THE GOLD FIELDS MANUAL FOR NEW ARRIVALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 251, 9 October 1862, Page 6

THE GOLD FIELDS MANUAL FOR NEW ARRIVALS.

We publish the following information con* cerning the gold fields for the benefit of new arrivals :— The principal gold fields of Otago are those at Tuapeka, Waitahuna, Waipori, Woolshed Creek, Mount Highlay, the newly discovered Dunstan and Nokomai Diggings, nnd several minor fields, as Coal Creek, Lindis, the Dunstan River, Shag River, and Moeraki Beach.

Tuapeka, although not the oldest, is the best known and most extensively worked gold field. It comprises a large extent of probably auriferous country, but hitherto miningoperations have mainly been limited to Gabriel* Gully, the •cene of Mr. Read's early discoveries, Wetherstone's and Monroe's Gullies, and the banks of the Tuapeka River. From these localities alone, 332,476 ounces of gold have already been transmitted by escort to Dunedin. Scattered parties of prospectors are found in the adjacent gullies, where they are quietly and steadily working. If surface indications are to be trusted, there are hundreds of these gullies which present the appearance of being equally rich with those originally opened, and no doubt many parties are now making their piles in the recesses of the surrounding ranges, unheard of and unnoted.

The workings at Tuapeka are shallow; averaging from five to forty feet, rarely, deeper; At Wetherstone's a large portion of the ground remains quite untouched, all attempts to bottom having been defeated by the influx of water. As the Government have, however, consented to !form a storm water channel for the purpose of draining the flat,,we may expect that this p*vrt of the field will shortly be rendered accessible to the miners.

The washdirt is gravelly, gnd therefore easily -worked. Sluicing is generally adopted.: The supply of water is most ample, and races, • mie of them many miles in extent, have been ibrrued for this purpose. . The gullies and the points of the hills are the favorite sites, but along the Tuapeka, hill workings have been resorted to with very great success. Wood is scarce in the immediate vicinity of the diggings. At the heads of the gullies there are patches of scrub for firewood, and near the confluence of the Tuapeka with the Clutha, there is Umber available for slabbing, &eg Lignite for fuel is abundant, »nd, as it is found near the surface, is in great request. At Wetherstone's and near the Junction township, at the foot of Gabriel's Gully, some. large and valuable deposits have been discore red. :

The route to Tuapeka from Dunedin is by the Main South Road, via East Taieri and Lake Waihola to Tokomairiro, thence by the Woolshed and Waitahuna. Distance, 70 miles by the travelled road; but from Cameron's Hotel, on Tokomairiro Plains, there is a short cut over the ranges by the Woolshed diggings, which reduces the distance to sixty miles. The population (reduced by the last rush to the Dunstan) is now estimated at 1,700 persona, of whom only 700 are miners. Waitahuna.—This field is on the river of that name. At Waitahuna only a few gullies have yet been worked; from these the gross yield of gold to present date, as per escort returns, has been 78,640 ounces. All around is what are termed likely looking hills and gullies. The workings s are similar to tnose at Gabriel's and Wetherstone's, already described, 'limber is scarce, but there is plenty of lignite in the neighborhood.

The route from Dunedin is that by the main South Road to Tokomairiro—thence by the short road already referred to through the Woolshed. .

Distance by dray-road over Mount Stuart^ 59 miles—um Woolshed and the ranges, 50 miles. Present population, 1,250. The Woolshed is a comparatively new fields tlie workings having gradually extended down the creek (where they were first discovered) to the south branch.of the Tokomairiro River, where some very rich ground has been opened up. Some of the auriferous lands in this locality are private property, but in every instance the proprietors have dealt with the miners in a fair and liberal spirit: and a Government road, upon which a payable lead was recently struck, has been thrown open lor mining purposes,- on condition of surface damages being made good. There is also a large extent of Crown lands available for the prospector, and parties are known to be working with success in the neighbourhood. A quartz reef was some time since discovered in Canada bush on the adjacent plains, between the branches of the Tokomairiro, but we have no further information on this subject. Since May last an escort has been dispatched from the Woolshed, the amount ot gold sent down by which, presents a total of 3,883 ounces. ' : The population is estimated at about 450, persons. Distance from Dunedin by East Taieri and Tokomsiriro, 45 miles.

The Waipori field is on the Waipori river and its branches. The workings consist principally of creek workings arid hill sluicing. The population—-neyer very large—oa now estimated at 220. Since the first escort in February last, 6,1 GS; ounces have been sent down by that mode.of conveyance. Situated higher up in 'tto^spjiw of the Lammerlaw mountains, theVcUnifkte is more severe than that of Tuapek^*aji^Waitahunfr, but:Waijpori presents an ex^i^pi^nd' comparatively untried field for pp6r£jsons during the summer months. Growing timber ia very scarce in the vicinity, but'beds,ot large trees in a state of good preservation exist immediately under the soil, and these are* itated to be available not only for fuel, but for slabbing and other purposes. f Toe gold found at Waipori is coarse and npggetty, and frequently intermixed with fragments Of quartz. Near the township a reef showing promising auriferous indications, was lately discovered by some quarts-miners from Bendigo, who purpose erecting machinery to fairly teat its value. '■■ The route from Dunedin is by West Taieri and the Maungatua ranges. Distances forty ailes

Not far from the Wtipori river to the eastward is the Lee stream, hitherto neglected, except by i few straggling parties, but on the banks of which gola in payable quantities was long since discovered.

$|All these fields continue to yield remunerative employment to the miners engnged upon them, and there is ample room lor many more. ~ - The Mount Highlay diggings are situated in the valley of the Upper Taieri, and the main workings are at TimbrelVGullyv and at Deep Dell and Filly Burn—tributaries of the Taieri River, bat several parties of miners ate scattered over the.surroand^ug, .country, in every direction. 2fte population of has never been iarge^-not mow 1 fro; 200 or 300 miners—at may time^ -having been located 3^vi^U'/jK^y^ the number is reduced .ta ,* Jmjrijaumi a few scores. When % l-#^^discb^ rered, in June last, the indemeßgy of the tended to prttent the rwh whidl

otherwise would, in all probability, have occurred, T,he diggings are situated at si considerable deration above the sea level, and are consequently subject to heavy falls of snow during the winter. There is sufficient timber near Timbrel's for moderate use, andlscrub, for firewood is found'on the margins of the streams, and in ..the hollows of. the ranges. Lignite is, as usual, procurable in the flats, and the neighboring mosses yield -good! peat. Water is plentiful ; and sluicing is in. consequence the favorite mode of mining^ ** ' ' Although the Mount Highlay field ha* been so scantily prospected, the existence of auriferous deposits, over,a yery/larg;e areai has been ascertained beyond a' doubt. There is no escort thence, Ibut- the- quantities of gold brought .down by private band are very considerable, when the sparseness of the popular tion is taken into account, ~ " The gold at Timbrel's is rough and heavy, greatly resembling the Waipori gold. That from Deep Dell is finer, and more waterworn. A quartz reef, in the stone of which fine gold is apparent, was discovered .at. Mount Highlay, and* a prospecting claim granted •to the discoverer, but no steps have .yet been taken to test its value. The route generally preferred is by steamboat to Waikouaiti; thence by Mount Pleasant, the Shag River, and Hamilton's and Wayne's station £No. 109) to Saxton's River (No. 2JO), on which the diggings are situated. The distance from Waikouaiti by this route is estimated at 55.. miles. There is another toad overland fjrdm Dunedin,;by way of Blueskiri; but it is exceedinglybleak^rugged; and difficult, and* impeded by dangerous morasses, both on the margins of the numerous intersecting streams; and on the^tops,of the ranges. Intending visitors* to this field will; therefore do well to take the sea-route. ,v y-: ; ' Murphy's GuUy won HamUtbn and Wajme's station, about seven miles from Highlay. Gold in fair quantities has been obtained there. Several of jtfte; creeks at,the head of the Waikouaiti JRiver, and the branches of the Shag River^ are also known to be auriferous • but jo, few? are the- miners in the locality" that this promising ..field may be said to be as yet untried, and consequently undeyelppedl., Coal Creek, about twenty miles above Mdunt Highlay in a northerly direction, is orie^of the head branches of the Shag River. Sluicing operations are being conducted in the bed, and on the banks of the creek with remunerative results. The mining population^ is very small, but will probably increase during the summer months. Lignite of a very superior description crops out on the banks. There are no hotels, and but little accommodation, on this road at present. Travellers have mainly to rely on the stations along the line for provisions. It is therefore advisable to carry a* large a supply as possible of flour, tea, and sugar. Beef and mutton are, of course, to; be obtained everywhere. The Lindis was the earliest discovered, and is one of the least-worked of the Otago 'gold fields. Shortly alter it was first rushed* the' more brilliant attractions of Gabriel's Gully drew off the few miners—about 300—then 6a the field, and there has not yet been any reaction in its favor. A few men are still at work there, and the locality presents all the appearance of a large and rich gold field. The Lindis diggings are on the run of' Mr. M'Lean (Noi 216). They are confir.ed to one or two small igullies, near the Lindis Pass on the head-waters of the river of that name. The gold is heavy and nuggetty. The climate is somewhat inclement in winter, and snow lies on the ranges till the summer is far advanced. The gullies being sheltered enjoy a milder atmosphere. There is a large and well-supplied stream in the vicinity. The usual road to the lLindis gold field is via Waikouaiti, thence, by Shag Valley and the Upper Taieri Plains, across the ranges to the headof the Manuherikia Valley; thence, following up the main-branch of the,Mahuherikia Riv«r, past Mount St. Bathan's tothe Lindis Pass.- Distance about 160 miles. Another road is by way of Oamaru, and a third over the Lammermobr Ranges and Rough-ridge; But the first-named rout* is considered the best, as it is also the road to Highlay, Coal Creek, and. the Dunstan gold fields— and consequently fcmore travelled than any other.

Dunstan Kiver is anotlier partially-deve-loped field. A few miners'' have been digging there for some months, with what measure of successes best known to themselves. The precise locality of their operations is at the confluence of the Dunstan with the Manuherikia River. >.

At Moeraki Beach, gold of a very fine description is found in the sandsof the seashore, mixed with iron-sand arid fragmentary gems v Washinjg operations are now carried on opposite the town of Hampden, between the Big Kauri and Little Kauri stream?. But the j entire beach, as far as Shag Point, appears to consist of similar deposits. Gold, at the rate of 100 ounces to the -ton, has been obtained from the clean-washed sand, and it would seem that if science and capital were brought !to bear, a magnificent yield would be^the result. The Dunstan gold-field is situated on the Clutha River, at the south-western baae of the Buhstan mountains, and includes the spurs of the Carrick ranges on the opposite bank of the river, which has here worn a passage through the solid rocks. The workings are, at present, confined to the bars of the* river* where the gold-is found intermixed with tnagnetic yon-sand/ The adjoining (country, is .of | •n auriferious description, consisting^bf j madei hills and terraces pf loose Bhinglyor^grayelly soil, which requires iimberto work it. There a?re about 3,000 miners on the'field, and these appear to be doing wfilL^^efi^t escort will afford a: criterion of "Hie value of the field; i some small quantities of gold"liave reached ; town already by- private hand. "There" are patches of bush along the river, but the only timber available for mining purposes is found near the lakes at the head of the Clutha, | ' where there is an extensive forest of black birch. Coal, or rather lignite, abounds; theVe is a fine Beam of good quality cropping out' on the east banks of the river near the junction i ofthe Manuherikia, f , j The climate of this district is described as' mild, and dry in the winter, although snow' 'covers the surrounding mountains. ' Hartley i and Reilly state that whilst they were reaping their golden harvest, from May to August, raitf rarely fell, and on three days only were they prevented from working by stormy weather. In winter also the waters of the Clutha are at their iowest, and a larger extent of-the rocky bed, in the ledges of which the gold is retained, is within reach, of the miners: The gold from -this field is very fine and scaly, but of very excellent quality. t Punts and boats have been placed on the river by private enterprise, so that miners and their drays may cross..at .various points. Stores of all kinds are becoming more easily obtainable on the ground than they were at the first rush .some^weeksUuince. ' Cartage, however, still rules high, and miners are re-, commended fo, tike a supply with ttiem.1 There are several route* to the- Dunstan. One is iw^Tuapeka, and thence by Gardiner's, Miller's, imd Baldwin's etations; and from the latter by a well-defined track over the Knobby £ange» to/the junciionCof t f he Manutienkia, jpm the Molyneux. -Distance from Tuapeka; ,TO miles, * Tiiie.road ia represented as being-pack-aowwi Another track, tq the T ea:.t*[ard voflht oe ft Wtoewhat more prWft&ble, 1 to* &» • by the TevioJ

stream, whichj when swollen* presents a formidable obstacle to furtheF-pirogress. "Another- route is- from, Bunedin by West Tale'ri^pver the Lamraermoor ranges to the valley'of the Mairuherikia; distance, about 110 miles. r After Jeaving West Taieri there are no hotels or accommodation houses on the, road^but the track passes several' stations, a list of wljich, together with their relative distances ire subjoin.:—Healey's station, distant from West*Taieri 10miles; thence to Thompson's, 12 miles; thence to Valpy's, 35 miles; .thence to Murison's,^> miles; thence to Newton's, 14 'miles'; *tbence to Lowe's, 12 miles; thence to the Clutha, 5 miles. . That portion ! of the road which is situated between Thompson^? and Talpy's," winds across the elevated region of the Lammermoors, upwards of 3,000 feet above the. le*vel of the sea. It is consequently bleaks and at certain seasons not without danger- to persons unacquainted with the country, *bejng liable to heavy falls of snow. Beyond this the road is fair and easy. A third route is via Waikonaiti and Shag Valley, distance from Waikouaiti about 120 miles. This road is much in favour with pedestrians, as it passes through a series of valleys, where the climate is proportionably milder. A party of Government surveyors are now employed in finding or constructing a better and more direct road~a work which it is to be hoped will be effected before the approach of next winter.

From Tuapeka to the Manuherikia Junction parties of miners have set in, at various parts of the route, and just below the junction the Governnient prospecting party have secured a prospecting claim inwhat they have ascer-r tamed to be a payable gold;field.; There is now a continuous chain of diggings from the Tokpmamro River to the upper i Ciutha .Valley, for many, of \ the miners have, penetrated beyond the junctioni of thelAKawarati into the untried but richly promising district beyond. Gold has been found as far north as Quartz Greek, a tributary of the Glutba, having its] source;?in* the v ranges which divide pake Wtmkt£sjoia Lake^ Hawea.: tnmanya sheltered nook of the mountains, and on the iinfrequented portions of theriver,_prospectors are "snugly nestled, secretly gathering the golden spoils which nature has so abundantly scattered•qvertheprovince. J

The Nokqmai; diggings -are the last discovered. Theonly gully at present opened i on Moa'« Creek—a branch of the Nokomai J&iver—havingitssoureeunder the 1 remarkable conical hill known as the Steeple, in. the Rocjcy Mountains., This1 gully—-named Victoria gully by the prosDectprs-~-is about four miles in length, and in breadth generally about, a quarter of a mile, but contracting in some places to'2o or 30 yards. The depth of sinking is frpm 2 to 5 feet, and the gold is large, heavy,;and waterworn. There, is plenty of scrub in the gultyy and about 20 acres of timber* principally birch, at the head. :The present population is probably about 1000.

■/. The route to the Nokomai froihtDunedin is via the main South Road and Tokoraairiro to the Molyneux Ferry—thence to the Long Ford on the Mataura rimy which isi there crossed. The road then continues along the west bank of the river to within three ;miles of McKellar's station, where the Mataura is again crossed, and the east bank is followed to the junction of the Nokomai River. The distance from Dunedin is about 170 miles. The following are the main points on the line of route, with their relative; distances :—

Molyneux Ferry, distant from Dunedin 58 miles; thence to the Waiwera, 16 miles; thence to the Waruna, 12 miles ; thence to the, Waipahi 6 miles; thence to the Waikaka, 15 miles; thence to the Mataura 6 miles; thence to McKellar?s, 3*2 miles^ thence to the Nokoraai, 25 miles. ; ;.; ' '.',( r ;

There is an inn at the Molyneux Ferry, and an accommodation house at the Waiwera. Between the Waipahi and the Waikaka, the station of Roberts and Begree is passed, and on the Nokbmai itself; is -} Mr. Cameron's station^ Stores are not yet on the r ground, in sufficient quantities,to. supply a large population, and miners are, therefore," strongly advised not to start for the Nokomai without provisions. The road by the Long Ford is passable for drays. There isialso another track-^prkc-ticable only for, paekhorses—-which diverges from the first track about half-way between Roberts's station and the Waikaka, crossing that river near the east branch, passing between Wakaia and Pyramid HUls, then crossing ;the Wakaia river, and following the east bank of the Mataura* This road is about 15 or 20 miles shorter than the other. .

v There is? also a track about 25 miles in length, connecting $rpkpmai with the Dunstan gold-field. It is, however, little'used, running orer snow-covered mountains, and it will be safer for those who desire to cross from either locality to take the longer but more praticable route indicated above. r .

For the infqiroation^pjr.ihosfi..'.l^n6rantr.of. our Gold-fields regulations, we-subjoin so much of them as will serve as a general guide, and prevent a new arrival from committing any serious breach of the law. . ■■-.■.■.;-. :■■'.*

• Every persbh residing on'a gold-field arid engaged in mining for gold, shall take but a miner's right; such miner's right to be car'rie4.on the personjani produced for1 inspection when demanded by tne Warden or other officer, or by finyperspn jduly authorised in' that behalf in; writing by the Warden. , " jrClaims;shall;be classified thus :— ; 1. Ordinary claims, i.e., alluvial .■■:;■.;.= :•{ -worked; without the aid of sluices or >;>-■/.-?: machines. ... ■ .. •-. --•■■-■'-'r ■■?■■"'•■■'.

2. Sluice and m^ineclain^^*!^ alluvial claims Worked with the aid of sluices r"r:rdr:piiadling machines.- —- -3; Wet £laims, f i.c., .aljuvial claims in 1 - flqod|tty' ground ? which cannot be t wrought without theaid ofappliances :J for drainage. ; ■A. JPreeKor iriver claims, ik% alluvial claim* . inthelbeds of creeks or rivers. -.-.--• ■■.<,-■■•'*■'■

5. Quartz claims. 1. Ordinary claims shall not exceed 30 feet by 30 feet for each person, unless the depth of sinking exceeds 50 feet, in which case such claim may be extended to 35 feet by 35 feet. 2. Forßlnice and machine claims in worked and abandoned ground,\the Warden'may grant: an extent of ground not exceeding treble the. above area. ' • 3. Wet claims shall not exceed 40 feet by 40 feet for each person. A. Creek 1 or river claims shall not exceed 50 feet for each man employed thereon, nor be more than 300 feet in length, in the whole, to be measured in the direction of the course1 of the stream, by a width not exceeding the boundaries of the bed of the creek or rivtr, as defined by the Warden or other officer duly authorised in that t>ehalf. \ „, '•', , 5. Quartz daims shall s not,exceed 30 Jfeet in length along-the course pf,the lode or vein, by »^ndth not exceeding 100 feet upon each side •°l 5t p ,cou"?» fiw-«ush.-person; and no claim shall exceed in the whole 120 feet in length by ? 200feetinwath.- • Ur .r ~^ / ~,Tije.number of single claims thatJtnay,be, occupied m one block by. any party' of miners* shall be as follows:—J * /j* x% t t \LTxk ordinary claims,^not more than: fan* ~ v sinele claims.' - "ff *f t.si . j -■ ••• 2; In sfuice and imacbitte claims, not more ' than five gingle claims » , *ix ,„*/' „ 3. In wet claimsj.iwt mqr« than six dnele

Claims shall be marked by pegs.standing »t least two feet above the surface of the ground, or by trend es at eacV corner thereof; and such pegs or trenches,shall be maintained j during the occupancy of the ground: Provided, that when any corner" cannot be so marked on account of the nature of the ground, such peg or trench may be placed at the nearest practicable point. ' , No person shall be deemed to possess a valid title to any claim, unless the same shall be fairly worked during the entire period of occupancy ; and any claim unworked beyond the space of twenty-four hours, shall be deemed to be forfeited, unless sufficient reason, such as sickness or other urgent cause, shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Warden.

Any person discovering new gold workings, and being desirous of obtaining an increased area thereon, must immediately report sucn discovery, with full particulars thereof, to the Warden or other proper authority. Discoverers of new gold workings, distant pot less than half a mile from existing work* ings,-may have allotted to them an extent of ground not exceeding treble the area oi an ordinary claim; and the discoverers of new gold workings distant not less than ten mile* from existing -workings, may have allotted them an extent of ground not exceeding quadruple the area of an ordinary claim: Provided,that the increased grant shall not be given to more than four persons composing any party. The discoverer of an auriferous quartz reef may have allotted to him an area not exceeding in the whole 200 feet in length, measured along the course of the lode or vein, by a width of 100 feet upon each side of the course. ; ;.'. ■■■ ■' '■"' ■'■*■■ -■■ vV • '

Superiority of right to a supply of -water shall be determined by priority of occupation, the earlier occupant having the superior right;:: In, all cases, when the occupier claims, under a certificate, : or other. authority, in writing, grantejl by a Warden or Commissioner, occupation shall be taken: to have commenced at the date of such certificate or •authority;;-;; :' "■ ■ ■; '!':';<^: :"■', :''-"^''"' ' :;' ' \ The and formation: of races mu9t be commencedi-within • one calendar month from the date of registration, and the occupiers shall continue and forming the same until tbe work is completed, otherwise any^superiority of right to which they may be entitled by virtue of Biich registration shall be deemed to be forfeited. ; ; , - ;

If any race is abandoned for the space of one calendar month, at a time when water was available* for it, occupation of the right shall be deemed to have commenced at the last reoccupation thereof.

All right to any race shall become forfeited, if abandoned for the space of one calendar month, unless in cases of sickness or unavoidable absence, or. in consequence of failure of water; but it shall be lawful for the Warden, in his discretion, upon; sufficient cause being shown, to suspend.; the operation of this regulation for a further period of one month, and such suspension shall be given in writing to the occupiers; 7 ;

All races that may hereafter be cut/shall have a point specified at which they shall be taken from the creek or river. In races already cut, the point shall be taken to be tlie spot from which the race how heads. No person, shall shift or alter the head of any race without the written sanction of the Warden, nor to the prejudice of any existing right. The alteration or extension of a race at any time shall not in any way affect any right or privilege attached to such race:; and the holders thereof shall, during such alteration or extension, be deemed to be in occupation ot all the rights and privileges attached to such race. ' :.' . ": •■ ■ ■■" •■•■.'•■■• - ■■•-.-