THE BATON GOLD FIELD.

A EICH FIELD,

AN EXTENSIVE TJHDERTAKING.

A REPEESENTATIVE of ' THE COLONIST' availed himself yesterday of aa opportunity for a chat with Mr Davis, who has been retained by a Syndicate interested in the development of the Baton District. Mr Davis, '■ who is a mining expert of considerable ex- \ penance, having been en the Gold-fields in Victoria and Nnw South Wales, and also through the Otago diggings, furnished us with the following partio iiars respecting the field on whieh extensive operations are about to be commenced. The r yndicate for which Mr Davis is aeti<-" have purchased from Mr Alex. Thomp ju an ara of seme 840 acres on the Baton Biver, about five miles above its junction with the Motueka River, and about 26 miles from the Township of Motueka. The property, viewed from the Baton Eiver, shows a succession of rising terraces, each from 15 feat to 60 faet abova the other, the top terrace att&iniDg an altitude of 300 feet abova the river level. Tha property is reached by a well-made road from Motueka; indeed Mr Eraser, a local bicyclist, hag lately made the jonraey right up to the field oa his machine.

In order to test the ground, Mr Davis set to work with a view to prospecting over the whole area. Ea had twelve men ander him on the work, and commenced at the end nearer to Motueka, continuing all the way up the river. The prospects were encouraging all along the liae. Opposite Mr Fowler's j place the results wer« particularly good, a fine sample of coarse gold being taken out. At the baok of the Baton Sohoolhouse a shaft was sunk, and good wash dirt was got &t a depth of two ieet, and continued down to a depth of eighteen faet, where the workings were stopped by water. The appliances for, getting rid of this water are now being procured, and the prospectors will than be able to say to what depth the shaft will yield payable stuff. The next assay was made, at the tunnel which was originally driven by Maoarthy and Hart, who wer« stopped for want 4f water. This tunnel is some 30 feet in length, and good gold of the same coarse nature was also found there, Maori Creek was also prospected at the same time by a couple of lads who, under the 3ireotisn of Mr Davis, got out $ oz. of gold in the fchvae days they were employed there. Prospecting was also carried on at the foot of the second terrace as well as in many other places, and everywhere such returns were obtained as to make the promoters sanguine that they are in for a good thing.

The syndicate of which Mr Davis isjhs representative, proposes to ooameaoe opera-

tions on a large scale sliorily, and it is »ntick pated that there will be horn ob« t? two hundred men at work on their property very shorty, while should tha results come up to expectations, a largely increased number of minors will find etcplojnicnt on the field.

Mr Davis ppsaks very highly of the quality of the coutitry in the district. "Wa have found on our property," he says, "traces of a number of mortals, copper, galena, cinnabar, tin, and many others;" in fact there ara indications ot alraost every known metal. We found rock salt too, not the lode itself, but such indications as would enable vt to find it if we wanted to. We have also a six feet seam of e2wellent coal. I came_ over here very strongly prejudiced against theJieighborhood, but I never in all my experience came across such a place for mining. It is accessible and extremely easy to work, and I judge that it will be a great thing for the district. Being so handy will be an immense advantage, and the sluicing operations, which we tatend to commence as early as possible, will be very easily carried on. I have brought down a sample of the gold with me, about four or five ounces, and it is now in the Bank of New Zealand, but if anyone is curious abp\it it, I will be pleased to show it them. It is coarse shotty gold—not perhaps ef such good quality ai that on the West Coast, but then it is easier worked, aue't won't cost Bear so much to get. I expect to be pretty busy up there soon now, and we shall wake up the people with our results I fancy."

Mr Davis returns to the Baton to-morro'-% and we shall doubtless hear more about the work now to be undertaken in a short time.

The wealth of the 'Baton district has_ long been recognised, and the coal field exiatiag there would alone prove a valuable one were cheap carriage available. The Syndicate of which Mr Davis is the representative, by reason of its haying acquired so large a block of land will be able to work on a scale that individual miners could never attempt, and with work before them that should occupy many years, inducements exist for obtaining extensive appliances. We hope that their enterprise will be rewarded as it deserves.