REWARD FOR NEW GOLD DISCOVERIES.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 54, 13 August 1877, Page 2

REWARD FOR NEW GOLD DISCOVERIES.

[communicated.] The prompt action taken by the Chairman of the Grey County Council in bringing forward a motion, offering a reward for the discovery of a payable goldfield within that County, is a step in the right direction, and is a good precedent for the other Counties to act upon, particularly our own County of Inangahua. Prospecting for a lead of gold nowadays is a serious undertaking for a party of miners. It bas to be proceeded with either by sinking deep shafts, or driving long tunnels, according to the nature of the ground ; and many of the old class of miners, who have the experience, and the will to undertake such works, arc deficient of tho means of carrying it out to their satisfaction, and often, after months of hard toil, they are obliged to give it up (through pecuniary difficulties) when, perhaps, if they could hold out a little longer their efforts would bo crowned with success. In other instances whero a prospecting party has succeeded in discovering payable gold, it invariably happened that their claim was not of average value when compared with that of others who came after the gold was discovered, and profited by their energy and experience-, and that when the orthodox "double area " (prescribed by the mining rcgu'a* tions) was worked out, they were no better off than when they started. This would dishearten most men and deter them from trying their luck again, let them be ever bo sanguine of success. Whereas, if a bonus was offered by the Government, for the discovery of a payable goldfield, it would stimulate snob men to fresh exertions, knowing that whether their claim was above or below tho average valuo, they would have- something tangihlo to deppnd on, to rocnnif ense them for their original outlay und loss of time. The Inangahua County presents a fair field for the energy of the prospector. As for- instance, tulco the line of country from the Lyell to the Big Grey for nn average width of ten or twelve miles, thero is scarce a creek or gully, but has been found to contain gold, more or less, and some years ago Mere was a lareo and thriving population of alluvial miners scattered over this line of country who worked the easiest ground and cleared out with the proceed, of their labour to whore they could find somethmg more liko civilization. It was not misnamed when it Was called the "Penal Settlements " for at that timo the miners and everyone else that came into this part of thp country had a great many hardships and inconveniences to "contend with. The ranges that separate the numerous largo creeks in this line of country are, in most instances, wide and flat on the top, and covered with heavy alluvial deposits, and it is the opinion of mon, having years of practical experience in this and bther parts of the country, that the main arteries, or in other, words the orginal volcanic drift that were the source of all the gold that has been carried into- the present gullies and creeks, aro still embosomed within those table top ranges. Iu the bottom lands or valleys of all those large creeks that, flow into the Inangahua, tho Little Grey, &e., tho original bed of those creeks is cut into deep channels or gutters, which acted as sluices to receive the washings of the surrounding hills, and- as the low country got filled up, as a natural consequence, these gutters got filled up also, and the creeks had to keep shifting their coursewhich accounts for a great many of them being so poor and patchy at tho present time. The heavy deposits of gold are still untouched at the bottom of those old guttors or creek beds, and if they were once opened 1 oat, tho Inangahua County with its rich quarlz reefs and extensive alluvial workings, its plentiful 1 supply of timber and efficient water supply for mining purposes, would attract an influx of population from all parts of the country, and become (as it is bound to.oj-entually from. its position, and resources) the- most nourishing aud 1 prosperous mining; district in. New Zcalandi. Should the County Council act on this suggestion, and pass a resolution offering i bouus for the discovery of a now alluvial ■{oldfield, we havo reason to believe tha'' t will soon be productive of beneficial •esults. Blackwater, August 4th, 1877.