THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 30, 27 August 1869, Page 2

THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

Mr. Warden Robinson returned about midnight on "Wednesday from his official trip to the Marewhenua diggings. With a view of allaying any unreasonable excitement upon the subject of the new field Mr.-Robinson has authorised us to state that he visited the locality of the diggings, where he found about 100 men, thinly scattered over the country in the vicinity of the Marewhenua and Awa Moko rivers. The majority of the above number were recent arrivals. About one-half of the entire number appeared to be getting gold. Of these none owned to be making more than £2 per week per man. The workings at present are mostly confined to narrow runs in the centres of gullies, and are as a rule shallow—the stuff having to be lifted to be washed. A general impression prevails that the spurs will pay well for sluicing, and there is anabundant supply of water in the rivers Marewhenua, Kakanui, Awa Moko, and Ote Kaika; which can be made available by races of sufficient length. Permission has already been granted by the runholders for the construction of two small races from Bush Creek and the Awa Moko river, which are now in progress. The distance from Oamaru is abbiit 40 miles. Provisions cheap : The cost of mere living being estimated at from 10s. to 13s. per week. It is obvious that no information could be afforded us as to the probability of including the country within the limits of the Goldfields, until Mr. Warden Robinson's report has been received and considered by the Government. Prom all, however, we have been able to learn there would appear to be nothing at present to justify a large rush. The gold is mostly fine on the Marewhenua and Awa Moko rivers, but that of a flakey nature is being obtained from a gully near the Kurow, where two men are engaged in prospecting. It may be remembered that this last named place' was rushed some few years ago and abandoned.