THE WAIRAU GOLDFIELDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 235, 11 June 1870, Page 4

THE WAIRAU GOLDFIELDS.

There has been no communication with the new field during the week, owing to the bad weather. On Monday some of those who have been there from the commencement of the rush returned, and some reports wore prevalent of good finds, but they lack corroboration. Dorreen (or Marshall), of Havelock, the finder of the 27 dwt., nugget, is said to have found others weighing respectively 1 oz. and oz. The only authentic information we can give is contained in tho following letters : “ Bartlett’s Gully, June 2nd. “ Mr Editor, —Sir, —I wish to contradict any insertion in your paper, or any other, respecting me and my mates. We have not struck anything to cause any men to come from a distance to this place. In the prospectors’ gully there are some three or four claims paying about ten shillings per day at present, and there are parties in different gullies prospecting ; but up to the present time there is nothing found to cause any rush to this place.—Yours, &c., Charles Thompson and mates.” Mr J. Frazer, a practical miner recently arrived from Wangapeka, sends us the following intelligent report on the Wairau Goldfield, for the benefit of his mining friends : Monday, June 6, 1870. The scene of the late rush is variously stated to be from 20 to 23 miles from Blenheim, up the Wairau Valley, and is close under the range dividing the Wakamariua from the Wairau. There are several tracks leading to it, most of which are in a very passable state for foot pasgers or horsemen. One of these leads over the range from the Wakamariua, which can be traversed easily in a day ; most of those on the rush having come this way. The track by which travellers come from Picton and Blenheim is along flat country up the plain, passing Renwick and the mouth of the Kaituna Valley. A few miles further on is Rock Ferry, where is an accommodation bouse kept by Mr Ragg, and excellent provision is made for travellers. Four miles further is Adams’ station, where numerous notices are posted cautioning miners as to their behaviour while within the boundaries of the Langley Dale estate, together with a scale of charges intended to be enforced. The main creek (Bartlett’s) runs from its junction with the Waii'au up the ranges moderately level, and in fine weather a dray might proceed by this route to within about a mile of the existing workings. There are three stores now on the ground. The ranges where the diggings are at present are probably about 1000 feet above the level of the Wairau. Innumerable gullies intersect the hills and lead into the main creek ; the other side of the hill falling towards Adams’ station. There is little timber to be seen excepting in these gullies. On the whole the country looks likely as a goldfield, although for the present gold has only been found in two or three of the gullies. For years it has been the belief of the most experienced miners on the Wakamariua, that the gold there found would ultimately be traced to the vicinity of the present workings ; and, as Dr Hector so often and truly described, that a continuous belt of auriferous country would be found running across the Wairau into the ranges on the other side. It would bo difficult at present to give any decided opinion with regard to the payable character of the diggings, as very few parties have the tools necessary for mining operations. The few who have sluice boxes seem satisfied with their returns; although they say it is very patchy. One day they obtain a few ounces, and the next a few pennyweights but on the whole they consider it payable. The gold, which appears of a very fair quality, is chiefly in small nuggets, ranging from about half-a-pennyweight to 14 oz. It resembles that obtained in the Wakamarina, being of two distinct kinds : one being much waterworn, and the other ragged, with pieces of quartz attached, evidently coming from some reef in the vicinity. The general opinion of the miners here is, that there is likely to be far richer ground struck in the neighborhood ; and it is confidently anticipated that a good goldfield will be opened up next summer, if not this winter. About a mile from the rush in a north-westerly direction, is a party of miners working a reef [Greenlaw’s], their tent being visible from and apparently quite close to the gully which is being worked. It appears that another party had previously been trying this reef, and had sunk a shaft. They, however, through ignorance of the underlay of the reef, which is easterly, drove to the westward, and of course missed it altogether. The present party, having examined the shaft, drove to the north-east, and struck the reef some time since in the same shaft. The reef is about four feet in thickness, and seems a good quality of stone for bearing gold. Its course is identical with the reefs at Wangapeka, being N.N. W. and S. S. E., which if followed to the northward, would make through the raage, and thence through the principal ranges along the Wakamarina. If followed in the contrary direction it would lead across the Wairau into the ranges on the other side. This party has been working on tho reef

for some months, and have discovered that it is undei-lying to the eastward, about three or four feet in ten ; and that from about the top of the top of the hill to a depth of say 50 to 60 feet, there is a layer of gold-bearing quartz from which very fair specimens have been taken. The stone is of a hard nature, and impregnated with fine gold, easily visible to the naked eye. This lays in seams, and dips very much to the northward at over an angle of 45 degrees. In the mullock about the reef they are able to wash a grain or so of fine gold to the dish ; a similar prospect is got in the loose quartz rubble lying on the face of the reef ; while in the soft mullock between the casing and the reef they wash a very good prospect. Stone taken from any of the numerous places where they have opened up the reef will, on being carefully crushed, yield more or less gold—whether payable or not remains to be seen. The party commenced a tunnel some time since on the easterly side of the hill, at about 120 feet lower level, in order to strike the underlay. They have been working at it night and day, and are in about 30 or 40 feet, but they do not expect to strike the reef at under SO to 90. They have worked quietly and energetically, without any notice being taken of them ; while had they been in many other districts they would doubtless have been disturbed in their labors aud much excitement caused. Close under where they are at work a small gully takes its rise from the same spur, where are some parties prospecting. Colors of fine gold can be found on the surface anywhere in the gully. The abundance of quartz boulders, and tho existence of many known reefs about this locality, together with the fact of gold being found which appears to have come from reefs, seem to promise that tho Wairau may yet prove a rich goldfield, both in alluvial ground and quartz reefs.