TOTAIIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 59, 19 October 1865, Page 2

TOTAIIA.

Tho progress of mining affairs in this district continues to bo most satisfactory. Although no very heavy finds have lately beon roportcd or any such brilliant results yet achieved, as many woro sanguino onough to predict would of a cortainty arise from tho opening up of this goldfield, still tho instances of individual good fortuno are vory numerous, tho weekly return of gold is stoadily increasing, now ground is 1 daily being opened

up in every direction, yielding, generally speaking, most encouraging prospects, every nook and corner that it is possible to penetrate into through the thick and tangled jungle of tho New Zealand bush is being carefully and energetically explored by tho adventurous minors ; and at no distant period, in all probability, the wholo series of creeks and gullies, with the numerous intervening spurs and terraces, oxtending from tho present workings at Jones' Creek through tho already flourishing little settlement at Macnally's Flat, and away to tho open sea beach, will bo proved one continuous goldfield, spreading over an area many miles in extent, and capable of affording permanent employment to a very large population. Already the greater portion of tho ground has beon proved auriferous. In a hundred isolated spots apart from tho older diggings miners may bo found busily at work both in deep and shallow sinking, and although to a man taciturn in tho extreme when questioned as to their luck, and seemingly jealous even of strange footsteps venturing to disturb their privacy, yet they generally admit that they aro well satisfied with their present prospects.

Tho most noticeable event at Jones's during tho present week has been the advent of an official whose presence has long been sorely needed hero. At last we havo a real live Warden amongst us, and tho inhabitants may quietly congratulate themselves upon tho fact that tho " powers that bo " havo not sent amongst them any new-fledged bantling to try his 'prentice-hand at lawgiving. Fortunately for the interests of the community, Justin Aylmer, Esq., now in charge of this district, is a gentleman who has already gained considerable practical experience as a warden in the Otago goldncld, and in the Wakatip district especially, won golden opinions from all in the disohargo of his magisterial duties. Amongst the many cases already requiring judicial decision are the arrangement of terms upon which miners aro to bo allowed to dig upon the now Camp reserve, which was rushed a few days since by several hundred men, in consequence of a prospect being obtained of some 2 or 3 dwts. to the dish at 20 feet sinking, the result of which was, as a matter of course, the immediate putting down of numerous shafts throughout tho whole reserve, notwithstanding the almost frantic efforts of the police to stop such an unwarrantable intrusion on their special domain. Tho Warden, on his arrival, decided that each party sinking should lodge a deposit of £10, which, in the event of fhoir claim turning out a duffer, would be repaid them upon their refilling yxo shaft, and leaving the ground as they found it — a straightforward way/of dealing with tho free and easy jigger, which met with general approbation. Tho prospects since obtained from several of the shafts have averaged from 2 to 5 dwts., and sanguine hopes arc entertained that the whole terrace upon which the now camp buildings aro to be erected, and also a part of tho sito of tho newly surveyed township will be found payable If such be the case iVwill prove a godsend to many of tho now arrivals now roving around tho township, who, lacking the means to embark iv deep sinking, and perhaps disinclined to brave the manifold discomforts of a prospecting expedition in the recesses of the almost impenetrable scrub, are yet loth to retrace their steps townwards without taking the first bright polish off their picks and shovels.

Numbers of heavily laden swngmen arc daily arriving here, many of them evidently new in harness and low in pocket, although the district is already decidedly over-rushed, and offers but very few chances to any except the hardy pioneer, blessed with plenty of patience and persoverance, and possessing also sufficient means to engage in deep sinking, entailing as it does tho expenditure of both time and money. Some question has lately arisen here as to tho presumed liberty claimed by holders of miners' rights to dig on ground already occupied by storekeepers and others, and the Warden ha 3, I believe, decided that the prior right to dig belongs to holders of business licences on tho ground they occupy, and miners will thus have to obtain permission to dig upon tho allotments held as business sites on this township, a decision which will, doubtless, put an end to tho interminable squabbles generally occurring on all new diggings where diggers' claims and tradesmen's habitations are intermixed in endless confusion. •• At Macnally's Flat, or Donaghue's Creek as ifc is sometimes termed, the population is increasing, and tho workings hero promise to be tho most permanent in tho district. Many claimholders havo already tho certain prospect of one and two years' work before them. Tho sinking varies from 40 to 70 feet in depth, and tho returns in many instances aro very good — from LlO to LI 2 per wcok being a low average of tho general earnings, Tho sito of tho present workings is being rapidly cleared of timber, and the nucleus of a thriving little township has already started into existence. Threo or four storo3, a bakery, and a butchor's shop aro already established, as also a news and express office, this last under tho management of a confrere of the inevitable Rowloy. I notico also several other buildings in course of erec* tion.

On tho sea beach a constant traffic of pedestrians continuos, but it is a mystery where their journey ends, thcro being no diggings of any importation south of tho Mokomii River. Up this river, fivo miles distant, at Redmond's Gully, somo forty men aro already working in comparatively shallow sinking, but the ground is very limited and

already fully occupied. About a fortnight since, a rumored discovery of gold near Cusp's Accommodation House, nine miles further south, caused a rush of some 500 diggers thereto, doubtless to the intense satisfaction of the shantykeoper, but with little profit to themselves, for after encamping on tho supposed spot for some days they again dispersed.