225

places proved highly auriferous, and the hill-workings on the river side have handsomely rewarded the miners engaged on them. In a recent official report from Mr. Mining-Surveyor Drummond, that gentleman states:—

"From careful enquiries I made prior to the rush to the Dunstan, I learned that the miners of Gabriel’s Gully and Wetherstone’s were averaging from £3 to £10 per man per week. A few parties are still at work, and are doing well. With a return of population and the cutting of the drainage channel through Wetherstone’s Flat, I have no doubt but that a large extent of auriferous ground will be opened up in this portion of my district."

The latter sentence refers to a storm-water channel, which, at the instance of the Mining Board and the inhabitants of Wetherstone’s, the Government has decided to construct for the drainage of an extensive flat in that locality. This flat is a continuation of the rich workings at the head of the gully, and is believed to be highly auriferous; but owing to the heavy influx of water it cannot now be worked. The sum appropriated for this purpose is £1200.

At Waitahuna the gullies originally discovered are still worked, and some fresh ground has lately been opened. Here also the hills have been wrought with fair results, and it is probable that when the conditions, to which the auriferous deposits of Otago are subject, become better understood, the spurs of the ranges will be less neglected than they are at present.

At the Woolshed (recently included by Proclamation within the boundaries of the Gold-fields) the auriferous drifts have been followed down to the west branch of the Tokomairiro River. In many instances “leads” have been traced into private property; but in every case that has come to my knowledge, arrangements for working the ground have been entered into between the miners and the owners of the land.

At Glenore township, a Government road is being mined upon by permission of the General Road Board, adequate security having first been exacted for filling up and making good the surface.

The miners at Waitahuna and the Woolshed continue to average fair wages, and occasionally do better; and there is still a large extent of ground unopened in the District.

Waipori is the least developed of all the old Gold-fields. This may be accounted for, in part, by the circumstance of its having been discovered late in the summer. Situated high up amongst the spurs of the Lammerlaw, the climate of Waipori is far more rigorous than that of Gabriel’s or Waitahuna; and it was all but deserted during the winter. There is every evidence, however, of its becoming a profitable field for summer operations. The yield of gold is encouraging, and there is an ample supply of water for sluicing. The workings are chiefly conducted on the Waipori River and its numerous tributary streams.

The Mount Highlay diggings, inclusive of Coal Creek, continue to support a small population. Mining operations are carried on in the beds, and on the banks of several creeks and burns—branches of the Taieri, Waikouaiti, and Shag Rivers. The whole of the district drained by these streams appears to be highly auriferous, and gold has been found in various localities throughout its entire area, from the sea coast to the ranges which divide it from the Manuherikia Valley. Although there is no escort from the Highlay, I have reason to believe that the miners located there are doing well.

The Dunstan Gold-field promises to rival, if not to exceed, the glories of Gabriel’s Gully. The miners appear to be doing well. Mr. Gabriel Read, in his valuable Report, says:—

"The returns of those who are working in the bed of the river may be taken as varying from 2 dwts. to 2 oz. per diem per man."

Instances of individual success are frequent. The workings are mostly confined to the rocky bars which jut out from the bed of the river. The rough ledges have acted as a natural cradle, retaining the gold and the heavier particles of the detritus. So rich are these deposits that several ounces are sometimes extracted from a single shovelful of sand. Owing to the melting of the snow on the neighbouring mountains, the Clutha is now rapidly rising and covering these bars. But in the adjacent valley of the Manuherikia, numerous “made hills” and “beaches,” composed of diluvial drift, present indications of being the repositories of immense auriferous wealth; and it is to be hoped that the accustomed energy of the miners will, ere long, overcome the difficulties arising from the loose shingly nature of the soil, so as to determine this question. If the general belief in the auriferous qualities of these drifts is well founded, the Dunstan will prove to be a very extensive Gold-field, affording profitable employment for many years to several thousands of men. Already some slight efforts have been made in this direction, tunnels having been driven from the river-bank. The prospectors have been rewarded by obtaining gold of a heavy