NOKOMAI.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 62, 22 October 1864, Page 3

NOKOMAI.

(FEOM OUK OWN CORBESPOtTDEIfT). Wednesday, 19th Oct, 1864 The rush up the creek still continues, and the ground ia now taken up for a distance of between twelve and thirteen miles. Payable gold haß been obtained seven or eight miles up, and no doubt is entertained of the whole extent of the creek being highly auriferous. It ia a great pity that this gold field, running almost on the boundary of Southland, should have the misfortune to be reckoned a gold field of Otago. Invercargill itself ia a heavy loser 1 hereby, while the prestige alone assists to contribute to the prosperity of the Otago Province. The Wheel Company, or Wreford and Co.' s claim, Trhic'n I alluded to in my last, is situated in the bed of the creek, about three quarters of a mile from the township, and is in truth the prospecting claim of the flat. There are several shareholders, including some of the storekeepers; its extent of ground is one thousand and seventy-feet, the paddock being pat down is very large, 45ft. by 25ft,, and its present depth thirteen feet ; the ground is very rocky, and hard to go through, and it is not thought that the claim will be bottomed under another three or four months. A large overshot water-wheel has been erected at considerable expense, for working the pumps. The original prospecting claim ia situated next to tho Wheel Company ; they commenced operations about a month before the latter company, and are now at a depth of seventeen or eighteen feet, but have no wheel or other works erected as yet. There are other wheels being erected, or about to be erected in diiferent claims higher up fc&e creek, bat they are inferior in size and workmanship. From this claim, the creek winds continually through a narrow gorge, being situated between high ranges on either side, and many parts constitute quite romantic scenery, the view looking from the top of the ranges of tho winding creek and miners at work being very picturesque. But while water is plenty, wood, that drawback on all New Zealand goldfields, is very scarce, and its absence will go far to prevent the application of steam power to mining here. The present size of the creek claims are fifty feet per man by one hundred and seventy-live feet across the creek, so that a party of six men have possession of a great piece of ground, the extra size of the claims being rendered necessary in consequence of the labor that must be done before the claims can be bottomed. Many persons have lately arrived from Queenstown district and from Invercargill, and for those who purpose leaviug your town for this place no better opportunity could occur, the weather being splendid and the rivers never lower. Tent robbing is almost (I am sorry to say) of nightly occurrence, and even the sluice boxes do not escape the nocturnal visits of the depredators. The old residents here do not scruple to put it down to the new arrivals, saying that until the late rush such a thing was unknown. Constable Daly, who was bo severely wounded in the late disturbance Is slowly recovering, but will not be fit for duty again for some three months, if ever. Two of the mates of the man who struck the blow, and who were concerned in the disturbance, were arrested last Monday night at twelve o'clock and duly forwarded next morning early to Queenstown. I am requested to draw your attention to the deficient postal arrangements. | The mail at present leaves here every I Tuesday and Friday at eleven o'clock in the morning, and arrives the same day at five o'clock in the afternoon, thus it is impossible to have an answer from Invercargill under eight days. Now, as the mail does not leave Athol (seven miles distant only) until "Wednesday and Saturday mornings, if the mail was despatched from here early on those days we could reply to our letters received the previous days ; instead of a week or eight days, four days only wouldsufficeforaletter and reply. Tnis, Isuppose, will be altered if | Cobb and Co. again place their coach on the road, as we hear it is their intention ] to do, but they must reduce their fares from the five pound charge, or travellers; will prefer walking, to town which can be easily done at a far less sum". The parties who w^re working on the other side of the Mataura (Southland Province) have yearly all left,! believe only two remaining, the superior attracr tions of the Nokomai having caused them to comei here, I althougli *;hey always obtained Uk wage* & few 014 locsiy.