taieri will prove a safe and valuable investment for labor and capital. In other parts of the field, mining matters are progressing steadily and satisfactorily.

Cardhona. — Several parties have, proceeded to the workings below Butcher's Flat, and good results are anticipated. The terraces are low, and continue for several miles down the.Cardrona River ; the sinking is from six to eight feet deep. Some miners are doing very well. Some ore, supposed to be silver, has been found about four miles from the Camp.

Nokomai. — The workings up the Nokomai are being carried on with spirit, as payable prospects have been struck in several of the tail races. The party who first bottomed are doing better as they get into their ground. The terraces are nearly deserted for want of water.

Upper Shototeb. — There is little to report on mining matters. Some parties are doing very well in the river, viz., the Perseverance Company who have taken from L20 to L30 per man this •week. Barrett and party (Maori Point) still Beem to be well remunerated for their hard work, having divided somewhere about L20 per man. At Skipper's, Pierce and party are making large finds in their tunnel claim. — The correspondent of the " Wakatip Mail " says — Another splendid enterprise is now successfully brought to a close at Skipper's 5 and the christening of one of the largest and most costly races in the district will shortly take place. Messrs. Savage and party have now the water leaping over the face of a mountain some 500 feet higher up than the Aylmer race, and the sight is truly grand. The Aylmer Race Company are proceeding with their sluicing, and will soon wash up. They took out some 20 oz a few days after they first commenced to wash, and this appears to have lodged there contrary to the wishes of the proprietors, who say they must have lost considerably, in consequence. The gold must have washed over into the river, owing to the boxes being too clsse to their work; however, the proper plan for sluicing was soon carried into effect, and we shall shortly hear of the result. Denny and party took out 13 oz from one paddock, near the Defiance claim, in one week ; and I regret to say Win, Harvey, one of the party, met with a serious accident. In adzing away a portion of their timber framing, the tool struck against a pump, and glancing off entered the instep to a considerable depth ; he is now unable to leave his bed.

Hill's Creek. — DocTr race supplies the miners on the old workings with as much water as necessary at L6 per sluice-head per week, or Ll per cradle-head. In consequence, ground formerly abandoned is now being worked, and a party of four men realised 14oz. lOdwt. from a claim of this nature for ten days' work. Two small gullies on the northern face of Blackstone Hill, have been discovered. They are on the Woolehed Diggings, which are on the southern side ; some good patches have been discovered in them.

Nevis. — Mining is going on prosperously, and complaints of want of success are very rare. The greater number of the miners are settled on large claims, apparently for a summer's steady work. Miners are moving into the Carrick Ranges, towards the North Pole and Snowy Gullies. From the gullies at the Upper Nevis I hear ot good prospects ; a party of three have obtained over thirty ounces in less than three weeks. In another gully over eleven ounces were washed from the bottom of a small' paddock. I feel confident that a great quantity of ground in that direction will turn out well. A short time ago a miner was robbed of over twenty ounces of nuggets that he had collected there during the winter months, when the ground was almost unworkable.

Hamilton's, &c. — Application has been made by a party of 14 men, for a protection for a quartz reef discovered by them about eight miles south of the Serpentine Township, near German Jack's Gully. At Hyde the vitality of mining matters there is pretty well evidenced by the large number of disputes, and the numerous applications for water races, &c. At Hamilton's at the last washing up of the United Company, the produce was said to be over 60 oz. I have been shown some specimens of amethysts, rubies, &c, obtained in the washdirt from a claim on Murphy's Flat.

Arrow. — The correspondent of the " Wakatip Mail " says — Mining affairs in the district show a decided improvement. The claims on the Arrow are now nearly all paying well, and the river having dwindled down to a mere muddy rivulet work is carried on without let or hindrance. Some rich runs of gold have been struck below the Big Beach, and a claim near the Arrow gorge yielded fourteen ounces off the bottom of a small paddock. On the Township Flat a few parties are still making fair wages by sluicing, and from the township away up to the Arrow Falls, the prospects of the miners are brightening. At the Falls a strong party is now engaged in blasting a portion of the rocks to divert the stream so as to enable them to work hitherto untouched ground ; and from the rich nature of the old claims belo >v the Falls, the party seem very confident that their labor will be well rewarded. The Arrow Mining Association party have found payable ground in New Chum Gully ; half an ounce was obtained in one prospect, and several nuggets varying from three to five pennyweights have been unearthed, the ground showing every' indication of the proximity of a reef. The men are now sanguine of success in striking the main rim of gold extending in some direction through the gully. I-Iazle Tome atid company of four divided 14 oz for one week's work. They now purpose extending their operations by constructing an expensive iron flume, leading their race on to ground from which the sixty-ounce nugget was obtained some short time since, and the irresistible hydraulic will soon disentomb similar golden lumps now lying hidden. At the Twelve mile and Eight-mile everyone seems to be doing well, and wages men are not to be had for love or money. The holders of the Arrow quartz reef are making arrangements to work it by a private company.