GOLD PROSPECTING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 247, 1 August 1932, Page 3

GOLD PROSPECTING

ACTIVITY AT THAMES. AM OFFICIAL REVIEW. (Special to the “Guardian.”) THAMES, July 29. A survey of gold prospecting operations given by Mr J. W. Smith, overseer under the Unemployment Board’s No. 5a scheme, shows that about 100 men are engaged under the scheme Before the scheme started last November, very little gold was being produced at Thames, but between November and Christmas a considerable amount was obtained. Since Christmas the men have obtained just on £SOO worth of gold, and will receive on that a bonus when the bank returns are received from Australia. One party of prospectors working in Mata Creek,, below Tapu, had been prospecting for several months without success, but during the last week they struck some very rough gold in a small creek. Some could be classed as nuggets, and it was undoubtedly gold shed from some rich lode which has yet to be discovered. In the Tapu Creek there are six parties engaged and two have very encouraging prospects. At Puhoi Creek, near the Mount Zeelian mine, a party of prospectors crushing eight tons of ore for a return of gold valued at £BB on which they have yet to get a bonus. At Tararu Creek, north of the old Eclipse mine, several parties have exposed reefs, but it is too early yet to give anything definite as to the value In regard to tributing operations, a party in the old Waiotahi mine has been meeting with very encouraging results. Several parties in the Lucky Spot at Moanataiari Creek have had as high as lOoz to the ton. A party in the old Moanataiari tunnel had a crushing of one ton of ore which returned 9oz of gold. They are now sinking to get a larger block opened up on that area. A party in Te Papa Gully, at the back of Una Hill, has seveial crushings which reached oyer Joz to the ton. A factor against the prospector was that the back country in the Coromandel Peninsula was very rough and at this time of the year both wet and cold. The men have had to build their own camps and put up with severe hardships before they get their camps built. They had to carry all their necessities and goods out on their backs. A lot of the mem had done marvellous work and deserved eveij encouragement, said Mr Smith.