THE HAU-HAU GOLDFIELD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1674, 28 April 1866, Page 2

THE HAU-HAU GOLDFIELD.

The following account of this field is condensed from that of the special reporter of the West Coast 7 1 imei,April 21 : Of the many different goldfields on the West Coast which deservedly rank high for their producing powers, the Hau-liau is the only one that has not, some time or another, been fairly reported on, either specially or by casual correspondence, and that it should so long have remained in the background is much to be wondered at, considering its importance and the long time it has been in work.

Twelve months ago, gold was first struck up the right and left-hand branches of the Three-Mile (reek, but as the discoverers preferred working on the quiet rather than apply for a prospecting claim, a favoured few only became acquainted with their whereabouts, nearly all of whom have been exceedingly successful, as the ground was rich, and not difficult to work. And yet these diggings are close to Hokitika, for, as the " crow flies," they could be reached in four miles, and the longest route—via the Kanieri—is not more than ten, therefore, that so little attention should have been paid them can be accounted for only from the fact that the rich and easily-wrought beaches have, during the past eight months, offered such attractions to the miners, that bush workings at all difficult of access were almost entirely neglected for the open, pleasant country bordering the sea, During the last few weeks, however, the Hau-hau, has been gradually rising in importance, and from time to time reports have reached town that the workings there were extending, the population increasing, and that a veritable deep lead was being traced across gullies and over hills which promised to rival some of the famed ones in Victoria and elsewhere. Rumours of pennyweights to the dish, and dry sinking, were whispered about, and although doubts of their credibility were entertained, they gradually became more defined and authenticated. Still there was very little known of this mysterious locality, so few having |visited it, and the utmost extent of information concerning it was that it lay somewhere beyond Tucker Flat, between the Waimea and the Kanieri; that there were three tracks to it, one up the Three-mile Creek, another via Kanieri and Tucker Plat, and the last through the Cemetery, along the Town Belt, and then across the" large paddock." Accordingly, I made my way to the Kanieri Terrace, and was there directed to follow the United Company's head-race until Tucker Flat was reached ; and when there, I should, if I persevered, and made use of my tongue, find a track somewhere, which would assuredly lead me to the desired locality. As an excellent footpath runs along the side, of the race, Tucker Flat was soon reached, and a full view obtained of the magnificent flume thrown across it by the above Company. This flume is an excellent specimen of bush work. Like that executed by the Pioneer Company, it is several hundred feet in length, and in the centre over forty feet high, and is constructed of massive timber, well put together with due regard not only to strength, but symmetry as well. On emerging from the forest on to the plain a busy scene met my gaze, for I immediately found myself in a digger's encampment, and as the hour was high noon the curling smoke from numerous fires gave testimony that the mid-day meal was in the course of preparation. In all directions groups of diggers could be seen, the majority of whom were evidently new arrivals, and all of them were either cooking or fixing up their temporary quarters for the night. The first familiar face which greeted me was that of an old "Arthur's Point" man, who, after the usual greetings had passed, smilingly declared he believed the place was" right," as a hundred foot hole had been bottomed the previous day, out of which some "stunning" prospects were obtained. In compliance with my request, he directed me to the shaft, which I found was situated in the paddock, just on the verge of the bush, at the back of the encampment. Here I found two or three of the shareholders who at first were somewhat reticent; but as in the meantime it had been whispered about that the " Reporter" was on the ground, they become more communicative, informed me without hesitation that the prospects olhined weregood,and the'depth of washdirtthreefeet. One of the shareholders proposed that I should go down the shaft, "knock out a prospect," and judge for myself whether the claim were payable or not. As this was just what I desired, I very readily acceded, , and descended accordingly, noting as I went down the different strata sunk through, which, with the exception of a little of the surface, consisted entirely of heavy granite and sandstone " wash" alternating with thin layers of fine sand. Several of the gravel veins'were deeply discoloured by oxide of iron, which is generally considered a favourable indication by old diggers. There were also several vein» of cement towards the bottom of the shaft, giving evidence of the agency of fire when the " drift" was deposited. On reaching the bottom, I found that the whole body of this drift rested upon a solid flinty Bandstone reef, the surface of which was slightly soft, but not sufficiently so-to admit of the gold penetrating any distance into it.

Immediately above tho reef, I found about eighteen inches of a light brown granite gravel intermixed with washed reef boulders—decidedly " good-looking dirt" in the common acceptation of the phrase as used by miners, Above this the gravel was much looser, and in appearance not so promising ; the men, however, informed me that it would pay for sluicing. Having " knocked out" about two-thirds of a bucket-full of the lower layer, and sent it up, I was in my turn pulled to the surface, where a considerable crowd had collected round the shaft, doubtless with the intention of aiding at the approaching ceremony, and participating in the good things usually to be met with on such occasions. But perhaps the strongest feeling was one of curiosity, to witness the washing of a prospect taken out of tho last hole bottomed on the lead, The result, lam happy to say, was satisfactory, as the dish showed, after the refuse was washed off, rather more than ldwt of coarse gold; indeed, this prospect may be Baid to consist of one piece which weighed just 23grs, and the fine stuff; which amounted to between 2 and 3 grs more, lam enabled to write accurately upon the weight, as the shareholders very courteously allowed me to retain the gold.