THE KARAKA GOLDFIELD.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 865, 10 August 1867, Page 3

THE KARAKA GOLDFIELD.

(From the • Southern Croas,' July 31.)

Thk above is, we believe, to be the official, and probably will become the popular, title of t'..o goldfield. „ Kauaeranga is the name of the district. The Karaka Creek divides the block almost in the centre, and has been selected as the fittest name.

The excitement in town yesterday, though tho weather was bad enough to put a damper on anything, had rather increased than diminished. We hope that all who are inclined to be carried away by the ferment will consider the cautions given by Dr. Pollen and Mr. Mackay, the former of whom most pointedly stated that the Government did not encourage any man to go down.

Mr. Commissioner Mackay leaves town this morning for Kauaeranga, and, it is expected, will begin the issue of miners' rights as soon as he reaches.

From an experienced miner, and one who is thoroughly acquainted with the ground of the Karaka goldfield, we have received the following : — The Karaka, Hape, and Waiotahi creeks run over a rotten granite bottom, with an iron sand-stone rubble on the top, the depth of which varies from three to ten feet, and which can be put through a Californian torn, or sluice-box ; one man taking down the bank, another feeding the machine, with another working the rubble whilst it passes through. Any miner will know the process ; but as there are numbers of men in Auckland now who have never been on.a goldfield, and who would find a living in Kauaeranga, it should be known that parties of four p" ersons would earn more when divided amongst themselves than two could. From 20 to 30 loads could be put through in ten hours. It will also have to be borne in mind that when the bottom is taken out of the box the application of quicksilver will be necessary to separate the gold, which is very light, from the iron-sand. These details are necessary to the saving of time ; because in such a limited field as Kauaeranga the experienced miner would do three or four times the work that a man unaccustomed to gold-digging could do. Should the prospector try the flat, he will meet with difficulties, only to be overcome by the energy which iB always derived from the hope of coming upon a deposit of gold in the wash-dirt on the bottom. As yet the bottom has not been reached, but should any person be successful in doing so, and discover payable gold, the flat extending from the base of the ranges to the shores of the gulf would give employment to some thousands of men, whereas the creeks would employ only two hundred at the most. At present the Karaka diggings may only be considered as paying the wages that would be given if the men were employed in trade. The information received from the prospectors shows ldwt. to the load. Twenty-four loads during each day in one week would give a party of four, calculating the value of the gold to be £>3 per oz., £4 per man. It is not to be imagined that the creeks would produce this all through ; each party must take their chance and the more experienced will know where to take up a claim. Until such time as the level land is known to be payable, the banks of the creeks will be so far remunerative as to pay expenses.

None of the vessels advertised to sail for the Karaka yesterday have left, the weather having been unfavourable. An opinion has also prevailed that it would be better not to go till Mr. Mackay was on the ground.

The following is a complete list of the vessels on the berth : The steamers ' Tauranga' and ' Enterprise No. 2,' and the cutters 'Cornstalk,! 'Dusty Miller,' 'Bessy,* 'Otahuhu,' • Bluebell,' and ' Rangatira.'