D.—No. 6.

McGregor.

Maori Jack.

Shotover & Arthur's

Moakand Moonlight.

Maori Point.

selves on the scene of operations. Secrecy was no longer possible. The news was quickly circulated throughout the province, and an extensive migration from other fields ensued. The Arrow and its tributary gullies were thoroughly prospected, and large quantities of the precious metal rewarded the toil and industry of the miners. 81. The association of Fox's name with this rush has caused him to be generally regarded as tiie discoverer of the Arrow gold-field. I am informed, however, that such was not the case. The first person who became acquainted with the auriferous capabilities of the localitv was Mr. McGregor. He commenced mining operations on the 4th October, and five days later Fox tracked him to the spot. But even McGregor rather developed than discovered the field. The real discoverer was the well known Maori .Tack, who obtained a fine sample of gold from the same stream in May, 18(51. 32. The attention of the miners was next turned to the Shotover, a considerable stream, or rather mountain torrent, the head-waters of which take their rise under the Black Peak, near the shores of Lake Wanaka. The fortunate prospector was Mr. Thomas Arthur, who, with three mates, obtained 200 ounces of gold in eight days, by washing the sands of the river beach. No secret was made of the discovery, and miners nocked from all parts to secure a share of the rich spoils. 33. The passage up the river was impracticable, owing to the lofty and precipitous rocks which hem in the channel on either side. But nothing daunted the hardy adventurers who had invaded the hitherto unexplored solitudes of this remote region. Armed with picks and shovels, they climbed the rugged mountains —some of which attain an altitude of 7,000 feet above the level of the sea —their gauiii sides seamed with dangerous ravines, and their summits clothed in perpetual snow, —and wrested the auriferous treasures of nature from the wild glens where probably human foot had never ventured before. Thus the rich locality known as Moak Creek, and its tributary Moonlight, ware attained by surmounting ihe very crest of Ben Lomond. 31. Higher up the Shotover numerous rich gullies were discovered, principally on the Western Watershed; and the beaches of the river itself were successfully prospected for a distance of more than thirty miles, the miners crossing the adjacent ranges, and descending to the stream wherever it was found practicable to do so. One of these beaches is known by the appropriate name of " Maori Point," owing to its discovery by two natives of the North Island, Dan Ellison, a half-caste, and Zachariah Haeroa, a full Maori. As these men were travelling along the Eastern bank of the river they found some Europeans working with great success in a secluded gorge. On the opposite shore was a beach of unusually promising appearance, occupying a bend of the stream, over which the rocky cliffs rose perpendicularly to the height of more than five hundred feet. Tempting as this spot was to the practised eves of the miners, none of them would venture to breast the impetuous torrent. The Maoris, however, boldly plunged into the river, and succeeded to reach the Western bank; but a dog which followed them was carried away by the current, and drifted down to a rocky point, where it remained. Dan went to its assistance ; and observing some particles of gold in the crevices of the rocks, he commenced to search the sandy beach beneath, from which, with the aid of Zachariah, he gathered twenty-five pounds weight (300 ozs.) of the precious metal before nightfall. A systematic investigation of the locality ensued, and resulted in the discovery of valuable aud extensive auriferous deposits. 'So. Other gullies and beaches further up the river were shortly afterwards ojieued up. The richest and most considerable of the former is Skipper"s Gully, which, with its numerous tribularies, may be said to constitute a Gold Field of itself. Beyond this the river has been prospected nearly to its sources, but of that portion of the district even yet we possess very little reliable information. 36. The shores of Lake Wakatipu itself have also been explored ; and on the Northern Watershed of the West arm, and the Eastern Watershed of the North arm of this the greatest of our inland seas, several famous gullies have been discovered, as Few's Creek, Simpson's, the Bucklerburn, and others of less note. Still more recently mining adventure has progressed in the direction of Mount Macintosh (the Earnslaw of the Maps), aud on the Rees River, and its Eastern tributaries, a. considerable extent of payable ground has been struck. 37. In March, 1863, and the following months, several small gullies were discovered near Mr. Gardiner's station, on the Tallaburn, at the Southern extremity of the Mount Benger Gold Field ; but the yield from this locality has hitherto been insufficient to attract much attention. About the same time gold was discovered at Moa Creek, a tributary of the Poolburn. 38. In April, a rush took place to the Manuherikia Valley, where a small Gold Field —found on the run of Mr. Black—afforded remunerative employment, for a time, to a considerable number of miners. 39. More important discoveries were made in May. The first of these was at Campbell's Creek, which runs from the Obelisk towards the Mataura, on the Western side of the Cat-rick Ranges. This Creek is reported to be nine miles in length, and to present most promising indications of the presence of auriferous treasure; but the workings are situated high up in the mountains, and the winter season has consequently been unfavorable to its developement. 40. The next discovery was that of the Mount Ida Gold Field. On the 20th May, a miner named William Parker, and his mates, found payable prospects on the Hogburn, a small stream which takes its rise in Mount Ida, and joins the Taieri River above the Lake. A large population has been attracted to this field, which is represented by the official report as being in a very prosperous condition. Several contiguous Creeks have recently been tried with success; and there is a fair prospect of the district becoming a permanent Gold Field. *

Skipper's. ;

Simpson's, Bucklerburn, &c.

Tallaburn.

Black's.

Campbell's.

Mount Ida God Field,

* Since this was written the first escort has arrived from Mount Ida with the very respectable freight of 4,320 ounces.

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