PROSPECTING AT THE MAT AURA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 172, 4 June 1862, Page 6

PROSPECTING AT THE MAT AURA.

The following report from Mr. John Mea.de, leader of a Government prospecting party, to Cupt. Baldwin, the commissioner at Waitahuna, is interesting, as showing how widely the gold is distributed throughout this province. It will be observed that Mr. Meade has not yet struck what is in digging parlance called payable ground, but that he is sanguine about doing so as he follows up his researches. Mataura, May 17th, 1862. Sir, —I have the honor to report for your information that we left tbe Hill-end district, near the junction of the Waitahunaand the Molyneux, last Friday, the 7th inst. I was induced to shift our scene of operations, owing to the fact that after a careful course of prospecting we were barely able to raise more than the color, and that too only in a locality where all milling would be to a great extent suspended during the approaching winter season. Hall, one of the party, had been to the Miitaura at the time of the Blue Mountain rush, and from prospects obtained along the route had conceived a very favorable opinion of the Mataura locality, having every hope of discovering a payable gold field, if the country were fairly prospected. From the information he gave I determined to give the place a trial, and now, after prospecting from the 14th inst., the day after our arrival, I am happy to be able to state that in every gully which we have tried, prospects of from two to four grains of gold to the dish have been obtained. We have prospected within a radius of one mile from our present encampment, and have invariably obtained similar results in every gully tried. The sinking does not, so fur, exceed 4 feet in depth, and varies between that depth and the surface. The bottom on which the gold principally lies is a kind of decomposed granite, and from 0 inches "to one foot of wash dirt may be taken, but not more than 4 feet wide of the gullies contains gold-hearing dirt. It is rather premature to oiler an opinion as to our ultimate success,but 1 have every reason to hope ere long that 1 shall be in a position to report tho discovery of :i moderately remunerative gold field. All the gullies in which we have obtained gold drain into creeks flowing into the Mataura. Most of the low lying hil's are covered with rounded quartz boulders, and it is worthy of remark that where the quartz cannot be found gold is not procurable. We have traced this wash into two large "creeks, and we propose next week prospecting the country through which they now, as we shall find much deeper ground and more drift in that vicinity. The guliies in which we found gold would scarcely iiflbrd w;\ges that would be deemed remunerative to miners, and it would not be advisable at present to hold out inducements that possibly might nut be realised, but iv the summer season they could be very easily worked, and, no doubt, j would be eagerly sought after by miners who ! found a difficulty in making wages elsewhere. j There is an abundance of water for tomming or 1 cradling.

We are located on Dr. Menzies' station, about 7 miles distant from the Matattra. Between here and the river, and also between here and the Oterea Creek, about 5 miles nearer Mr. Trumbell's station, a low lyingridge of hiils runs. It is all quartz bearing, and is intersected by gullies innumerable. There is no doubt that they are all gold boating, though, it may be, that the yield of any of them would not be greater than what we have realised from those prospected. They all run into large creeks, and tire wood may be obtained in various places along their course, scrub I mean. However, within 5 miles of where we are encamped, an abundance of forest" timber can be procured in two different localities, so, that should a payable field be found, there would be no lack of fuel.

Within the country watered by these creeks, we contemplate carrying on our operations, and from all we can learn, combined with our own observation, we trust to be ultimately successful; in the meantime we abide instructions from yourself.

I may mention that the weather has been very inclement during the last few days, retarding our efforts nt prospecting very considerably. We have obtained provisions from Mr. M'Gibbon. I enclose you the account, and beg you will forward a form for payment by return of post. You will please address to the post-office, Mataura Falls. 1 have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, John Meade, Leader Government Prospecting Party. Captain Baldwin, Commissioner Gold Fields.