NARRATIVE OF CURRENT' E TENTS FOR TRANSMISSION TO MELBOURNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 293, 27 November 1862, Page 5

NARRATIVE OF CURRENT' E TENTS FOR TRANSMISSION TO MELBOURNE.

Since our last Melbourne Narrative was published on the 10th instant, there has been quite a rush of interesting and important mining intelligence, in fact new discoveries have become so frequent as scarcely to cause any excitement compared with their importance. We have to note the discovery of two actually new and distinct gold fields, besides a variety of rich finds within the bounds of those already constituted, and an extension iv almost every direction beyond those bounds. On the 20th, Dunedin was startled by the report of the finding of rich ground at the Cardrona River, a tributary of the Molyneux, but which is distant from the Dunstan Camp • some seventy or eighty miles by the track that has to be followed to reach it, although as the crow flies the distance is very much less. On this subject we cannot do better than quote the official report furnished to the Government by the Commissioner at the Dunstan. It was as follows : — • j OFFICIAL REPORT. '•Gold Fields Department, " Warden's Office, "D.mstan, loth. iYovember, 1862. tir, —l have the honcr to report, tor your iaformation, that on the ]'2th instant two'miners, -whose names appear in the jmargin (Michael J. Grogan and James Alullins), waited on me, and reported that they had discovered payable gold in a tributary of the Upper Clutha, nesir the Cardrona, about twenty miles south-west of Wilkinson's Station. "Their written statement of the facts of the discovery 1 forward herewith attached. "I authorised the party of three (one of them being left in charge of the yrouud] to mark out such an are as they were entitled to, under the Gold Fields Regulations, i.e., quadruple the area of an ordinary' claim, the same to be confirmed in the event of its being comprised in any proclaimed gold field. "Tho amount of gold exhibited "by these men was of a very coarse description, consisting of fkt irregular nuggets, in weight 9 ozs G.h dwts. Out of this I selected seven peices, and their weights were as lollows :—

Ist .. 16 dwts 2nd ... 10 „ 3rd .. 104 \, 4th .. 6 , sth .. 7A 6th ... 4 7th .. T „ " The sample has been left vilh ma, ami I purpose taking it to Dunedin, should my magisterial duties permit, at the end of next week as I anticipate. " The statement of Grogan lias left me little to report on the matter, save as to the distance from thi=, which I estimate, following the route taken by the prospectors, at about seventy-five miles from the camp ; but I imagine a shorter track could be taken by crossing the Clutha at the junction of the Kawarau, and striking across the ranaes to the right of the Pisa. The prospectors followed the western bank of the Upper Clutha until they reached Wilkinson's station ; and proceeded up the Cadrona about twelve miles to a shepherd's hut, and the scene of their discovery is abeut eight miles further up thai; creek. _" The greatest excitement prevails respecting this discovery, and I have had repeated applications for particulars. A party under the guidance of a miner named Fox, is reported to be doing well in the neighborhood of this discovery, and many rumors are in circulation respecting the richness of their workings, and it was while endeavoring to trace Fox's party that Grogan t found the prospect, the subject of this letter.

" I have the honor to be, " Your most obedient servant, " Jackson Keddell, Warden." Thejfollowing is the statement referred to:— " Grogan's Diggings, Wilkinson's Eiver, Cardrona River.

'" On the 9th, while a crowd of diggers were camped on the banks of the Cardrona, about ten miles from Wilkinson's station, this young man and myself took a walk to see how that part of the country looked. On walking along the bank of the river, upon what I call a slide, where there |had been a ti-aek formed by the cattle, I being a little further up the creek, sat down until he came up; and he immediately told me'that some persons must have lost some gold, and produced about four pennyweights that he had found on this cattle track. We still continued up until-we thought it time to return to our campingl ground, and ou the way he showed me the place, and on searching for more we could get none, and by the appearance of the black soil both of us certainly thought it must have been dropped by Fox or some other person. However, when we came home, and aftir supper the matter being well discussed, it was the opinion of all, with one exception, which is my mate—his name is Patrick May, when lie remarked that he got gold in California in such blajk soil; and I also remarked the same, that I had worked ground in California that was regular loam.

On Tuesday, the 11th, after receiving some information as to whereabouts Fox was working, myself and mate 3 were ahead of the others, and on coming to this place. I took my swag and laid it on tin bank, " There," said I, "is where the gold was got.', Then I walked to the spot, and in breaking up the surface the first thing that I discovered was a bit of about 3 dwts, and that afternoon we nuggetted out 9 ozs 6 dwts 12 grains, which all hands that were there could see, and I believe all hands were looking on after I showed them the gold. As soon as they camft up, "Gentlemen," said I, "I wish to get a prospecting claim, and here is my authority," so I started on the following morning, and acquainted the Commissioner at the Dunstan of it.

" Michael J. Grogan." "The appearance of the country. It certainly looks remarkably weil for creeks and gullies, and I do not know but there U gold in abundance in all those slides. There may be, and there may not be. It is very hard to try the gullies, as the gravel is verj loose and water very plentiful.

By the last accounts about 1000 men had hastened to the Cardrona, and there was every probability of a large gold field^being developed.

It will b3 noticed that allusion is made in the reports above quoted to a miner named Fox, who was supposed to have found rich diggings, and to be working on the quiet. The whereabout'of this man has since been discovered. It appears that this suspicion that he had found rich ground was not unfounded, but, on the contrary, that he has discovered an entirely new and rich gold field, on the Arrow River. An interesting report upon this field, from the pen of Dr Hector, Government Geologist, will be found elsewhere. The last reports current at the Dunstan are to the effect that Fox and party were " laying on" their friends, and that they had deposited for escort 680 ozs, the produce of a fortnight's work. This information was obtained by our own correspondent, from the storekeepers at the Dunstan, who was understood to be acting as Fox's agent. At that time the locale of Fox's workings was still kept a profound secret, but it was to be publicly declared on the 22nd inst. However, Dr Hector having, in the course of his reconnasiance, suddenly dropped upon Fox and his party, his account, as published in our columns, anticipates inDunedin any information on the subject by way of the Dunstan.

The reports from Conroy's Gully are of the most satisfactory character. Immense yields seem to be the order of the day, and some of the reported finds are almost fabulous, and' were they not well authenticated would appear exaggerations. Our special reporter writing on the 15th inst. says :—" To give returns of all the rich finds is an impossibility. Pounds weight per day are freely spoken about, and cause no surprise, and people here will believe almost anything thai; is reported. The mention of ounces is treated quite cavalierly, such is the excitement prevailing. On the Eight-mile Rush, or Conroy's Gully, as at first named, about three hundred people are working. This field is a narrow long stream with a large number of blind gullies entering into the main gully, if it can be so called. These latter are almost unprospected, and while the present feverish state of feeling exists, the further development of their resource* will be. postponed, £arge. and immediate finds are th«.

order of tlie day, and nothing is systematically carried out. Small returns that would anywhere else attract attention and lead to important results, are generally ignored, and the influx of a very larse body of miners seems the only probable means of steadily developing the complete resources of these outlying places. The number of these detached rushes are so many, and the reports in circulation about new discoveries are so numerous, that very few are contented to settle down upon anything that is not extraordinary. It brings back to memory the time when gold was so easily procured in the first days of the Victorian Gold Field?. It may have been more regularly and steadily distributed on them, but it was never obtained with less trouble than here. But this is a digression. The nature of the wordings in this rush, and those throughout the district are of the same easy character. Williamson and party have cleared up, and note some four hundred ounces. They washed as high as a pound weight per dish.. The Germans Anil probably exceed this returu. They also have washed over a pound weight to the dish. It was in this rush that the fifty pounds weight was got by two men. It is useless to mention other instances of success, as the list would extend to 'arge dimensions. There are also a series of small flats which are neglected except by a few parties. The returns of those working them is given to me at from £4 to £5 sterling per man a week, The gold is coarse, heavy, and wuterworn. and many pieces weighing over an ounce have been obtainedCorcoran and party informed the sergeant stationed here that they were making six pounds' weight per day.

Eight miles beyond Conroy's Gully, in a westerly direction, over the Snowy Ranges, another gully equally as extensive as " Conroy's" has been opened. The party who opened it are Cornishmen, and have washed as high as thirty-five pennyweights to the. dish. It is likely to attract considerable attention The gold is again, in this instance, coarse, heavy, and water-worn.

The Earnsclugh River is one of the latest developments, and promises not to be the least of them. The two prospecting parties have claimed, the one upon fifteen pennyweights to twelve tin dishes (coarse gold), and the other upon from one to two pennyweights to the tin dish. Both claims have been granted, and as they are widely apart every confidence in its ultimate productiveness is felt. About two hundred men are busily engaged, and the results so far obtained lead to the confirmation of these represen-

tations

It is reported upon reliable authority that 200 ounces were yesterday washed out of one tin dishful of stuff in .Convoy's Gully. The pocket looked so rich that the holders of the claim thought they had dropped upon an immense pile. It is a narrow crevice, and is running into the hill aide. In my next I shall be able to give the full reports of this extraordinary find. It will probably be the heaviest one yet obtained on the Dunstau.

The Fraser River is also going to turn out splendidly, and three to four pennyweights per dish is the prospect obtained. It is thirty miles from this beyond the Ernsclugh, and over the Snowy Range, as it is here called.

The reports from the older gold-fields are favorable, although the paucity of the population there at present prevents anything like a proper development of the fields. At Wetherstone's the cutting of the storm-water channel is being rapidly proceeded with, and ib is anticipated that the work will be completed in about ten days, No new leads, have, however, been discovered, although some of the ground cut through has yielded payable prospects, such as, in less exciting times than the present, would readily be worked. The uniform depth of the cutting is twelve feet, but in most instances the true bottom has not been reached, the miners contenting themselves •with trial prospects from the new channel. As might be anticipated, the results have not been particularly brilliant, but sufficient has been shown to demonstrate that with proper appliances the whole of Wetherstone's Flat would pay for working on an extended scale. A considerable length of the channel has been cut through ; cement of the same character as that obtained on the Blue Spur, at the head of Gabriel's Gully, This cement appears to be very widely distributed, and forms, so far as the claims on the flat are concerned, the only bottom at present worked by the miners. Above this cement lies a brownish colored drift, and it is this stratum alone that has been washed, although the cement itself shows gold in minute specks. If it could once be demonstrated that this stuff would pay for crushing, their is a bright future and a more lasting prosperity in store for this field. The discoverers of the auriferous qualities of this cement, Hughes and party have applied for a lease of three acres at the head of Gabriel's, and should they be fortunate enough to obtain it, intend at at once to erect machinery for the purpose of crushing. From the Nokomai the accounts are decidedly more favorable. We yesterday published condensed reports from the Commissioner at this field, which, as they contain the only reliable information to hand, we reprint.

The first, dated November 8, mentions that the miners had been rushing to the Nevi s Valley, some to Cumberland Gully, and the adjacent gullies at the head of the valley, and some to the Middle Gorge and the lower end of the valley. The rush to Cumberland Gully had been caused by a party of four men bringing to the camp for escort 142 ounces, which they had obtained in four days. At the Middle Gorge the prospect was about six pennyweights to the dish, the sinking being shallow and tlu-ough boulders. The Middle Gorge of the Nevis Valley is distant about thirty miles from the Nokomai camp.

Another discovery had been reported. A man named M'Fariane had reported the discivery of goldon Burnett's or Switzer's station, distant about twenty-two miles from the camp. The 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, which is a mixture of slate and sandstone. The prospect obtained was about a quarter to half a pennyweight to the di«h, and the party were earning on an average LI per day. The locality would appear to be a small creek, running into the Wakaia, ju3t opposite Switzer's Homestead, about five miles from the Junction. . It was reported to be unap r proacliable on horseback. -

The Commissioner had made an arrangement with a party of twelve men to bottom on the Nokomai River, the party possessing a good Californian 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, 190 ;, Nokoraai River, 170; Cumberland Gully and "adjacent gullies at the head of the valley, 160; Middle Gorge, 60; 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 Nokomsi field. '

The report which, is for the week ending Nov. 15, mentions that during the week there has been a considerable rush to the Cavrick Ranges. The principal place however is Potter's Gully, which is within, the Nokomai field. ; . ,

Potter's Gtully is about four or five miles long, and empties itself into the Nevis' Biver at the lower end of the Valley and almost one " mile from the lower gorges. The sinking is wet, and varies frorajS feet to 8 feet, through gravel. There is from 1 foot to 3 feet of wash dirt. Many jrartjesi are, ivta tattered* making "aajall

piles," and tLe greater number are earning far more than wages. All the pound is nor, however, taken up. Iho gully will probably be worked out in about six weeks. The hills adjacent have not yet been prospected. J

. There are a considerable number of miners at work, "* V ie, Somes on the other side of the Canick Kanees llus locality was visited by the Commissioner on the t th, find he there found a population of about 150. and others pourina in from ail quarters. The principal diggings in this quarter were at the Banuockbuvn. A few men had washed as much as 3 dwts. to the dish. There was a larpc population at the lower end of the Aens, Potter's Gully&cj ami there were also, at least, 1,000 miners working in the various puHies (Bannockburn. &c.) on the other side of the ranees and without the boundaries of the Kokomai raid field.

With respect to Potter's gully, Mr Wnrthinqtou 8? y?' /. ~wS.u l. d be impossible to work this portion of the field efficiently from,the Nokomai, from which place it is distant at least forty miles, over a ro;id almost impracticable now for "a horse, and of coursa impassable in wet weather and winter, Avhereas it is only 20 miles distant from the Dunstan, over a fair road. The Dunstan also gets ali the revenue, in the shape of miner's rights, &c, and all the gold, and supplies the wants of the diggers."

"There is a considerable amount of £okl in the hands of-the diggers iv Victoria Gully, although about ionr hundred ounces were taken to'lnvercargill last week. Ou the 9th instant Mr Duncan had 680 oz in the Treasury for safe keeping, about 200 of which belonged to miners who purpo.se forwarding it by escort, adding whatever gold they may obtain iv the meantime. There are also 235 02 deposited for the escort, which T should surest beiup; senfup in ten days or a tortnight, when I think we should hive some I,COi) or '7 , ~°?- , ere :i bl" auch ba»dt or a gold buyer's office established here, well supplied with c*sb, i"t would to a considerable extent prevent the loss and expense ■ by so much finding its way to Invercargil], aud the amount per escort would be considerably enhanced. The diggers greatly complain of the want of postal '•ommunication in fact I personally have not received a letter of any fort since my arrival on the field. I hear ho-.vev.-r ihat wo arc to have a fortnightly mail, winih is due to ni>ht, and leaving- early in the morning. It has not however arrived yet— 10.30 p.m.

# "Gold has been discovered in the Mataura Biver m small quantities, but the working was abandoned at once, in consequence of the difficulty in contending against the water. The same thing ;-.lso applies to the _ A miner told me that he prospected the latter river down to tho lower jyonry, found a few grains to the dish of surface ground, which lie got from the bed of the river. . He sunk in the banks iv several places and found the same amount of gold directly he gob to the level of (he river, but coukfnot get down fir ther on account of the water.

An election to supply the vacancy in the representation of Duucdin, caused by the resignavion of Major Richardson, was held on Saturday week. It did not call forth the slightest interest, inasmuch as the proceedings, although held iv virtue of a writ from the Governor, were informal and irregular. A new act for increasing the number of representatives for this province was passed during the last sessession of the General Assembly, and by this Act; it was provided that the city of Dunedin, which formerly comprised one district, should be divided into two, and a fresh electoral roll for the new districts published. By some accident this Act seems to have been overlooked by the authorities, and a writ was issued in the usual fcrai for the, old district. Mr James Paterson (the only candidate) was elected in absence, but it is likely the whole affair will he declared iuvalid, and a fresh writ

issued,

An extensive fire occurred in Dunedin on Monday night, by which a large building used as a livezy stables and horse bazaar, in Georgestreet, was partially destroyed. Fortunately the night was calm, and the Volunteer tiire Brigade, who made their debut on this occasion, behaved gloriously, and the fire was confined to the one side of the building in which it first commenced. There were about forty horses in at the time the fire broke out, but all the animals were safely rescued, as was also a considerable quantity of chaff'and horse feed. The damage is estimated at about £500, none of it being insured. The buildings had only changed hands a day or two, and negotiations were in progress for effecting an insurance when the fire occurred.

The "Fawcett" Company at the Princess' Theatre are bringing their season to a close, and will shortly it is expected leave this for Melbourne. Mr Clarance Holt has become the lessee of both theatres, and assumes the management of the Princess' in a week or two.

The Provincial Council held its first sitting this session yesterday. The proceedings appear in. our present issue.

There has been no intelligence of the two missing steamers, the Comet and the Citizen, and it is much to be feared that they have foundered. Mr Scott has met with a severe disappointment in connection with the floating of the s.s. Victory, in Wychfre Bay. A few days ago the steamer was actually afloat, with her head well out to sea, and steam was being got up, when, the chain cable to which she was riding snapped, and she drifted ashore, where she now lies iv a worse position than before.

The first lot of cattle from Gipps Land arrived on the 22nd, iii the H. S. Page, which brought 90 head, in splendid condition, the cattle being as fresh and sleek as if they had never been off the pasture.

Garibaldi in Thought.—On arriving at Ceutoibi. the old Uenturbium, on the extreme edge of the Sicilian high land. Garibaldi rode to church, and after short prayers, took his way to a point, dominates all the country round. We overtook him here, whilst he surveyed tee piana di Catania with his telescope. We Stood just opposite to Aderno, and saw the high road to Catania deep fn the lowland under our feet winding to the sea. " You are making your plan," said Mordini, when the General had put his telescope again in his pocket. Garibaldi, lost in thought, said but one word, '"Aquila," (an eagle); accompanied by. a rapid motion of his hauds down, wards, whilst his eye lighted up and his features re* sume'd that serenity which habitually characterize them. We saw his plan was formed; he was to pounce down like an ea.de, and destroy the plans of the roay general.— Letter from a Garibaldian.