304

found not to act well, as every small flood carried away the bags and filled in the paddocks with sand and gravel. Methods were then devised of turning the river bed, which can only be done in the wide benches. There are now between forty and fifty companies on the Shotover itself, engaged in operations of this kind. The method generally adopted is to build a stone wall on the river side of the diversion, backing it with brushwood and stakes. The beds are usually about thirty feet wide, and in many instances over a quarter of a mile in length. Some of these works are very heavy, having frequently to be cut through the solid rock: they are in some cases carried on by combined labour, but in most instances each man works the portion opposite his own claim. Great difficulties have been encountered from the frequent occurrence of floods, which have swept clean before them the result of two or three months’ toil. So many persons holding claims without producing gold has been the cause of so great a fall in the escort returns; it is expected, however, that in another fortnight most of the companies will have commenced work, when great results are looked forward to. Another kind of working is the terrace-working, which in many instances have been found highly remunerative. The methods adopted are both by tunnels and shafts; and in some instances by sluicing the entire terraces away. The gold is found in some parts to lie on the bed-rock, which is generally very smooth, but in many instances it exists throughout the entire terrace, but in this case it is usually of a very light description. About Monk Creek the country is more open, and the smaller gullies less abrupt in their fall—these are being worked by open paddocks. I look upon this as being by far the most lasting locality I have yet seen, as the wash appears to have been more general than in other parts.

13. It is noticeable on the Shotover that all the principal auriferous tributaries fall in from the west side of the river, whereas those on the east, although bearing indications of gold, have not been worked to profit; I think this is to be accounted for in the difference between the watersheds of the two sides of the river. That portion, of which I am writing, has for the eastern watershed some forty square miles of country, and for the western some hundred and twenty, which is considerably augmented by the greater attraction the higher ranges on the west have to collect and draw down the moisture; with this excess of water the natural process of separating the gold from its matrices is more constantly going on, and that with a far greater degree of force than in the smaller watershed of the eastern side of the river.

14. I am not in a position to give any statistics, relative to population, in any other locality but the Shotover, which I have estimated at four thousand one hundred and sixteen. I had much difficulty in obtaining this information, but I believe it to be tolerably correct.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

W. C. WRIGHT.

Vincent Pyke, Esq.,
Secretary of Gold Fields.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND, OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISTRICT.

In the matter of the “Debtors and Creditors’ Act, 1862,” and in the matter of PETER BIRTLES, late of Dunedin, Publician, and now a Prisoner in the Gaol of Dunedin.

NOTICE is hereby given, that by an Order of this Honorable Court, made on the 8th day of August instant, on the Petition of the above named PETER BIRTLES, Tuesday, the 1st day of September next, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, in the Court House, Dunedin, was appointed for hearing the said Petition.

ROBERT CHAPMAN,
Registrar.

Supreme Court Office,
Dunedin, 10th August, 1863.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND, OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND DISTRICT.

In the matter of the “Debtors and Creditors’ Act, 1862,” and in the matter of SAMUEL COLLINS, lately of the Dunstan, in the Province of Otago, Storekeeper and Miner, but now out of business.

NOTICE is hereby given, that by an Order of this Honorable Court, made on the 8th day of August instant, on the Petition of the above named SAMUEL COLLINS, Tuesday, the 1st day of September next, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, in the Court House, Dunedin, was appointed for hearing the said Petition.

ROBERT CHAPMAN,
Registrar.

Supreme Court Office,
Dunedin, 10th August, 1863.