THE MAHAKIPAWA.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 21 July 1888, Page 2

THE MAHAKIPAWA.

(By our Special Correspondent)

The wonderful attractions of a now o-oldfield to anyone who has passed some yoars of his early life in gathering the rich crumbs from that saintly old lady “Mother Earth” are well known to all who have cooked the proverbial damper and not disdained the frying-pan for a dish, especially when it contained a good fat mutton chop, and butter was scarce. During tho past few weeks the insatiable inclination to visit tho new rush at Mahakipawa, which had been quietly undermining other refolutions, culminated yesterday in placing me outside a substantial steed. Leaving Havelock shortly after daylight, with my lads for company, a short but brisk trot soon brought us to the foot of Mahakipawa Hill—one of those old bush tracks that served their purpose srhen all those measurements and grades were taken by the rule of thumb, and in any civilised country would have bten condemned a quarter of a century ago But no, this miserable track seems from some inscrutable cause dedicated to us in perpetuity. And why should it he so ? Two years ago the Government Engineer reported that a dray road could be constructed with a very easy grade from Havelock up to the low Saddle at Cullen’s Point, and from thence to Mahakipawa, for LSOO. The owner of the land, M• J. Cidlen, has made three d'atiuct offers to convey sufficient land for a road if Government wi ll only fence on each sid s of it, to accept a sum of money or its equivalent in land, and fence the road himself, or, finally, to submit the whole question to arbitration. What can be fairer than such terms? But now, as my feeP .gu arc getting excited. I must face the mail:, or I rht.ll not get to the diggings in time to wash myself out a sovereign. So, girthing up the horses and myself, we commenced the climb, and, after a slippery and toilsome ascent we reached the top, and r must acknowledge, was somewhat rewt, by the peculiar but wonderful pi norama to be seen on all sides. Looking backward, the eye embraced Havelock and Ha. _ma Valiev, and to the left, part of the Pelorus Sound and Kaiurna while straight beneath me lay Mahakipawa, and straight ahead, away in the distance, was Kenepant Sound and part of Queen Charlotte Sound, every place enveloped in a dense fog. with its wave-like billows extending half way up the hills, and requiring but a flight stretch of the imagination to fancy ourselves above the clouds in an unknown region, like Jules Verne loves to describe.

However, there is no time for romancing, so, hurriedly descending, we soon found ourselves rapidly passing Mr John Wheadon’s and Mr Janies Fulton’s attractive farms, while a rapid canter along the beach and round tho fern hills, soou brought us to Mr Gregg’s and Mr Cullen’s, two of the best grazmg farms iu Mahaklpawa, comprising hundreds of acres of splendid level laud, judiciously sub-divided with substantial wire fencing, and extensive and well-kept orchard, a large shearing shed with good yards, and every convenience required for working them; whi'e on the opposite side of the valley could be seeu auother extensive holding with its homestead far away to the left, belonging to Messrs Cawte B' - os. Each of these farms are destined iu some future day to placo a big record on our agricultural statistics. At Mr Gregg’s, we learnt that John Aden, Esq., Warden for the goldfields, had started for tho diggings a short time before. Turning away suddenly to the left, we cantered up the valley about two miles through Mr Cullen’s laud, and, dismounting, soon learnt that the most recent find was on a terrace about 200 yards along. Making tracks for the locality, a smart climb of some 200 feet brought us to Davis and party’s claim, who have struck good gold on tho terrace, aud were busily engaged stripping a paddock to ascertain in what direction the new run continued, and at the same argu'ng some stiff points with Mr Cullen’s legal advisers re boundaries of their claims, which is on bis freehuld land. Tho stripping was about 4 feet, and wash seemed very good. After leaving this claim we soon got down to tho valley, and crossed the stream where, 23 years f ago, when fresh from the Otago diggings j in company with my brother, we predicted from its auriferous appearance that gold would be found iu the vicinity. Mr Cullen accompanied me to the boundary of bis freehold, and pointed out where he was willing to exchange roads with tho Government on certain terms, as it appears the one laid off on the plans is only flat on paper and impossible to form. After a btisk walk, crossing and rocrossing tbo creek about 20 times, we found ourselvos at Martiu and Scott’s claim, where they have done a lot of work taking up a tail-race, and were putting down a shaft to further test tho ground. Passing on, I soou reached Bush aud party’s claim. They have just completed a substantial flume for carry : ng the water, and intend setting in properly. A large creek empties itself into their ground from the right-hauil side going up, which I was informed luvd not been prospected. Tbo next claim is Gwillin and Reader’s party, who Wore opening a tail-race to got a face on their work Then comes Cawte and party, who have a substantial ta :, raco opened out, and will soon commence sluicing. Next to them the natives, Mason aud parry, have their claim, but not much work is visible ; still, the prospect shown me—about half an ounce of rough gold obtained from betwoen the boulder stoues —indicates something better to come. W. Reader and party adjoin this claim, and have some giant boulder stouss to pick their teeth with, but they soein con. ent with the prospect ahead. Then comes Frank Rush aud party who are work ug systematical, tho tail-raco showing by its construction that old miners are among the party, and I was assured tho prospect warranted the good work. Gregg and party came next. They have open'd a tail-race right up to tho boundary of the prospectors’ claim, where they obtained nearly 7oz iu about •Ift by 3ft of ground, ancl I was told that a substantial local speculative man had just offered £IOO for a sixth share. Tliis brings us to the claim where Jackson, tho true prospector, found tbo gold. Men of bis stamp are gettmg Boarce in this generation ; it requires people with something beyond the ordinary stamina aud steadfast purpose to penetrate the wilds of New Zealand rock-bound creeks, and unearth the rich deposits nature has so jealously protected. But the indomitable wi'l and perseverance of the hardy m'ner knows no limits; hence we feel tho results, aud they dt3orvo every encouragement. Here wo found the Warden, who, after a short rest, proceeded in company with Mr M‘Nab, the prospectors’ solicitor, and some 60 or 70 miners to look at tho top pegs on their ground.

(To he continued.)