TOKOMATRIKO AND THE WOOLSHED. Notes by a Mining Reporter.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 111, 25 March 1862, Page 6

TOKOMATRIKO AND THE WOOLSHED. Notes by a Mining Reporter.

March 20th, 1862. It is becoming a matter of absolute necessity that some steps should be token by the Government towards thoroughly prospecting the country in the immediate vicinity of this place. I mean particularly in the district of the "Hundreds," The outlay necessary for such object would not amount to more than a trifle comparatively, viz : —six men whose rations on the average might be reasonably estimated at 25a. per week ; tools, the whole of which could be easily earned about, say .about £1 5, pump included ; two tents, £10; a pack horse to assist in the conveyance of. food, &C, £30 ; his feed would not amount to much, as the luxuriant pasturage of the hills and flats is amply and substantially abundant for the sustenance of such efforts as he would require to make in three' months. An extensive tract of ground would be* well tried, and the outlay to the country not exceed at the greatest estimate £50. Some time back the warden Captain Baldwin was kind enough to take the matter into consideration and promised to use every exertion to obtain a recognition of each necessity from the Government. His protracted absence in town has however precluded the miners here from learning what steps have been taken in the matter. Plenty of well qualified men could be found to embark in such a party, conditionally that provisions, tents, tools, and pack horse vyere supplied by the state—no doubt of not succeeding. MMPS exprtions are however rather restrained on the' river, pwing tp. the | i amount of purchased land. The Government reserve is narrowed to very small dimensions, and } some one hundred perspns are working qn the ' ground belonging to Mr. Miller, storekeeper, in the vicinage of '•' Mount Stuart." He charges them very reasonably considering all things, 2s. 6d. per man per week ; but as this is a severe tax on the miners labor, it might be obviated by the intervention of a prospecting party, and the holders of private property be benefitted rather than otherwise if a good p.tyable field were discovered. The population o}' this pjace is increasing very much, a continuous line of tents now extends from the lower water wheel to Dickson's store at the crossing place on the foottrackjto " Waitahnna," two miles. Many parties are engaged in turning the river along that distance, shares are as freely speculated in as on Ballarat, or any of the milling districts of Victoria.. A surveyor is up here laying out a site for a townrship, the allotments to consist of J and Jth of ag. ■acre. But whether it will realise the expectations of the vendor remains to be seen. It is not im.probable though, that a lead of gold runs through the flat—it is as yet unprospeeted', and the owner will, I believe, afford every facility for its thorough •tpial. The road from Gillies' store across the plain to Cameron's Hotel is being vigorously proceeded with, but more hands should be employed, as 2£ map, the number engaged, is not sufficient to complete the job at the time when the bad weather arrives, and this part of the road is likely tp be very bad, unless well made before that crisis, The weather is very unsettled—alternately wet and dry, but it is not unreasonable to expect a boiste? rous season, now that the period of the equinoxes is at hand, so that winter cannot be said to be yet upon us, A continuous stream of passengers going and coming flows past- Rumours are rifp as to new rushes j now wo hear a first-rate gold field has beon discovered on the coasts anon, it is that a. richer one has been found out north of the Waipori, some 40 miles. Again we learn that the fortunate possessors of such knowledge arq merely waiting the Government sanction to a claim for remuneration ere the locality is publicly announced, AH these statements have a tendency to upset the never thoroughly settled minds of the miners. Were a prospecting party set on foot, whose locality was known, and whose avocation was public property,---a great deal of un ertainty would be removed. Weekly or fortnightly as the case required, the Warden could visit the theatre of operations, aud direct further movements. A report should bepror Tided by the person in charge for general information—it should be inserted in the press for'widespread circulation—there could be no fabrication, no falsifying, for the facts stated would be closely scrutinized by the Warden, and being subjected to his ocular supervision, there could : not possibly be any deception practised ; besides. iand a most important reason it is, there could not exist any motive for cozenage, as the men could be removed when it werp found that they 'had neglected to do a reasonabla quantity of work, or were otherwise attempting to impose. I hope we shall soon see a party sent out from this peace. I think the residents would supplement Governmental aid by subscribing a small sum towards a fund to reward the exertions of persons so employed. The season is now drawing rapidly nigh when the efforts I speak of should be made. "■