THE NEW FIND AT HIKUTAIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 202, 30 August 1887, Page 5

THE NEW FIND AT HIKUTAIA.

rfhe Find on Native Land.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Paeroa, this day.

Several practical men who have just returned from a visit to the new find at) Maritoto say that the show in the pros"1 pectors' mine improves as it is worked upon' and that there is every probability of a continuance of gold and silver deposit. It is also stated that the prospectors reef has been discovered in Mclsaac's claim, which is marked off on the northern extension, and that the stone broken out therefrom yields handsome dish prospects of precious metal. At one time it was thought that the discovery was made on Crown lands, and that the revenue derivable therefrom would go to the Ohinemuri Council, in whose country the land is situated. Now it appears that the prospectors' mine is located upon native land, and that the revenue for cases, etc., will be paid to natives who still own 20,000, acres in that neighbourhood. This means that the fees payable for general mining purposes will be on the highest scale, via., £3 per acre for mining leases, £10 tor machine sites, £5 for water rights, and business sites, £1 for residence site and miners rights. Some time since this block was offered to the Government at 10s per acre, but the offer was not accepted, and of course the natives will now want more money.

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The Proposed Road

Thames, this day.

In reply to a telegram from Mr Cadman requesting a Government subsidy of £ for £ to the Thames and Ohinemuri County Council for cutting tracks to the new find at Hikutaia; the Minister of Mines states that the Government will be willing to consider favourably "an application from the counties interested for a moderate subsidy' towards working the country in which the find is located. The country is thickly covered with bush, and at present almost! inaccessible.

It will be absolutely necessary to cut two tracks before operations can be successfully prosecuted. Only about ten feet have yet been driven on the reef, which is six feet wide, and shows excellent dish prospects. The gold, however, is fine, and is mixed with a large percentage of silver. The sandstone surrounding the reef, and the characteristics of the quartz are precisely similar to those at Waitekauri. It is reported that, a parallel lode with that of the prospectors has been, discovered by Mclsaacs, and it is believed that the quartz will prove payable, ■ as it shows colours of gold. Both reefs rua about north-east.

A party of reliable miners who arrived, late last evening inform me that there canbe: no doubt the reef will continue downwards, but they consider that the gold will be of poor quality, as it contains so much silver. An immense area has been pegged out.