THE WAITOA DEPOSITS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 256, 31 October 1887, Page 5

THE WAITOA DEPOSITS.

CONCLUSIVE RESULTS.

TESTS TAKEN FROM MR GOULD'S

ESTATE.

A few months ago a syndicate was formed in Auckland, having for its object the thorough and truthful testing of the deposits at Waitoa. The arrangements connected with the operations were left in the hands of Messrs Paten Brothers. The idea was to thoroughly prospect thecountry, and if the results were satisfactory to acquire an areaof land to work for the benefitof thesyndicate. Operations wereconduct-d in a business-like manner, arrangements being made with Mr Gould to purchase 700 acres should tho results of the preliminary testa prove satisfactory, Mr Gould allowed the syndicate the right to select the land from any portion of his 20,000 acres of freehold. Messrs Paten Brothers wont down to the Waitoa themselves, and sank two shafts upon Mr Gould's property. The greatest care was taken that no assistance should bo rendered to nature, in order that any geld found should be absolutely the product of tho deposit. One shaft w_s put down 15 feet on the river side, while the other was sunk 30 feet in tho swamp, About 4J tons of dirt was bagged and sent down to Auckland, whoro it has been treated at Messrs G. Eraser and Son's works in Stanley-street. Preliminary assayswere made, the results of which rather raised the hopes of the shareholders. Complete tests have, however, now been made in Mr Eraser's mill, with a result that has thoroughly satisfied tho prospectorthat if they want gold, they must look somewhere else for it.

The following is the results as given by Messrs Fraser :—Messrs Paten and jwirty, prospecting Mr Gould's property at Waitoa. First test from No. 2 shaft, No. 5 top of shaft, 5 bags of deposit, 8211b, less 25 per cent, moisture and sacks, 6161b. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ooz Odwt 45 grains of bullion. Valued at £2 16s 4d per oz. Rated at per ton, Ooz Odwt 155 grains. Value, Is lOd.—G. Eraser and Son.

9 sacks test from shaft No. 2. 9 bags deposit 1,4741b, .less 25 per cent, moisture, 1,1051b, dry. Return from direct pan amalgamation, 12 grains. Valued at £3 Is 5d per o/. in gold only. Rated at per ton, Ooz ldwt 2-12 grains, valued 3s 4d.— G. Fraser and Son.

These tests were from the 15 feet shaft on the river side.and as they were scarcely satisfactory the dirt from the 30 feet shaft in the swamp was next treated. The test was completed on Saturday with the following results:—

"Mr Paten and party, prospecting Mr Gould's property at Waitoa. " Gentlemen, —Herewith we hand you third and fourth tests of deposits from Mr Gould's property, viz., 35 bags of deposit, 2 tons 16cwt and lqr, less bags and moisture, 2 tons Ocwb 2qr. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ooz Odwt 2$ grains, valued at £2 10s per ton. Rated at per ton, Ooz Odwt I*3 grains, l_d. Assay per ton, bullion Ooz Bdwt 4 grains. Gold trace : silvei, Bdwt 4 grains. No. 2A — 24 bags of deposit : 1 ton 19cwt, less moisture and bags 1 ton Bcwt 141b. Return from direct pan amalgamation, Ooz. Odwt 1.2 grains. Valued at per oz., £2 10. Rated ab per ton, 0 - 85grs ; actual value, Id. Assay per ton : Bullion Bdwt. 4grs. ; gold, trace; silver, Bdwt. 4grs.— Yours truly, George Eraser and Son."

No. 1 SHAFT. Top of Shaft, Surface of Soil. 8 Sacks. 7 ft. strata. Particulars of shaft _ _, next to well Brown Clay, between blowholes. 3. ft. white sandy formation, 8 Sacks. Impregnated Layer or scam of with iron and i in. thick. _. -■-■-- mica. 6. ft. 8 Sacks. White clay. 13 ft. yellow wash.impregnated with _j sacks. iron and mica. <_) ft dcon Not throueh Bottom of Shaft.! rt - acop - this strata. No. 2 SHAFT. Top of Shaft. lift, surface -—' soil. 4* ft. of white 5 Sacks. sandy formation. 8 Jft.white sandstone. 9 sacks. 15 ft. deep. Not through T__ this strata.

This shaft is next to creek and above one mile away from shaft between blow-holes. It is needless to state that in the face of such results the syndicate are not going to proceed further with their investigation at Waitoa. Three half-pence worth of bullion and a trace of gold per ton of dirt is certainly somewhat discouraging, as is also the second result of one pennyworth gl

bullion and a trace of gold per ton, the highest returns being that-at bhe river side of 3s 4cl per bon. There is, of course, still the possibility that the gold may be deeper down'bub with such slight returns ab the surface ib would require an amount of faith to get any person inclined to dig deeper bo find the gold.