THE OREPUKI GOLDFIELD.

Southland Times, Issue 1105, 6 August 1869, Page 3

THE OREPUKI GOLDFIELD.

The following report has been placed at our disposal by the G-overnment : — Warden's Office, Orepuki, 30th July. His Honor the Superintendent. Sik — I have the honor to report that there is no alteration in the number of miners in this district since the commencement of this year. There have been arrivals of several parties, but few have remained, and of those who have done so they bave only replaced parties whose water privileges they bave purchased. The yield of gold during the last quarter is reported to be generally better than during any preceding quarter in the claims at present working. I wish to bring to your Honor's notice a fact which has materially altered the character of the oldest worked ground here, and which promises to render even the small area which has been already well prospected here of much more value than has been hitherto imagined. I The first creek in the bush worked here named " Prospector's Gully " having paid well at the commencement in various places by " cradle working " was nearly deserted. Water was brought in by one party to ground-sluice ; this proved payable to this party, and others who used their tail water in succession ; and about ten men ba/e been making more than average wages during the last two years. It is now apparent that although the best finds were originally in the creek, those at present working are working terrace ground adjacent to, but in some places as much as one hundred yards from the present bed, and in most instances with stripping (soil overlying the wash) of from twenty to forty feet. The neighboring guUies, although they have not been so much worked show the same indications, and there is every probability that a large area of terrace ground, (part of which has proved to pay well for groundsluicing) can be profitably mined if water can be obtained. The limit to che number of men who can mine here under present circumstances has been decided by the occupancy of all the water which can be readily broughtin, but I submit to yourhonor that should the statement I have made above be verified by a more competent person with scientific knowledge to guide him, and it is proved that tbe ground already working is but a small portion of a large contiguous area with a similar wash, and varying little in depth of stripping, that the difficulty of want of water would be readily overcome, as though impracticable in point of outlay to small parties of miners, it would present s uch a certainty of remunerative interest that creeks available to a j company, though beyond the means of private individuals, and capable of supplying water for ground-sluicing for some hundred of additional miners, would be brought on to the ground. If this is done at high level the tail-water will be worked with again, and continuously as long as fall exists to carry away the tailings. I believe the main branch of the Wai Mea Mea would supply twenty heads in the dry season, and can be brought in by a six mile race at a cost of about £1000. If lam correct in this, and I am supported in my opinion by several practical men who have been over the ground, the water brought in would suffice at first hand for eighty men at least, and in succession to probably five times that number. The probable rental would be £1 per head of water per week at least. During the last two months several more claims in Prospector's Gully have been taken up, one party paying ten shillings a week for a head of water after use by the owners. Howard and party have extended their race, and bring two heads into the Gully. I beg to submit to your Honor that it is advisable that the G-overnment should employ a Surveyor to visit and report upon the feasibility of bringing a supply of water on to the present workings, as it is out of the power of those resident in this district to obtain the services of any competent person, and that such Surveyor should report also upon the boundaries, area, and relative positions of the workirgs in prospectors and the neighboring gullies. Should the gentleman appointed have any practical knowledge ot geology, of course it would add great value to the report, but even without this a statement with plan of position, outline of intermediate ground, and ordinary description of the wash and stripping would be of value, and would, I believe, corroborate my opinion that the payable wash extends over an area as at present known of half a mile square, adjacent on the south side of Prospector's Gully and probably of much greater extent. The race on the Longwood Ranges will not be completed for some weeks, and but two parties are actually mining there, about sixteen or eighteen men being employed on the race. A few parties are working at Lake George, and Fryett and party on Oolac's Bay Beach. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, Henby Bogebs, Warden.