THE WAIRAU GOLDFIELD.

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 250, 24 September 1870, Page 4

THE WAIRAU GOLDFIELD.

During the week a considerable number of shares in the Sutherland Gold-mining Company have been applied for, and there is every prospect of the Company being speedily floated successfully. Since our last the official report of the gold sent to Auckland for assay has been received, of which the following is a copy : “ Bank of New Zealand, “Auckland, Sept. 13, 1870. “Assay report of gold from Blenheim :

“S. S. Rapson, Assayer.” We may note that the above is very favorable, as 24 carats represents pure gold. During the week information has reached us of the discovery of a new reef about two miles nearer the ranges than Bartlett’s house, and about five miles from the Sutherland Company’s block. The prospectors Messrs. Pipe, Kenning, Bell, Foster, and Thompson, have applied for and obtained a prospecting claim. They shewed very fine specimens of quartz studded with gold plainly visible to the naked eye, and said to resemble Thames gold. Several claims have since been taken up on this reef, and no less a sum than £3 17s 6d was paid as fees for fourteen days’ protection. . The alluvial diggings begin to look very lively, and bear evident signs of doing well. The miners talk cheerfully, and are very hopeful as regards the immediate future. O’Connor and party report that they are doing £6 to £7 per man weekly ; O’Sullivan and party are getting at a similar rate ; while Greenlaw and party say they can’t complain at the results of their labors. On Bartlett’s Creek, twelve men are trying to turn the creek, and are very sanguine of their prospects. A number of men are working at Mount Patriarcfi, and it is said are getting gold in ev ry direction, but in small quantities; many are getting from £2 a week to any amount. It is said that the whereabouts of several other reefs are well known to men on the field, who shewed our informant specimens containing gold the size of a pin-head, but the finders are holding over until the alluvial diggings give out. The Warden, Mr Whitehorn, visited the field on Wednesday, when he was warmly received by the miners. Having opened his Court, he took down the evidence of the claimants and objectors, and then postponed going further into the cases until next Court day. Inspector Emerson sold thirteen rights there in one day.

Decimal. Oral. Grains. Eights. Gold .. -9439 or 22 2 4 Silver .. -0511 Base mefcal . .. •0050 1-0000