THE SCOTCH GOLDFIELDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 72, 26 June 1869, Page 3

THE SCOTCH GOLDFIELDS.

(" Inverness Courier," April Ist.) Arrangements are now made for allotting claims at the gold diggins in the parish of Kildonan, county of Sutherland. Allotments of forty feet square of the ground forming the alluvial deposit along any part of either side of the Kildonan, Suisgill, and Torish burns are to be marked off, the miner's license being one pound sterling per month, exclusive of the royalty to the Crown, 1 consisting of one-tenth of the gold obtained. Now that the weather is favourable, the influx of diggers is daily on the increase. Last week about twenty carts, loaded with tents and digging materials, passed through Helmsdale on their way to the diggings ; and accompanying each cart were five or six men At each of the burns there is a small village of tents of every conceivable shape and size. '

The number of diggers at work during the last week would average about three hundred a day. Some have been making pretty fair wages; others again very little, and this has not only been the result hitherto, but probably will always continue to be the case. Not to give an exaggerated account of the earnings, we might say that from two to eight shillings a-day is made, and experienced diggers make sometimes as high as twelve snillings a-day. Those who are intending to try the diggings should bring along them either a " cradle " or a "sluice," as the tin dish is now of no account. The only purpose for which the dish is used is for cleaning the gold, which has been wrought through cradles or sluices. Two diggers from the South have been prospecting for about three weeks, and they appear to find gold scattered over a large area, and, as they say, in sufficient quantities to pay. It is understood that they are to sink shafts in flats, but they have not begun to do bo as yet, principally owing to +he wetness of the ground. One of the diggers is reported to have been sent by Government, and the other by his Grace the Duke of Sutherland.

It is generally understood that up to this time, there has been between £400 and £500 worth of gold found. The price given for it is £4 an ounce. Dr. Lindsay, it will be observed, gives a xexy high opinion of the Kildonan gold. Gold has been found on the Berriedale Estate, and it is said to be much rougher or larger thaa the Kildonan gold. Experienced diggers seem to think that there is a great quantity of the precious metal in the Berriedale Strath. The authorities there, however (a gamekeeper and a policeman), seemed determined that no digging •hall be allowed. There are now twenty-two tents and wooden houses erected in Kildonan Stiath, and about thirty or forty people stay in the old church at night. Two of the tents are provision (stores. Since last week Mr. P. G. Wilson ha* got £60 3s9d wor& of Sutherland gold,