✨ Gold Fields Commissioner Report
OTAGO
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
GAZETTE.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
All Public Notifications which appear in this Gazette, with any Official Signature thereunto annexed are to be considered as Official Communications made to those Persons to whom they may relate, and are to be obeyed accordingly.
JOHN L. C. RICHARDSON, Superintendent.
VOL. IV.] MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1861. [No 152.
REPORT OF
GOLD FIELDS COMMISSIONER.
Camp, Tuapeka, 20th September 1861.
SIR,—Thinking it desirable that your Honor should be made acquainted with the gold mining operations in the neighbourhood of the present proclaimed gold field, I have the honour to inform you that I visited yesterday a gully about two miles north-east of the bridge across the Waitahuna River, which I understood had, for some short time past, been occupied by a few miners. I found settled there, from the best information I could procure, a population of about 500 persons, for the most part doing well, and perfectly persuaded that a remunerative gold field exists in that locality. The almost invariable reply I received to enquiries I made of several working parties as to their yield, was, that "they were doing well, and could not complain." The gully in question is about two miles long, and there appears to be no doubt of the auriferous nature of several of the gullies in the same neighbourhood. I ascertained, while there, that on the 17th instant a party of five men made five ounces of gold, and on the following day the same party secured three ounces. I also learnt that a party who had been at work in the gully referred to for six weeks, had averaged one ounce per diem to each man. From all I saw there, I am persuaded that 5000 persons, properly equipped, would make handsome wages and something more; but at the same time I would not venture to assert that, as far as it is yet known, it can in any way be compared in richness to "Gabriel's Gully." One great drawback exists—the want of firewood, but that of course will not be so severely felt during the coming summer months. Coal of fair quality has, however, been found in the vicinity, and which I understand can be worked with ease.
Under these circumstances I deem it very desirable that an extension of the existing gold field should be proclaimed, so as, at least, to include the Waitahuna country, as I need not remind your Honor that at present I have no control over that part, and consequently a considerable mining population are shut out from that proper protection which is due to every holder of a "miner's right."
Your Honor will be glad to learn that Mansbridge Gully (referred to in my report of the 7th instant) is affording occupation to several miners, who are making good wages.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Honor's most obedient servant,
A. CHETHAM STRODE,
Commissioner.
His Honor the Superintendent
of the Province of Otago,
Dunedin.
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Otago Provincial Gazette 1861, No 152
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🌾 Report of Gold Fields Commissioner regarding Waitahuna gold mining operations
🌾 Primary Industries & Resources20 September 1861
Gold mining, Waitahuna, Tuapeka, Gold Fields Commissioner, Mining report
- A. Chetham Strode, Commissioner
- John L. C. Richardson, Superintendent