THE WAKATIP.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 8 May 1863, Page 3

THE WAKATIP.

(From the Wakatip Mail, May 2. *) ' A prospecting claim of 120 feet by 80, has been granted, April 29, to Henry Bramwell and Robert Davis, at Victoria Gully, Nokomai. The applicants state that they have sunk one shaft, 7 ft. by 3, a depth, of 12 ft., and havo obtained one ounce of gold from two loads of dirt. There is about on foot of washdirt, but the precious metal has also I been obtained in small quantities at the sur- • face. The shaft is situated at the foot of their race, and tbe gold appears to be running in the direction of the neighboring terrace. From the numerous cases of jumping that have come to our knowledge, there is doubtless some ground on the Nokomai that will well repay the efforts of the miner, but we would caution them against a rush. Probably, from past experience, the devotees of the pick and shovel will not require this warning ; but should another rush turn out like those preceding, much suffering may be expected to ensue, the season being so far advanced. At the Shotover, preparations are being energetically made by the miners and others located there to weather out the winter. Huts are ripidly superseding the more frail canvas erections ; and chimneys of sod and stone, some of cavernous dimensions, sufficiently testify the Victorian horror of cold weather. Races, too, in many cases of considerable extent, are being cut, and as the river has now been for some time rapidly falling, in all probability adequate returns will be made to the miners for their industry and enterprise. On Thursday last the foot of the Lake, and neighborhood of Kingston, was again visited by one of those sudden and severe gales that have of late been of such frequent and fatal occurrence. The gale sprung up about nine o'clock, and at midnight was blowing a perfect hurricane. During the night several accidents occm-red amongst the smaller craft at anchor. One boat in particular was thrown broadside on the beach, and several others injured in the same way. In the morning it was not deemed safe by the several captains to dispatch their different steamers. The little steamer Expert, however, made the tiip, being engaged to carry tho mail. Great excitement was caused on Tuesday night, about seven o'clock, by the fact of a boat having grounded on the Queenstown Reef, which proved so destructive to the Nugget steamer. The " cooeys" and calls of the inmates of the boat were distinctly hoard on the beach near the jetty, and two boats were manned and put off to the rescue. One soon returned, conveying two females, a child, and two men, all wet to tho skin, and with a few drenched articles of clothing with them. It proved to be a large whaleboat, carrying passengers and cargo, which had sailed about an hour or so before tor Erankton. Fortunately no very serious damage was done, with the exception of that to the boat, which has been brought to town with a few timbers staved in— the .passengers escaping with a fright, and perhaps a touch of cold in the head from the wetting. We understand the cargo, which was thrown overboard, has for the most part been recovered. Too much care cannot be taken by boatmen, when sailing in the vicinity of the bar, for reefs which were some feet under the surface a month ago are now scarcely covered, and the Lake is still decreasing in volume daily. We are given to understand, on reliable authority, that a valuable quartz reef exists in the vicinity of Skipper's. We are personally acquainted with the party giving tho information, who assures us that the stone he has seen equals in richness any yet ever discovered on the Victorian diggings. The exact spot is at present kept a secret, as ihe parties aro about making preparations for securing a prospecting claim, and working the same. From our own experience on Bendigo, we should compare the stone to that found on the Sarnia Reef, Spring Gully, which, it is well known to all Bendigonians resident there at the timo of the working of that reef, turned out 100 ozs. to the ton. We have specimens in our posses- ion taken a distance from the claim of the original finders, given to us by the party in question, who is resident in tlie locality. lie also showed us alluvial specimenr, the largest piece weighing Q_ dwta., being a beautiful sample of gold. An application for an extended claim is about to be applied ior by a party who have been working for the last few weeks at the Nokomai. We j have ascertained that they took out for the last j week's washing up 45 ounces. The sinking is described as shallow, and the scene ot operations a terrace some distance from the prospectors' claim. Their iutention is now, we believe, as their claim is worked out, to turn the river, and commence operations in its bed.