MINING.

Southland Times, Issue 544, 20 August 1866, Page 7

MINING.

Mining is assuming importance ; although tho moni.ii Has not bfen fivor.tble to optir.ilio?-.* in tho L-ke District (the bor.U-r g.'ldnelds), considerable progress has been made still neirer at han i. For a considerable time past gold has been known to exist in payable quantities in different parts of the province, but more especially iv the vicinity of Riverton, where extensive beach workings have yielded large returns ; indeed in some instances rich " finds " have rewarded the efforts of the miners. But yet. notwithstanding this, there lias been a feeling of general indifference manifested by the public ou the subject of developing the wealth almost at their door. How r ever strange' this apathy appears, it may, in some degree, be accounted for. It must be in the recollection of most of our readers how many unsuccessful attempts have been made in times past to discover a goldfield. At one time so sanguine were the people of Invercargill of the discovery of gold within " our borders" — the pet phrase applied to the boundaries of the province — that upwards of £1,500, if we remember aright, was subscribed in a very short time as a reward to whoever succeeded in discovering a payable goldfield in Southland ; and the Government, with corresponding energy, placed the sum of £1,000 on the" estimates to supplement the efforts made towards so desirable an object. But the Fates were inexorable. No goldfield was discovered at the time, and after prospecting parties had been out, and returning without success, all further attempts were abandoned. But not the idea of eventually discovering a goldfield. Nearly all those who returned spoke with more or less confidence of the ultimate certainty of one being discovered within " the borders," assigning as reasons, the likely appearance of the country traversed, &c, and the result has proved the correctness of the surmise. Another great drawback towards the earlier discovery of gold, has been the exodus from the Province, occasioned by the attractions of the Wakamarina and the "West Coast. Men's minds became unsettled ; the idea that " distance lent enchantment to the view " was fully realised. And instead of a thorough and practical prospecting of those localities known to be auriferous, af ru3h to " fresh fields and pastures new " was the consequence. The idea of a Southland goldfield was something so excessively funny, that the very thought; of such an occurrence elicited the most playful and refreshing banter on the part or some of the New Zealand journals. Indeed, if we are not asistaken, one of our Otago contemporaries so greatly enjoyed the joke, that he facetitiously advised us to call the Lake Wakatip a Southland goldfield ; it would be a new way to pay Did debts, he pleasantly observed. But after a very little time the scene was changed. Our neighbors' riches became exhausted, population decreased, and the dismal appearance of worked out and abandoned goldfields everywhere met the eye in the adjoining province. Whilst on the contrary, the many indications of the preciou3 metal observable throughout this province, which from time to time became widely disseminated, induced a body of miners to leave the West Coast, shortly after the gold fever had somewhat subsided, and turn their attention to the diggings in the vicinity of Riverton, known as the Orepuki. And they have been repaid for their energy and perseverance. Speaking on the authority of Mr Commissioner Weldon's report to his Honor the Superintendent, dated the 25th July, we learn that the population at the Orepuki amounted to about 250 souls, and the estimated weekly yield of gold was put down at 300 ounces ; a greater average than has seldom, if ever, been obtained on larger goldfields of acknowledged wealth. It must be remembered that this information is derived from a gentleman who is well qualified to speak on the subject, both from his former experience on the goldfields in Victoria, aad latterly in Otago, and from the facility he has of obtaining reliable infor-. mation importance may beattachedtov^hat he advances. The report is utterly devoid of the couleur derose tint generally pervading similar documents ; it is simple and to the point, and therefore carries the more weight. It would, however, have been a principal feature, if the extent of auriferous country, emending from the beach workings, has blen more particularly indicated. Beyond the information in general terms that the whole of the country, stretching to the Waiau is auriferous, we are without precise intelligence, Grold has been also obtained in the Longwood ranges, and undeniable evidence has not been wanting to prove that rich and valuable quartz reefs exist there. Indeed the general indications are such that the Government would be justified in proclaiming the Orepuki a goldfield. If the Grovernment are satisfied, at thi3 early stage of the development of the gold resources of the Province, that the revenue derivable from the Riverton district would be more than sufficient to cover the increased outlay of the appointment of a Warden, &c, it is but fair that the miners who are now working there should be protected by the extension of the Gold Fields' Regulation Act. By the operation of this Act, they would be entitled to many benefits that they are unable at present to obtain. We subjoin the official reports aluded to, and other items of interest : — Police Department, Invercargill, 25th July, 1866. To His Honor the Superintendent, InTercargill. Sib, — I have to report for your Honor's information that seemingly no increase nor decrease of population has taken place on the Paihi, Oripuki, or Longwood diggings since my last report, the estimated population at present being 250. The weekly yield of gold is about 300 ounces; but I find that it is rather difficult to arrive at any very correct estimate of the yield of gold, as tho miners are

di?s itisned with the price offered on the di^in2.s for s;old, a?id prefer keeping it to bring to town, and dispose of it as best rhey can. It is rumored that parcels of fifty and one hundred ounces have been sent in Dunedin, where a better price (viz., £o 163 per ounce) has been obtained for it. I think" if an arrangement was made with the Bank at Riverton to receive the gold, it would be more convenient to miners that it should be lodged there, then sending it on to Invercargill ; in proof of this. I may state that as yet no gold has been consigned to Invercargill. Pending arrangements of some satisfactory nature I have instructed the Sergeant of Police at Oripuki not to receive, or take charge of any gold until further orders ; but to appoint a day once a fortnight to escort any persons who may wish to bring their own gold to town. Some time ago I was led to believe that when winter fairly set in these diggings would be nearly deserted ; however, such has not been the case ; but on the contrary, the miners have prospected a good deal of the country, and are now spread over a large district, and it is not at all improbable that by next summer an important goldfield may be developed. Some slight " rowing " has occurred, arising out of mining disputes, which leads me to think that, small as these digging are at present, they ought to be brought under the operation of the Gfold Fields Act. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obdt. servant, T. K. WELDON, Commissioner of Police.