The Tairua Goldfield.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1612, 14 April 1875, Page 3

The Tairua Goldfield.

(PEE PIGEON EXPRESS.)

[FROM TO-DAY'S THAMES ADVERTISER.]

Mr Edward Cameron returned yesterday from Tairua, where he has been for several days past. He reports that there are about thirty-five men there now, some of them employed cutting side lines of the leases, while the others are waiting for something to turn up. Everybody is much dissatisfied with the large pieces of ground which the law allows to be pegged out. The country is covered vvith thick bush, and as those who have taken up claims have merely put in the pegs, and have not cxt lines except in one or two places, nobody can tell whether any particular piece of ground has been taken up or not. Nothing has been done on the Prospectors' claim since the morning of the 9th, but it is said that in a day or two they will make a start by emptying out the hole from which, it is said, the stuff was taken which yielded so well at the battery. The ground here looks exceedingly well, but where the big reef is exposed it is only a blow and contains a large" admixture of other substances besides quartz. Stores are going up, and one tent for a store has been erected on the prospector's claim. Mr Vaughan, of Tararu, is packing atore3 up, so that the miners will soon be well supplied. Mr Lessong and Mr T Kennan are no w on the ground, engaged in surveying claims i wnich were pegged out on the 9th. or 10th.

1 ROAD SURVEY. His Worship the Mayor telegraphed to the Superintendent on Monday evening, suggesting that orders should be given for the making of a road to Tairua. The Superintendent, who has now accepted the charge of the goldfield administration, replied that a survey for the road would be immediately proceeded with. Mr Graham has crossed the range, both at Puriri and Kauwaeranga, and as he is a surveyor, and has had considerable experience in laying off roads in rough country, his opinion is the most valuable that, could ba had. To reach the locality of the new find, he is quite decided on the opinion that thore is no possible road except by that of Puiiri. There you rise 15,000 or 1,600 ft. and fall again;3ooft to the prospectors claim. Mr Jackson, of Tairua, tried to get a track from his place to the gum diggings at the head of the Kauwaeranga, but was beaten in the attempt. The road by the Puriri is therefore the only possible track, and an effort should at once be made to have it put in a passable state before the winter sets in. It is probable that for some time to come all machinery will have to be taken to Tairua. The Tairua river is navigable from the mouth by small steamers such as the Effort, andboats can be got up as far as the "fourth branch," which is about six miles from the site of the prospectors' claim. A good road can easily be made from the landing to Banyan's dam, on the fourth branch ; the remainder of the road is six miles through forest land up an incline. It is believed that a road by which mashinery could be conveyed in good weathe;r could be made for about £400, and the owners of the Prospectors' claim state that they are willing, if the Government make the road at once, to put up machinery. A good township could be formed at the landing. We may, for the information of those who have taken up large areas, state, on the authority of the Mining Inspector, that the Government will insist on the ground being fully manned, and as it will require 88 men to man a 30-acre lease, we have no doubt many who have now marked out will reduce their areas, as the expense of working such an extent of country would be immense, and besides, it is questionable whether so many couuld be profitably employed. In all probability, the 30-acre blocks will be cut up into smaller sections, suitable to parties of miners and capitalists. We think it right to draw attention to this provision of the Act, under which the new field is being worked, to prevent erroneous impressions. As regards the prospectors'' claim, we may state that Messrs Reeves, Graham, and Preece lodged their plans in the Warden's office yesterday, and made application for a 30-acre license, depositing the necessary money. They also applied for a water right. They proceed to the ground to-day to make arrangements for working at once, as a preliminary step they will take out a ton of quartz which they will have packed to the landing place at Tairua, and forwarded to the Thames as a test. These gentlemen express themselves as being quite willing, not only to employ double the necessary number and erect machinery, but they ask, "and fairly too, that the Government should make a road by which machinery could be brought up to the Bite. They will accept all risk and

not only to man their ground fully, but to expend capital in developing the ground, and if it proves payable they will not only reap the advantage themselves, but the country at large will be benefited.