(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1751, 28 February 1863, Page 9

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

i > 'Saturday, Jan. 31. i No. 15 Creek Glaims, under the management of Mr. Gribble, has struck' a new " lode," 'whence, 20 Ib. weight of richspecimens were extracted. On leaving off work the lode looked 1 as ! rich na as ever — Oioti Gorivspondmt.—'" Daily Southern Cross," Feb. 3. February 3rd. No. 5 rcrf claim has crushed 64 ounces 15 ponnyweights'out of 30 lb. weight of stone. The leader, or rather "a new leader" in the same shaft looks splendid. It is a different coloured quartz, and, if possible, richer even than their previous quarts. There will com© a large harvest of gold out of that shaft this; week. Messrs. Kelly and Co. have struck -a new loader in their shaft, with a very rioh lode of specimens in it, one of them weighing alone six pounds, being moreover thorough/ impregnated with gold. The whole quantity' of specimens amounted to about 1 30 lb. weight. Mr. Hartley, the explorer and discoverer of the Dunstan Diggings, a gentleman who has followed the profession of gold miniug and digging ever since 1849, in Californiaand Australia, is now amongst us, investigating our quartz resources, in which he is a thorough " connoisseur." Up to this his opinion of what he has seen, for instance No. 5 quartz, is just what might bo expected from a good critic. Ho is astonished at the unusual wealth of gold in our leaders. Mr. Levy's body has been foundin a shaft in the neighbourhood of Mr. Cole's claim. An inquest has been held, the results of which will be published shortly. — "Daily Southern Cross," Feb. L , February 4th! This week promises fairly to bo a very golden one. Four claims are busily engaged taking out fine stone. The claim of Mr. E. Wood, and Mr. T. Robinson, on the Juuction, formerly Eric Hausson's claim, has taken out about 4 pounds, weight of rich specimens. The last formation struck is a solid body of quartz two feet and a half thick ; and the general prospects of the claim are most satisfactory. Mr. Kelly has taken out quarlz this week ; which in its " size " and richness surpasses any leaderquartz yet brought to liglft; in Coromandel. I saw a large tin dish heaped up with beautiful specimens yesterday • to-day the golden harvest has continued. I expect that 30 or 40 pounds weight of specimens will be eveceded by that claim in this week. No. 5 reef claim, since its last " haul " of 54 ounces, has changed the ounces into " pound* weights " of specimens, in the last two days. No. 15, creek claim, of Gribble and Co. is continuing its golden funds, and thxis the horizon of our prospects wears a little warmer tint than a week or two back. Mr. Hartley has inspected, for the last three days, all our points of mining interest. His general impression of Coromandel prospects is most favourable to the place. The great question as to the existence of a well-defined reef on the Driving Creek, has in my mind received 'a strongly favourable evidence by Mr. Hartley's verdict, that " though he had scon leaders occassionaly as rich as those we possess ; and no reef in their neighbourhood, yet ' here ' the close proximity of so many golden leaders makes the absence of a reef impossible." Mr. Hartley returns to the south ; but there is a groat likelihood of his returning to Coromandel after some months, with the view of giving the place a trial. His honor the Superintendent paid us a visit in the beginning of tliis week, and it is f generally rumoured that this visit will be folowed by most beneficial results to this place. If people in Auckland had only opportunities for hearing more of the history of quartz-reefing in other countries from the lips of impartial meu not connected with our interests — men such as Mr. Hartley — they would not think that the slowness of development of our resources is owing to their natural poverty ; people would then take heart and become more patient by knowing that thousands of others in similar positions fought the dreary fight of procrastinated hope — and triumphed at last. — " Daily Southern Cross," Feb. 6. February 6. If our machine at the junction were at work now we could send from the finds of this week alone a nice little quantity of gold to town. Three claims, have taken out upwards of 60 lbs weight of rich specimens "each." Mr. Kellys lot thereof is nearer 70 lbs. than 60 lbs. ; No. 5, 60 lbs. odd ; No. 15, creek claims, 63 lbs. ; making upwards of 250 lbs. weight of specimens which exceed in richness all our previous finds. In »ize Mr. Kellys stone is beyond doubt the best •tone yet seen. He has pieces weighing respectively 6, 7, 8, and 9 pounds weight, and. these large pieces are the richest of the lot, There is now in Mr. Murphy's tent a bag weighing upwards of 50 lbs. of rich stone taken out quite lately — picked from the large deposit heap which he prepares for. calcination. Thus 300 lbs.weight might t>e crashed of the week's yield, giving probably nothing much- short of 60 to 80 lbs. weight of gold. I have paid a visit to the Eastern line of claims 0U Murphy's reef line. The claims of Messrs. Bichard Weed, Patrick Cuddy, and Mr. Gribble, is showing very encouraging symptoms. Their first shaft contains two leaders, in one whereof I have seen some very good specimens. Foul air has necessitated the driving in of a tunnel, which now is within eight or ten feet from the shaft. Another shaft, on the opposite bank, has also struck a leader — of blue quartz, like the Driving Greek quartz. A t the present depth no gold has been seen in it as yet' Further north, Colonel Nixon's claim, under the management of Captain Butler, is progressing favourably with its tunnelling, under difficulties presented by very hard and treacherous strata. Over the whole neighbourhood of that preekline, from Mr. Murphy's "old" claim to the Main Creek — and further up to Mr. Drumznond Hay's claim, there seems to exist a close network of quartz formation?, culminating and cresting over at " Tokotea," which, one day, ■will astonish by its yields, all connoisseurs m *jnartz. — '• Daily Southern Cross," Feb. 10. February 10. The same claim*! that had such a plentiful harvest of gold last week are continuing their finds. ' The stone from No. 5 looks oven richer than any yet got ; — later in the week we will hear more of the results. It is most oppressive to be conscious of the anvious expectation of so many people as there are now in Auckland, waiting daily for somo " decisive " news from Coromandel — and to be conscious at the same time, that in quartz prospecting a month or two is not the period on the result of which any verdict could be based. To bo sure, the present forward condition of most claims may bring a verdict within a day — within an hour upon all one can desire ; but if not, a new lease of patience is all that can be resorted to for a thorough examination of what is of such imSortance to the future of this northern island. To doubt many an individual will suffer by this delay — many a one, like thousands before him, has embarked capital that ho can ill sparo for any length of time ; but is an investigation to be abandoned — an investigation of the most vital interest to Auckland, because a few of its citizens are impatient for returns P The Government thinks that this goldfield, like others, needs no fostering if it is worth anything. They forget that we have two evils to contend against yrhiok no other gold-field had to encounter. We have rid alluvial diggings to furnish handy capital to the digger, and those, who furnish that capital to the digger donV know' when it is ttnte to cry out "enough!'' All gold-fields have had their infancy of quartz exploration; but the number of enterprising men to step in into the rank's of the discouraged Was j#e*tSfcthaß we «n muster. If, therefore, a gold-fielpFis oi liny importance to the Government, supposing always that that Government has got f the welfare Qiiht a&mfcj at heart, then why c ; annot , the Government Jsfcep in and aid a little in. the developme>t M 3f«* M& ? TJiere aro se >any;iiltf ihmgV,- wMo'ut $**ty &$> H-T

follow the initiative) of tho powers thfttjjo ; yot 7Csromahiairießß^rg|[ft;n)y"UTi-oir^l^ winter is at Lmifl — n'o'sig'ns'oi rbad-niflking yet 1 Our laws, wherVaW they P— a 1 wharf td'hiukl, 1 the' sen, and "iffs 'tributarles-r-where 1 is 'ifcP Will the 1 GovGriimcnHhus place' itsolf exafitly itit'o the position" of the smallest shopkeeper in lAUck-; land who 'does not believe in tho'gdolojricar promise of Coromandel, bocause it'talces s6' long to bring up gold to town? In other countries Governmbnts havb goncrnlly peQplo amongst thetn who can soo "a-hoad," and form' a judgment for tho benefit of tho lower ranks of intellect, — hero the lower 'ranks must advise the 'Government, it appears.—" Daily Southern ■ ' Cross," Feb. 16. '' , ■ ' „ ' : February 13." ' At last our machine at the Junction is in working order. As far aa it is possible to judgo, everything about it seems yery complete and effective ; ono ' point, however, scorns ( to \ lno open to improvement, and that is ihe inclined piano for the ripplos. Our gold here is of so lino and ,]scaly " a nature, that with n! short fall the floating capacities of such flaky gold are sure to avail themselves of a rapid fall and r still more i % apid exit. A lesser fall andl6nger' extent of ripples, with blankets, would be necessary, as much of this gold is not acted upon "at all" by tho morcury. This little ifeill, however, can easily be remedied, and the company who has comb forward'at this early time with such enterprise and capital, doaerves from tho public in general, and tho miners in particular, every praise and encouragement. One thing also it would be wise to guard against — and that is an overcharge on crushing, particularly in the very beginning. There is a rumour that £3 per ton is going to be charged, and that would be too much to begin with. There is certainly quartz at hand that would be rich enough even for such " crushing prices," but there is much stuff that will be withheld on account of its uncertain character if that price is held by. Now is tho time to crush as much as possible of all qualities of stono, and prices, therefore, should oe more moderate as long as our gold cannot be cleaned better than what a common apparatus would do for it. All these little difficulties will find their own level, and we may look to the next two weeks of crushing aa to the probationary period of Driving Creek wealth. Everything promises well for that trial, and we must hope that the gold which now will soon make its appearance in Auckland will counteract somewhat the depression caused by the blow dealt against the company of our shore-reef. Messrs. Kelly & Co. have now upwards of one hundred weight of first class specimens, ; No. 5 has also a fine new lot ; — No. 15 upwards of 7Olbs. of specimens. There has been very little work done this week, on account of the races, held on the Kapanga township. Ecport says that they w ere very creditable to a new place liko this, and that they were particularly distinguished by the most perfect order and genoral sobriety of tho pleasure-seekers. Iv my last I referroa to the delay of taking our roadwork in hand. I was not aware then of the " native difficulty " having found its way into our remote domestic concerns. In this way, then, we will probably have no road, as the lords of the soil and of bootless habits, consider the idea of a tramway in winter as too effeminate an invention. Well, shoemakers may rub their hands at this prospect of demand for long boots ; but I hope they will be somewhat disappointed. — Ibid. February 15. I was glad to see that a deputation from a "meeting of shareholders" is going to stir up the government as regards the firm establishment of our mining la^\ s. One mistakon idea, however, seems to have prevailed at the meeting, and that is, that "jumping" is allowed, after forty-eight hours neglect. After fortyeight hours of neglect, f< application " can bo made for the claim by those who wish to jump such claim ; and then an investigation of the causes of neglect has to follow. The inexcusable delay of allowing things so important as mining rules to remain unsettled, as far as their general publicity and authoritative confirmation goes, has done already much mischief. Everyone has suffered from it—the miners — the shareholders — and the authorities here ; the latter in particular have hnd a difficult position to maintain, — a position which at best is a veny ungrateful one, where a decision between the rights of two must necessarily make out one m the wrong — an insult seldom forgiven. When, therefore, much of a decision is left to the option of tho commissioner, by the absence of generally known law, the loser of a case can always call the option which decides against him hostile, malicious, and partial. The uncertainty of the boundaries of law also "invite " an exploration of scheming enterprise, just to see how far a little dodge may wedge into the possessions of the neighbour. If our population had been a little larger, and tho sympathies developed by daily intercourse fewer, we would have had rough work of it already. Whatever there has been going on that way, has been thrown upon the commissioner's account, as the only one nandy for blame ; while the apathy fo the government has beenall alongthe true cause. In my last I stated that tho machine at the junction, was wanting in the perfectness of its washing appai'atus. I have since ascertained, however, that that part was in an unfinished state, and that "allthatis wanted" will be added immediately. What Ooromandel would have done without this machine, particularly at this crisis, only proves how much we all — men of Auckland and Coromandel — are indebted to the Messrs. Cheeseman, Stone, and others, who steppedforward when all othersheldback,waiting for resnlts. Results will now come, and that thick and fast. The winter will bring us additions from the regions of Otago, where food will arrive at famine prices. Many an old Coromandel pioneer wilt come back to quartzreefing ; and then politicians, now engaged in experimentalising on the native difficulty with diplomacy, sugar, rice, and quibbling, will have to turn their attention to that ono practical solution of it — the organisation of the first goldfield — the nucleus for hundred others all over the northern isle. We were informed yesterday by Mr. James ■' Inglis, that gold-bearing quartz has been again struck in claims No. 6 and 16, being the ground i of the Albion Gold Company. After sinking the original shaft thirty feet deeper, and driving thirty reet, tho men came upon tho old leader, as good as ever. They are now working upwards , and procured about 3Olbs. of rich specimens the ursfc day. Tho stono has eveiy appearance of getting better. Tho company have now on hand about fifty tons of quartz, all of J a payable description. — " Daily Southern Cross," Fob. 19. February 17. Mb. Kem,y crushed to-day and yesterday 107' lbs. weight of quartz, obtaining, after a rough washing process, from 23 to 25 lbs. weight of fold. On the Koputauaki Creek, the native ohn Hobbs has found several fine littlo specimens — a larger one weighed 15 ounces, and is a remarkably fiuo specimen. Mr. Daniel Leahy, after selling out in No. 5, has been prospecting ; that same Koputauaki Creek 1 for some tifoe. ' He has lately found two leaders, both of which • have been proved auriferous. These are good . indications ; but as people are tired now of r " indications," and imperiously and indignantly t demand " returns," all this will probably go for J nothing. Shareholders and diggers seem to be, T for price^ of the sanie mmd — both se6m tired of i Coromandel; shareholders ! c"oaso paying up'th'oir t' 'shares, and diggers', 'disgusted' thereby, 'gS'to a Otago. , The thing does , not ' stop ' there, t' The ynrnA extends" to' 'the,' very, au'thWia "iies; disheartened by 'the lukewarm support of i 'the' Government; they j are tnrowirig' up 'th'eir f .appointments, 'Corbmandbl will be thus shortly % a very' picturesque confusion— a ' charming - state of dog-goiie Wcertkurty ; and, 1 pray, 'for t 'what reasonf . AUfoi'lth^waiit of tho 'smallest c little bit'of geological "gumption*'"— of 'practical o miningknowledge. 'Ask>ny>f the r practical c miners now; leaving, wfietoerthey do not" be.

go because quartz mining needs asistanco ~Bf-OT i pitalr-*and'-" a^peraprpriJKr 'onso?^cmo~ M'hioh peoplo are J'.tiQW' "either tired or unablo to render. And thus what with the exhaustions' of pationoe in and "diggor*, and j the,,sheor apathy jttn^, indifference, of, tho. „GbV,eriiment,, ,4-uckland, .stands;, a, fair ohanco ,of,, loijng, onco more the opportunity of Raising itself, abovo it's numerous difficulties.., Fortunately, however, there .will , remain hero yet a fow mqn, who,, in spite of,,^hoir follow labourers leaving, in ,spito of "tho r apathy of shareholders' and Governments, .will,, stick ,i,o thoir well-founded belief, ajicl ita Realisation, and will pull through the'timo of little faith, much ignpraiieo, and much,culpnble neglect. t It is 'no boast to say that .Auckland ow;es ,tho knowledge of what haul's land is capable of yielding "for a prospect," ,to the determined attitude of .fortydiggers, camped in the thick of ,winter,in the i mud near Coolahan's gully. , Paul's land would never have beeu opened if the Government had, not been afraid of complications arising .from thp presence, of those diggers, qndthe prqximity, of tho, natives. , There will be now^moro , thnn fifty mou left to carry on tho work of con vietion of necessities for tho benefit of tho Auckland public and the Gonoral Government. 'Now Zealand in its whole extent, from north to south t will ono day be one immense gold-fiold, and ono stop towards proving and realising that fact will bo taken, and clung to by those that 'remain in this season of darkness in Coromahdel.' „ , , „ Pobruary,lBth. ,: An experiment has been tried in No. 5 this* week. There exists a very respectable heap of quartz and mullock, in whioh gold was , not visible, and which has been put aside, for machine crushing ; nearly every claim along the creek has such heaps. 376 pounds woight of this, stuff from JSTo. 5 have been crushed in their littlo jumper. Half of tho whole quantity has been washed up and yielded 31b. gold/ As this result is not obtained, from picked stuff,' it is thus a most encouraging symptom in a locality whero quartz is scarce, but where casing and mullock abounds. Reef claim No. 3 lias come again to-day upon a rich patch. The men had not finished washing tho specimens, nor taking them out, so that I cpuld form no idea of the quantity obtained. No. 16 of tho Albion Mining Company were also engaged to-day in tho pleasurablo occupation of taking out rich specimens. For some time past they have traced the gold, visible to tho eye, through their large body of stone. To-day the patch they have come upon turned out more than usually rich. This* claim has got a fine heap of stone and mullock ready for crushing, so soon as evor our junction machine will start in earnest. T laboured under a misapprehension tho other day when I expected -that this weok would see tho machine at work. Some alterations about tho regulation of speed will have to be made before that machine will commenco its regular work. Three weeks will complete overytlung, it is said. Some good accounts have como from the Pukewhau, a tributary of the "Waihau. Mr. Burns has found there several ounces of fine spocimens, amounting to nothing short of a pound-weight. Mr. Kelly after drying and cleaning once more his gold, found the quantity reduced to 22 pounds weight. — " Daily Southern Cross," Feb. 21. February 23rd. Thk Commercial Company has at last succeeded in striking gold. The formation is as yet but a small leader, and its richness is not extraordinary, yet on the whole tho symptom is a most satisfactory one for tho prospects of that claim. This same discovery is of great importance to all the claims on Murphy's reef line, proving at least that gold is not confined to Mr. Murphy's claim alone, and that time and perseverance will developc the importance of that neighbourhood so rich in quartz formations. No, 3 has got lately about 3Olbs. weight of rich specimens, and to-day, on shovelling away " refuse " stuff thrown into the creek, whereby one of the large pieces of rock was broken, quite a nest of fine spocimens was found inside that rock. No. 5 has como onco more upon a new lodo of specimens, which will be taken out this week so soon as the drive is timbered far enough for safety. On Saturday No. 16 took out a fine lot of specimens, and the general look of the quartz formation in that claim is most satisfactory. I think that by this time tho attractions ofthe alluvial wealth of Otago have drawn from us all that can lie induced to leave ; what remains may bo considered now as " staunch." How far, however, our diminished numbers, and the abated enterprise of capitalists, will be able to dcvelope the true value of Coromandel, seems as yet a doubtful questiqn. A reaction from Otago northward, maybe looked for very soon ; but only very few of those disappointed in the South will be of much use to us here. To offer occupations to indiscriminate numbors. we ought to have what overy other gold field was blessed with — " alluvial diggings." There new nrrivals and worn-out pockets and energies might be recruited ; but whero shall we get such advantages ? Strange to say, though the thing lies close at hand, it may not bo available. If it was possible at this critical juncture, particularly before tho tide sets northward again, "to throw open the Thames district," Coroman- . del would stand a fair chance yet of seeing its resources brought to light. The discomforts and expenses of a winter South, compared with the full accounts of tho comforts North, is sure to incline many a one for an exchange from discomfort to comfort ; let it at tho same time bo known that the well-known alluvinl resources of the Thames arc within reach of the northward going, and few, except those renlising a pile, will consider long which way to go. Many of tho old diggers who loft us snia, that if they could prospect the Thames they would stop. Those snme men will at least propagate these opinions in tho South, so soon as ever the subject is brought before tho public. Several of them, personally known to me, intend, even as things stand, to spend somo of their money made in Otago on a further investigation of Coromandel ; and if, therefore, it was possiblo to make one more reasonable treaty with the natives, the great end of securing a permanent source of wealth and muscle to tho North might be accomplished yet. — " Daily Southern Cross/ Feb. 26.