THE NOKOMAI.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 93, 25 September 1863, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE NOKOMAI.

; (From tbe Correspondent of the Walatip Mail.) ; " September 9, 1563. •< No event of any importance has occurred in our quiet locality since my last report. Our population is both orderly and industrious, so that the duties of our worthy | Warden as connected wifch this particular locality are, comparatively speaking, light. The case of Chamberlain v, Cameron came on for final arbitration on the 26th ultimo. Plaintiff was awarded L 5 damages, defendant to pay the costs— L2 10s. The damages woutd have*been heavier, but Mr Wood considered, tbat the defendant acted more through thoughtlessness than malice. Mining matters are somewhat dull. A slight accession to the population has taken place during the last fortnight. I daresay the whole district, including Dome Creek, may number some 150 or 200 souls, but should there be more terraces opened up, it will doubtless rapidly increase. The last spur that was struck is turning out very well, giving profitable employment to 4o or 50 persons. Of terrace workings generally, the gold is seldom found to extend far back into the hill, but this particular spur is an exception to the general rule, for the payable ground is some four or five claims wide. Of course the sinking gets deeper as they work back. A. party of Italians bottomed on Tuesday last at 50 feet, and obtained one and a half dwts. to the dish. A party of Germans are sinking still higher up the hill ; tbey are down between 50 and 60 feet, and no sign of bottom. From the reef keeping level so far into the hill, hopes were entertained that a lead of gold might be coming off the range. These were, however, soon dissipated by a party bottoming at six feet, so that the limits of the auriferous ground on this particular spur are pretty clearly defined. The outsiders have to seek fresh fields and pastures new, and from the number out prospecting I feel confident that something fresh will soon be struck. There is -no doubt but that some day, not very far distant, the much niafigned Nokomai will be an important district,, Hitherto it has been quite thrown into the shade by the superior attractions of the Shotover and Arrow districts, and also from the difficult nature of its workings. The Flat has never yet been bottomed, and I do not think ever will be until it is taken in hand by wellorganised companies,

who will bring machinery to bear npon it, and frpm the fact that good payable gold has been found on its terrace workings, I think thera can be no doubt but that its bed must contain far heavier dejposits. The district, however, at the present time, stinks in "the nostrils of the present community, a sure sign of its ultimate prosperity. I presume !the powers that be, gi ye an occasional eye to our movements, fo:r some few months back they made us a 'present of a real live cons'able, and subseqti ently a Warden was appeinted for this place and Switzers. Many thanks to the Govei nment for its paternal care, they are a greax boon and are both appreciatad. I trust Taowever, it will not stop here in its care for us, but deign to listen to the voice of one crying from this wilderness. To "be candid, we have another little want, and one that cannot be supplied unless the Government will put its* hand into its breeches pocket — I mean a bridle track over the saddb**, that ie ads into the Nokomai. It is an acknowledged fact that the easier of access any gold producing locality is, the sooner and more tho roughly its resources become developed. Let the Government bear this in mind, andj see that all tracks leading into suoh plaoes are at least passable in any weather for a pack horse. That the track leading over the saddle into the Nokomai is not, i.s a well known fact, and I have no hesitation in stating.havingtravelledthemalim*} 'self, that there are veiy few parts of the thi -cc tracks leading to the U pper Shotover so <1 angerons as one or two places on that ab ominable sideling. A sum of from £70 to £100 would be amply sufficient to form a firstrate track, and I trust that the g entlemen who have the power to dispense the good things of this colony will not forget to throw a few crumbs oar way. I) 7 1 am not veiy much mistaKen they are not ignorant of that which I have now stated. I bave nmch pleasure in infor ming you that Mr Wood, with active benevolence, assisted by Constable German, ;i- fined cap-a-pie with subscription paper: j of the Wakatip Hospital, have made a tcall on the miners and others here in aid of the abovenamed institution. The call was most readily responded to, every man giving pretty much according to his m< ans, and I think our returns in aid will compare most favorably, considering the scantiness of the population, with any ot her part of the Lake district. I cannot «ivi -. the exact amount collected, but 1 believe the constable has some L3O in hand, and expects to collect much more.