THE NOKOMAI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 260, 20 October 1862, Page 7

THE NOKOMAI.

REPORT FSOM CAPTAIN BALDWIN. I The following' official report received on I Friday, from Captain Baldwin, the Comi missioner temporarily in charge of the Nokomai Gold Field, has been placed at our disposal for publication :— Victoria Gully, Nokomai, October 11th, 1862. Sir, —In reporting my arrival and the assumption of tho duties of this field as Commissioner pro tein, I have the honor to state that my arrival, was delayed several days, owing to having staked my horse at the Teviot, and instead of crossing the Molyneux river there, being compelled to return by the Waitaliuna to procure a fresh one. On the journey I met with hundreds of returning diggers. All of these with whom I conversed expressed much dissatisfaction, stating that but few were making even sufficient to buy provisions ; but on further inquiries I learned that many of them lid never reached the field, and that but very few of them had worked thereon. On mv arrival, I found a population numbering somewhat about 1,000 persons, few of whom had set down steadily to work, owing to the quantity of water to be contended with, and the unfavorable reports of the majority of those who bad bottomed their claims. I yesterday visited the several claims in the gully, for the purpose of making inquiries and obtaining- reliable information to forward to your Honor. The gully I fouud to consist of a level windiug flat, varying in width from a quarter of a mile to fifty y:irds, traversed by the Moa Creek, wljose shingly bed, extending to some distance on either side, gives many indications of the voiume and rapidity of its water, when increased by the melting suow which occupies the rugged precipitous and lofty ranges by which the gully is on all sides surrounded. The answers I received to my in- i qiiiries were, not on the whole, of a satisfactory nature. Many stated they were doing well ; others were making wages ; but the majority were obtaining scarce sufficient to pay their expenses. I might mention several cases of individual success of parties—old Waitaliuna practical miners— on whose statements I can place implicit reliance, who arc averagingfrom LlOtoLloaman per week ; but 1 do not look upon such as a fair test from which to jud^e of the capabilities of a field like t'\e Nokomai, where the ground is of a very patchy nature, and where, for every successful man, five or six unsuccessful ones are to be met with.

It is at present quite impossible to give a decided opinion as to the future of the field. Of the population now thereon not a fifth have set in to work, and not a half of this limited number have bottomed their claims. That the entire surrounding country is auriferous has been already proved. Gold, in moro or less quantity, has been everywhere found ; and I see no reason to doubt the prevalent opinion, amongst experienced miners, that a larger gold-field exists, and will be discovered in the neighbourhood. The country is at present being prospected in all directions, and I should not be surprised, at any moment, to hear of a rush to some new locality. I have further the honour to state that Mr. Gabriel Head, who arrived here on the Bth inst., is at present prospecting in the adjoining neighbourhood, having lefc the field previous to my arrival. I trust, however, shortly to hear from him. In conclusion, I think it necessary to state that at present it is not a<ivisible that miners should come here, as the population now on the field is sufficiently large to occupy all the available ground hitherto discovered. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, WILLIAM BALDWIN, ! ~ Commissioner of Gold-fields. To his Honor the Superintendent.