NOKOMAI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 292, 26 November 1862, Page 5

NOKOMAI.

OFFICIAL REPORTS

Two weekly reports from Mr Worthington, the Commissioner in charge of the Nokomai gold field, have been received together, and handed to u?by the Government, for publication. , The first, dated November 8, mentions that the miners had been rushing to th 3 Nevis Valley, some to Cumberland Gruliy, aud the adjacent gullie3 at the head of tho valley, and some to the Middle Gorge and the lower end of the valley. The rush to Cumberland Gully had bsen caused by a party of four men briagiag to the earap for escort 142 ounces, which they had obtained in four days. At tlie Middle Gorge the prospect was about six psnnyweights t) the dish, the sinking being shallow and through boulders. Thj Middle Gorge of the Nevis Valley is distant about thirty miles from the Nokomai camp.

Another discovery had beeu reported. A man named M'Farlane had reported the disovery of gM on Burnett's or Switzer's station, distant about twenty-two miles from the camp. Tha sinking is described as about two feet, through shingly soil, with only a few inches of wash dirt, the gold being found principally on the reef, wliich is a mixture of siate aud sandstone. Tlie prospect obtained was about a quarter to half a pennyweight to the dish, aud the party were earning on an averag-3 Ll per day. Tho locality would appear to he a small creek, running into the Wakaia, just opposite Switzer's Homestead, about five miles from the Junction. It was reported to be unapproachable on horseback.

f ho. Commissioner had made an arrangement with a party of twelve men to boltom on the Nokomai ltiver, the party possessing a good Caiifornian pump. By the last report dated November 15th, it appears that the total population of the field is about 1,400 • made up as follows : Victoria Gully, J9O ; Nokomai ltiver, 170; Cumberland Gully and adjacent gullies at the head of the valley, 100; Middle Gorge, CO • Potters Gully, &c, 820; of the total number it is reckoned that 1,320 are actual miners. In addition to these there are about 1,000 miners in the neighborhood of Potter's Gully, but beyond the bounds of the Nokomii field.

The report which is for the week ending Nov. 15, mentions that during the week there bar, been a considerable rush to the Garrick Ranges. The principal place however is Potters Gully, which is within the Nokomai field.

1 otter's Gully is about four or five miles Ion" and empties itself into the Nevis River at the lower end of the Valley and almost one mile from the lower gorges. The sinking is wet, and varies from 3 feet to 8 feet," through gravel. There is from 1 foot to 3 feet of wash dirt. Many parties are, it id believed, making " small piles/ and the greater number are earning' far more than wages. All the ground is not, however, taken np. The gully will probably be worked out in about six weeks. The hills adjacent have not yet been prospected.

< Tliere are a considerable number of miners at work "I[the gullies on tbe other side ofthe Carrick Ranges. 1 his locality was visited by the Commissioner on°the 7th, and he there found a population of about 150, and others pouring in from all quarters. The principal diggings in this quarter were atthe Bannockburn. A tew men had washed as much as 3 dwts. to the dish. Ihere was a large population at the lower end of the Nevis, Potter's Gully, &c.; and there were also, at least, 1,000 miners workiusr in the various gullies (Bannockburn. &c.) on the other side of the ranges, &-v\ without the boundaries of the Nokomai gold field.

With respect to Potter's gully, Mr Worthington says, " It would be impossible to work this portion ofthe field efficiently from tbe Nokomai, from which pace it is distant at lea-it forty miles, over a road almost impracticable now for a horse, and of course impai-sabir.' in wet weather and winter, whereas it is only 20 miles distant from the Dunstan, over a fair road. The Dunstan also gets all the revenue, in the shape of miner's, rights, &c, and all the gold, and supplies the wauts of the diggers."

Ihere is a considerable amount of gold in the hands of the diggers in Victoria Gully, although about fonr hundred ounces were taken to Invercargill last week. On the Oth instant Mr Duncan had 680 oz in the Treasury for s-ufe keeping, about 200 of which belonged to miuers who purpose forwarding it by escort adding whatever gold they may obtain in the meantime. T here are also 2:35 oz deposited for the escort, which T should suggest beintc sen tup in ten days or a fortnight, when 1 think we should have some 1,000 or 1,200 oz. Were a branch bank or a gold buyer's oiiice established here, well supplied with^li, it would to a considerable extent prevent the loss and expense by so much finding its way to Invercargill, and the amount per escort would be considerably enhanced. The diggers greatly complain of the want of postal communication in fact 1 personally-have not received a letter of any ?ort since my arrival on the field. I'hear however that we are to have a-fort nightly mail, which is due to night, and leaving early in tbe morning. It has not however arrived yet-"----10.30 p.m.

" Gold has been discovered in the Mataura River in small quantifies, but the working was abandoned at once, in consequence of the difficulty in contending against the water. The same thing also applies to the Nevis. A miner told me thar he prospected the latter river down to the lower gorge, found a few grams to the dish, of surface ground, which he got from the bed of the river. He sunk iv the banks in several pla'-es and found the same amount of gold directly he got to the level of the river, but could n^t get down fut ther on account of the water.

A Sham Pkikce of Wales in Birmingham.— At about three o'clock on Friday afternoon a tidy looking mechanic, apparently about forty year* of age, sauntered into the Branch Bank of England in .Bennett's Hill, and quietly requested an advance to the moderate extent of L3U.000. To the very natural inquiry concerning the kind of security he intended to give, he replied that he was the Prince of Wales, and should not think of giving any security whatever. As this revelation concerning his high rank and position did not produce the money, His Koyal Highness condescended to explain that he was on a tour through England, and that, having run out of cash unexpectedly, the advance he reqaested was absolutely necessary. Still the clerks were incredulous and our mechanic referred them to the directors ofthe Bank of lingland, and requested them to communicate at once, as he was in urgent need of the money. After some further parley, the clerks, finding that the poor fellow was evidently crazed, induced him to leave the Bauk, but no sooner had he done so than he commenced smashing the windows with stones. A large crowd immediately collected, aud he was given into custody. He was brought up for examination on Saturday at the Police Court. The prisoner when asked what he had to reply to the charge, said, with the utmost gravity of manner, that he believed he was the ruler ofthe world, and it would be found entered in the records of the country that such was the case. He could exercise authority and power over all emperors, kings, queens, aud presidents on the face of the globe, and, as a consequence, he was superior to all human laws. The Bench must know that he had knocked down the Government of this country, and that he hail power over the Queen to direct her os he had a mind. He should certainly commence an action against the bank authorities for false imprisonment. He had allowed the Prince of Wales to usurp the title which lawfully belonged to nun, and if the records of this and other countries were searched all that h" had said would be found to be correct. The man, whose name is Isaac Greenj had formerly shown slight symptoms of mental aberration i *be bank do not "wish to push the prosecution.