UPPER POMAHAKA. (From our own Correspondent.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 235, 1 August 1872, Page 8

UPPER POMAHAKA. (From our own Correspondent.)

July 23rd. According to promise, I forward you a brief report of these diggings ; also of several others surrounding the Whitecomb.

To give you an idea of the lay of the country I write of, if you will refer to that useful little map published with one of the almanacks for this year, and draw a straight line, commencing at the Teviot township and terminating at Nokoraai, it will pass over or very near the diggings I speak of. In the first place, after passing over Mount Banger, the first two streams, you proas

are the Little and Big Potnahaka, which are about ten miles from the Teviot. These diggings ' are now pretty well overrun with Chinarqen, who appear to be satisfied with their earnings. The Europeans, who are principally old Pomahaka hands, are scattered about over the diggings, which are extensive, including, with the two Potnahakas, Italian and Nuggety Gullies, besides others of less note. These diggings have been very rich — an ounce' to the disk being quite common— but like most old diggings, and especially those where the Chinamen are, all ground that can be easily wrought is well fossicked. Still the miners, as a rule, are doing as well here as in most places in the province. By steady perseverance they are generally able to square their tucker accounts and have a few ounces to the good. As showing the patience, pluck, and perseverance of some of the miners in this locality, f may mention that one party have been 5 or 6 years taking up a tail race, and it is not yet completed. Let us wish them success, for they certainly deserve it ; and as they are poor men, their backers deserve to be well paid for their outlay. Leaving the Pomahaka, we now proceed over another high range for about 8 miles, and leaving Campbells and Potters on our right, we drop down into the "VVhitecomb or Waikaia, which are about half a mile apart — (I will leave a report of the t Waikaia for my next letter) — and continuing along the line for about 10 miles up a very high range, we arrive at a comparatively new diggings at -the head of Welsh mans Gully and Gows Creek. Being above snow line, it is only a summer diggings; and it will be very convenient for the "Waikaia diggers when that river is flooded in the summer time. The workings are chiefly in shallow fossicking ground. One party during the last summer brought in a water I'ace. and expect to give their ground a good trial next summer. All the miners who have been out there speak well of the place, and have got quantities of gold which, by the way, is coarse. One person I know did very well.

It has been thawing here for the past week, and is still' keeping on. The Waikaia is very high, and I am afraid it will not be down in sufficient time to allow much work being clone before the spring floods set in, and in consequence the new claims will not get tried this season.

The miners in the Whitecomb gullies are working away. The floods do not hurt them. Another claim is being opened on the creek.