GOLD FIELDS REPORTS.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 76, 28 July 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

GOLD FIELDS REPORTS.

The following are the latest Governx mental reports upon the Otago gold-\ fields, as extracted from the IVi<iiesso£4 the 'llth inst. : — Gabriel's. — The Warden reporfs that the population is about 1300, pf whom about 800 are miners. Waitahuna. — The estimated popu- , lation is given as follows .•—Waitahuna Gully and old workings — Miners, 18,0 ; others, 1 00 ; total, 280. The * flat, river, and adjacent gullies — miners, J 60; others, 40; total, '200. Woolshed — miners, 290; others,- 63 ; total, 353. Waipori — miners, 170; others, 20; total, 1 90. Grand total^l 020. The Warden writes : — There is a slight ircrease in the population; at Waipori. Miners appear to be more ; sarijjuirie of success in that quarter than hither o, and they are working -with* -a* proportionate degree of energy. "There'ef has widened from six to ten feetj and tlie yield has in no way abated in richness. -,_, One of the shareholders, who wants to ' sell, demands L3OO for -his ."Share*. ; Not very long since he would have been satisfied with a much smaller sum. Waitahuna still suffers from want of water, the little rain last falling being senrcely perceptible here. Dunstan. — Estimated populationMiners, 3400 ; others, 700; total, 4100. Under the head of new discoveries, tbe Warden reporls : — A. gully is reported to have been discovered near the Roaring Meg, or Kirtle Brim, within the last week, but the reports from thait locality are very conflicting and but little importance is attached to the rumor by the miners. No prospecting claims have been granted. New Rushes. — At Black's the population has greatly decreased, and Mid reduction in the estimate of this field is attributable to this fact. Some compute the number at 1,000, bu I consider the number allowed to have left this field 6(>o, to he a tolerably correct estimate. Information received from this rush is of a very meagre description. There is every reason to believe that if timber was more plentiful, the ground which is very wet, would be successfully t worked, and would employ a greater number. GeneEai, Information'. — Tbe Molyneux which has continued throughout the week very high, has prevented the miners holding river beach claims from working them, and bas considerably reduced the number of cases in the Warden's Court. At the Kawarau applications for water-courses still continue, and the applicants anticipate rich returns for their enterprise. This will readily be seen from the opposition to the certificates being granted, made by each party against the other. The extensive system of tuunelling the North bank of the Kawarau, is being prosecuted with good results near the Junction township, and an application has been made for a prospecting claim for a deep sinking shaft about to be sunk on the site of the township there. LakeWakatii\ — Population — Arrow township : s'orekeepers and others not engaged in mmm?, 450. Arrow River and adjoining gulliesj 1200. Cardronai River, 250. Upper Shotover River, 350. Fiats in vicinity of Arrow Township, 350 — Total miners, 21. 'i0 ; otheri*^ 450— total, 2GOO. The Warden reports : the claims on the flats behind tbe Arrow Township have, in some instances, turned out payable, but the majority of. them cannot be bottomed owing to the water. On Sunday, 7th June, a very severe gale blew down a lar-je number of houses. It was followed by heavy iains, causing torrents of water. The** township is now beginning to resume its old aspect, most of the residents having been latterly occupied in repairing their tenements. Mount Benger. — Population — Miners, 2,000; others, 500— Total, 2,500. The Warden accounts for this decrease by the sudden rising of the. Molyneux on the night of Mouday, the Bth, which caused the diggers to rush away in all directions. Newßusk. — Some interest has boen created by a rush somewhere about twenty-five miles distant from Baldwin's Station, but I cannot learn that many men are at work there. The locality is variously described, bufc the most reliable account seems to fix it on* the Serpentine Creek, in the direction of Valpy's. I have seen a small sample of gold said to have been procured there. It is bright and very little water worn. ' Manuherikia. — The Warden furnishes the following estimate of the population at work on this field : — .- Manuherikia, 1,100 ; Butcher's Gully, 150; Conroy and vicinity, 150; Hill's, ] 60 ; storekeepers and others, 900. Total, 2,160. ! 5