GOLD IN STEWART'S ISLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2154, 15 November 1867, Page 3

GOLD IN STEWART'S ISLAND.

The correspondent of the Southland Times, writing from Stewart's Island on Oct. 31, says : It will he in the recollection of your readers that for some time past rumours have been spread that gold was discovered on the Island two or three months since, but the statements were so contradictory that no certain reliance could be placed on them, Having, however, received intelligence of an authentic character, I was induced to take a trip here, and judge for myself to what extent the various rumours were borne out by personal inspection. I may mention that as far as I could ascertain there are only three parties at work—one of the largest consisting of four men, known as Longuet's party, who are engaged at Codfish Bay, opposite Codfish Maud, at the foot of the high cone, called, Bugged Peak. At this place, however, the surf is so great that a boat can scarcely live in it, and reaching this point from the sea is therefore extremely dangerous. The only safe way is by landing on Bugged—or, as it is called, Buggedy—Beach. By pursuing the track through the bush which branches off at this point, and a very tedious and intricate one it is, you may reach Codfish. Bay, after at least two hours hard travelling. The diggings are situate on the beach, and the stripping is about 18 inches of sand. The wasbdirt consists of about 3 feet of rubble ov saud, in which gold and black sand is found. Longuet's party are well supplied with appliances. There are quartz reefs also in the vicinity, which I believe are being worked with tolerable advantage. On Buggedy Beach,_ Todd's party of two are engaged, washing the banks of a small creek. The washing consists of a layer of black sand, about 0 inches from the surface; the second layervaries from 12 to 18 inches, with a bottom of about 6 inches of black sand, laying on the top of cemented red sand, The appliances are inferior. This party are making wages. At Ouroiiti Bench, in Smoky Cove, between Blackrock and Whiterock Point, Baxter's party of two are sluicing the bed of a creek flowing into the sea. Considerable work is being done here in carrying the water on fliimiug, in order to work the auriferous ground of the bed of the creek, which is composed of mineral, black sand. This I believe is yielding fair returns. On the whole, although the various parties may be doing well, there is not room, as far as I can judge, in their vicinity, for many more. Indeed, I believe all the different beaches and small creeks running down to the sea from the interior northwards to Port William, which are numerous, would, in all probability, pay equally as well as those now working. The real deposit of gold has not been discovered. The suspense and difficulty of getting through the bush to the

interior at tlie present time precludes prospecting being carried on. to any extent. When, however, the parties now working have washed up, they will doubtless proceed further into the interior, and be enabled to discover the source—the quartz reefs—of which there are many indications.

The gold already found is of a fine description. Longuet's party are getting the heaviest gold that has yet been found at Port William. It is of quite a different character to any that I have seen, being nuggety and not water worn. Several half-pennyweight nuggets have been found, and other indications are not wanting of heavy gold being in the interior. The precise locality of course cannot be determined upou, but probably, if I might hazard a conjecture, it is situated near Long Gully, at the foot of Mount Auglesey, running across the island, having numerous tributaries branching from it. Small crafts can lie opposite Rugged Beach, and other small beaches southward of Port William during westerly and easterly weather, but it might be dangerous when north-westerly or westerly winds prevail.

The Otago Daily Times of Nov. 11 contains the following:—

Very contradictory rumours of the extent and character of the auriferous grouud lately discovered in Stewart's Island have obtaiued currency. The most reliable information is that contained in the report of the Warden W. H, Eodgers, who furnished to the Superintendent of Southland an account of his late visit to the Island. It will be seen that although the existence of quartz reefs is incidentally referred to, the information obtained applies chiefly to the beach workings at Rugged Point. The following is the report:—

I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of applications received by me from Messrs Baxter and Party, and Messrs Longuet and Party, who have been for some months past prospecting for gold near Bugged Point, on Stewart's Island.

In accordance with your Honor's instructions, I have visited the ground applied for ; also, that of another party (Eobert Todd and Leatham), near the same locality. I first landed at Euggedy Beach with good landing, under shelter of Kugged Island. Todd and Party are working a sand flat on the border of a creek, at the east end of this beach, some two or three hundred yards from high water mark.

Their statement was that they were making about M per week a man. They had not sufficient water brought in to their claim, having failed in damming the larger creek on which they were working, which might supply eight heads of water; and they Were taking their supply from a small creek (scarcely two heads of water), most of which they lose in their race, which crosses a quarter of a mile or more of sandy river bed. I saw several prospects washed here. The gold is in layers of black sand with no stripping. There are only about ten heads of water in both creeks. The ground is payable, but not for more than twenty men, unless water is brought on through the bush from a distance, and at some expense. Claims here should be granted of large extent. From Euggedy, I walked over to Longuet and party's claim. Say two miles of bush, over a saddle, and two miles of sand dunes and beach. This party are working the beach above high water mark—some foot of stripping and about three feet of shingly wash. They report it payable, but have failed in getting on sufficient water, owing to the difficulty of leading it along the side of the sand hills; but tiiey still report good pay. There is, I consider, Boine six heads of water on this, the southern end of the beach (Codfish); and the party report gold in about equal quantities for a little over the last quarter of a mile. I washed several prospects, and I believe the ground proved; the water is sufficient for about twenty miners.

I have no report of the northern portion of the beach; it has similar indications, of gold, but is short of water.

On the return track, near the northern end of this beach, in passing up a gully through the sand dunes, Mr Louguet, jun., shewed me a quartz reef, of which I forward you a Bmall sample. We crossed a section of the reef from B. to W., I believe at least twenty-five yards. The bearing of the line of the reef is supposed to be about N.E. to S.W., and it' is stated by Mr Longuefc to crop out in several other places. There is no safe landing on Longuet and Go's beach (called by them '' Codfish," being opposite Codfish Island). They staved their own boat, and injured their provisions greatly when landing here. I next landed at Smoky Cove beach, at the eastern end of which (one mile long) Baxter and party are working—up a creek—a broad sap.dy bed, with a rough-edged, broken stone, not waterworn, in the wash-dirt. I believe the prospects here are richer thau iu either of the two former places. Baxter reports £5 a-week per man; and, I believe, has kept well within the mark.

This party have the only water readily available already taken up, and have been to considerable labour, having failed in several races from a quarter to half a mile long. They have finally flumed through the sand on the sides of the dunes with timber, and covered the top. In the event of the ground beiag declared a goldfield, I should recommend their race and water should be secured to them, and the extended claim which they have applied for granted. In conclusion, I have to report that I have every confidence in the value of this district being-at least equal to what has been reported-tome, and what I now report to your Honor, but there are great difficulties to be encountered by any parties setting in on this ground. [There is great risk in landing both men and scores, and it will be necessary that any parties trying the ground should have money to

start with, and make arrangements for supplies of stores at stated intervals. Under these circumstances, large claims should be granted to those taking up ground.