I confidently expect that gold will be found in fair quantities in the locality of the new diggings, yet I fear that this rush will prove somewhat premature, unless a well-marked lead be soon struck. For a large body of miners to work successfully in one locality requires that the auriferous deposits be very clearly defined, as comparatively few of those who flock there have any other rule to work by than doing as they see others do. What we know as yet of the district, however, would lead us to expect, that the shallow deposits at least, will prove extremely patchy and eccentric in their distribution, and perhaps only to be detected by men who have a well-practised eye for detecting likely spots.

I have to apologise for the somewhat indefinite nature of the remarks I have ventured upon in this communication, but my object has been merely to make you aware of what I consider to be the general plan upon which the gold drifts, especially of the Manuherikia district, have been formed, and to show what grounds there are for expecting their distribution over a larger area than the immediate vicinity of the Molyneux river.

I have the honor to remain,

Sir,

Yours most obediently,

JAMES HECTOR,
M.D., F.G.S., &c.

GOLD FIELD.

The following Report respecting the newly discovered Gold Field, is published for general information:—

Police Department,
Clutha Gold Fields,
August 28th, 1862.

Sir,—I have the honor to report for your information that I arrived at Mr. Shannon’s station on the Manuherikia yesterday afternoon, the 27th inst., and that I proceeded this day to the Molyneux to the scene of the new gold workings on that river discovered by Messrs. Hartley and Reilly.

The ground at present occupied by the miners extends from the Leaning Rock Hill, (one extremity of the Dunstan range) to the junction of the Kawarau and the Molyneux. The river throughout all this distance runs through iron-bound precipitous mountains, the banks, and apparently the bed of the river being rocks; the track on the east bank is nearly impassable in many places for horses, on account of the masses of rock which are piled up from the water’s edge to the summit of the range. The miners are at present prospecting each bank near the water.

On my arrival at the field this day with Mr. Hartley, I was met by about one hundred miners, who were collected at the entrance to the diggings (Leaning Rock Hill). They were all dissatisfied, and for the most part declared that no satisfactory gold had been found to support so great a number as were then on the field, and that they were on the point of returning to more promising diggings on the Tuapeka.

From some of the old established fields, from the numbers I saw, and from what I could gather respecting those who had proceeded further up the river than I had time to go to-day, I should estimate the number on the field to be at least two thousand. The majority of those I met were certainly dissatisfied, complaining that the spots where gold was to be found were too limited to support one-eighth part of the present population, and also (and I think that this was the chief grievance) that they could not remain on the ground unless supplies should arrive soon from Dunedin. Very few of the miners have brought any provisions whatever, and those who did bring pack-horses did not provide enough. I saw but one cradle at work to-day, and every one acknowledges that with a cradle they could make good wages; but they appear to have arrived here with no other tools than a shovel and a tin dish.

I have further the honor to report that I was not able to proceed further than seven miles above Leaning Rock Hill, the road being so bad, and also because the miners, hearing that one of the discoverers was in my company, beset us at every step to question Mr. Hartley respecting the locality of his workings. I saw several prospects, the results of washing in tin dishes; they ranged from one and two grains to half an ounce; but I must state that few were so fortunate as to obtain the larger amount. On the whole I am compelled to report that the majority are dissatisfied, but I apprehend that although a great number will, and must leave, from scarcity of provisions and want of proper tools and appliances, still the numbers who have secured payable claims, and who will remain, will do well, and that a payable gold field will be established.

I have further the honor to report that fuel is very scarce, and until timber can be obtained by means of rafts (from the forests higher up the river), the miners will be worse off for firing than at Tuapeka; this want is also a source of great disappointment to the miners, many of whom calculated on being able to construct cradles and sluices from the timber they were led to believe was in the immediate neighbourhood.

I have further the honor to report that tomorrow I intend to visit the whole of the diggings, and to do so will have to camp out on the banks of the river, the distance between the Kawarau and the “Leaning Rock” being about fourteen miles, and the rate of travelling, from the nature of the ground, being necessarily very slow. I shall also be detained on my way by miners whose claims are disputed; it appears that most of the earlier arrivals marked out their claims as “River Claims,” (No. 4) with 50 feet frontage per man, and, of course, a right to an equal amount on the opposite bank. I perceive, by the “Rules and Regulations,” that this size claim only applies to creeks and rivers—the beds of which are intended to be worked—and not to claims, as in this instance, by the side or on the banks of any river. Four or five such cases were reported to me as needing enquiry, and which will receive my attention tomorrow.

I have further the honor to report that Mr. Hartley gave me every assistance and information when accompanying me to the field, and that he intends leaving to-morrow for Dunedin.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

JAMES HEDDELL,
Sub-Inspector of Constabulary in charge of the Clutha Gold Fields.

St. John Branigan, Esq., J.P.
Commissioner of Police,
Dunedin.