MINING NOTES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 198, 16 September 1896, Page 2

MINING NOTES.

Mr H. W. Mitchell, surveyor, has returned from the To Puke district where lie had been engaged surveying the Jocelyn, Gibraltar, and otherclaims which are in close proximity to Fleming's Freehold. There are over 100 claims pegged out between the Freehold and Papainoe. Prospectors are at present searching in tho ranges to the west, towards Oropi, and report favorably on the nature of tho country. The direction of the reefs from Fleming's Freehold is towards Otanewairiuku in the neighborhood of which Mr Fleming has pegged off three claims: The dip of tho reefs from the Freehold southwards shows pretty clearly that the auriferous strata underlies the volcanic formation. Deep sinking will therefore be necessary. In Mr Mitchell's opinion the country to the westward between Lake llotorua and Otanuwamuku is well worth prospecting. Encouraging indications, in the shape of loose quartz, have been found in the streams flowing from the lakes towards the coast between Maketu and Matata. Various parties arc out prospecting. The Opotiki people have got the gold fever even worse than we have it here. Discoursing on the recent find at Opape the Herald says: "A brilliant future is in store for the quiet little township of Opotiki. We expect in a few months that there will not be a vacant allotment to be obtained at any price, and that tho Northern S.S. Co. will bo compelled, in its own interests, to put on at least two more steamers to meet the increasing passenger trade." We sincerely hope this is so, but we are afraid our contemporary is a little bit too previous. The natives declare with much assurance that gold exists on Matawhaura, at the head of ltotoiti, but as the mountain is an ancient burying ground and stricty tapu they do not care to go in search of it. A prospector was out there the other da3 r , but ho was quietly led away from the forbidden ground and informed that they could allow no one to ascend tho mountaian without the consent of the whole tribe. At the meeting of the Prospecting Association last Saturday night, Mr Brent presiding, it was decided to meet in future on alternate Wednesday nights, commencing on .September 23. A special meeting will, however, takeplace to-night in the Grand Hotel at 8 o'clock to meet the Association's prospector, Mr James Mac Donald.