Gold Miners and Homestead Selectors.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 268, 14 November 1887, Page 5

Gold Miners and Homestead Selectors.

Grave difficulties are being experienced by miners at Tapu Creek and the adjoining districts through the action of the Crown Lands Board granting homestead selections on auriferous ground without making due reservations in respect of the timber, the use of which is so essential in carrying out mining operations. Mr Koberb Kelly's claim at Tapu Creek is a case in point. This well-known prospector took up the old Mclsaacs mine, the area of which is overlapped by the homesteads of Messrs Bennett and Campbell. The latter resisted Kelly's application for the ground, and a lengthy dispute resulted in a lawsuit, which was eventually given in Kelly's favour. Mr Kelly and party have now driven a tunnel in to the distance of 820 feet, and expect to drive a further distance of 60 feet before striking the rich run of gold known to have gone down in the Mclsaacs old workings. The country through which the above party are now working requires close timbering and as these homestead settlers claim all the timber on and about the above claim—although paid for and receipt given to Mr Kelly by the warden — a further law case is now pending, to the detriment of the progress of the mine and the stoppage of laDour employed thereon. Mr Kelly states that the country given away by the Crown Lands Board would not fatten two grasshoppers to the acre, the present settlers merely hanging on to the land feeling sure they will be compensated by the Government, as the land must be eventually taken over again for the benefit of the mining community, who are now flocking down to that part of the country and prospecting with good results in all directions—for instance thb Waiomo and Mata Creek districts. The late Warden Kenrick was etrongly opposed to the granting of these homesteads, and until they are cancelled the mining prosperity of the country cannot progress. The same grants were given some years ago in Victoria. Owing to this restriction hundreds of miners left the old half-worked goldfields for New South Wales and Otago. The Victorian Government afterwards opened up the lands and compensated those who had taktn advantage of such grants.

(by telegraph.—own correspondent.)

Thames, this day.

Trenton. — Satisfactory headway continues to be made with the drive at No 4 level of the Saxon towards the Trenton boundary, and only 30ffc. now remains to be driven ere the manager (Mr Coutts) will be able to carry on operations solely on behalf of the Trenton. The country is of a kindly nature for gold, and 1 am informed that a few colours were observed not far back from the face. The quartz also carries some nice mineral, but I should not think that it will prove payable. However, as virgin ground is long traversed, Mr Coutts is very hopeful of coming across something good. Saxok.—The usual stopes are in progress on the reef, all of which are yielding payable quartz, colours of gold being invariably seen when breaking down. Crushing is shaping for a good payable return. New Makukau.—The reef is looking much better, and dabs of gold are now seen in the quartz. Cambria.—lslbs picked etone to-day from the fifth stope on No. 1 leader. Monthly Gold Returns.

During the past month 37470z5. gold were obtained from the Thames district, 3170z5. from Te Aroha, 3580z5. from Ohinemuri, and 8720z5. from CoromandeL