COLLINGWOOD GOLDFIELDS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3209, 29 October 1867, Page 4

COLLINGWO OD GOLDFIELDS.

There can be noqu s ior th at Collingwood possesses a rich, payable, ea&]K worked goLifield, which ia, however, of limited ixtn t, only sufficient, in fact, to carry a mining population of from 1,000 to 1,500, exclusive of an agricultural population of about 100, holding moderately-sized farms. Of course this has reference only to ground which has already been tested and proved to be auriferous : what population the whole district, if properly tested, might carry, it is necessarily impossible to say. One very satisfactory feature in these diggings is the fact that wherever gold is found in payable quantities the claims give every promise of laating for years ; this has been already amply tested, and what is more, these claims appeir to increase in the richness of their yields. Despite the various fluctuations and discouragements which Collingwood has experienced, there can be little doubt that, sooner or latsr, its importance as a mining district mußt be recognised and fully establibhed. There is, however, nothing at present to justify a " rush," and indeed a gradual development of its auriferous resources would probably best conduce to its ultimate prooperity. The while country is— to adopt mining phraseology— "exceedingly likely," and bears a striking iwemWUnce to some of the richest districts on the W«t Coast, more especially the "Waimea and Totuca fields. It is fairly supplied with water, and gene- [ rally races can be laid oa with little expense. The diggings are more accessible, although the country is broken and hilly, than on the West Coast, but at present the ground which has been proved to be auriferous is, as has been already said, limited, and its goldfield. will be of the same character. Ihe claims which are of any importance are extensive, covering from one to three acres of ground, and held under lease, and this latter fact, while it will necessarily operate againßt a "rush" taking place to Collingwood, will, on the other hand, eusure the steady development of the field and its permanent occupation.