THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 37, 15 October 1869, Page 3

THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

By a gentleman lately arrived from the Marewhenua diggings we learn - that the number of miners scattered over the field, which is a very wide one is now about. KSO to 170 ; the largest number are en the Awamoko, about fourteen miles on the other side of the Paßr;, in the direction of Oamaru. A small township has bean commenced near this portion of the field, on a spur above the -Marewhenua river, which here approaches within two miles ofthe |t Awamoko. 'The operations at present consist principally of box sluicing and cradling, with iki_- results, the averaoe being probably about £2 per week per man —in some cases much better. The gold is chiefiy fine, but patches of coarse gold are frequently struck in the gullies, and on the banks of the streams. In the Marewhenua Biver very good results have been obtained by several parties, but the gold on the beaches, though heavy, aijpears to be patchy.' Between the Marewhenua and the . Otekaike some Yerj good ground has been opened, bur an insufficient supply of water has ; itaerio its full development. Over this whole district, comprised bet:ween the Otakaike and the- head waters of the Xakanui and the Awamoko Bivers, a vast deposit of " macLe ground " exists, which, wherever tried, has yielded gold in greater or less quantity. One of the prospectors told our informant that, after working eighteen months in different parts of the district above described, he considered it to be the best sluicing % ground, in the proyince. In order pro-

perlyand" mo to fully to to*t tins ground, water ra,ce companies are being formed. Of these, the largest at present being constructed is the All Nations, a race of about'tvyelve miles long, being lifted from the south branch of wheiiua..;; A smaller race, of about three is now nearly ready to work on; the Awamoko. Races have also been applied for from the Kakanui, the north branch of the Marewhenua, the : Otekaike, and ! several smaller streams. - ; It is calculated that these races in all will be capable of carrying between sixty and seventy Government heads'of-water,."':'an ample supply to support a : large mining population. The district above described does not, however, comprise the. whole of the field. Between the Otekaike and the Awamoko, a distance of about seventeen miles, a different class of country is met with, where the slate rock crops out everywhere, and. to a great elevation. This part of the new field has not yet beehfully prospected, but some years ago a large rush took place to a gully near: the I Kurow, which is included within the boundaries above indicated, and we believe some very good gold was obtained, bub owing to the short supply of water, and a rush which took place to Clark's about the same time, this spot was abandoned except by. two or three men, Avho have off and on made fair wages at cradling. We have been shown a fine sample of gold from another gully close by, which is of a heavy.■ scaly.'-character, very bright, and not much water worn. In this neighborhood there are, we are fcold, many other spots which promise well, and to which water can be easily conveyed if found payable for sluicing on a large scale. It is only about eighteen miles from Clarks" to the Awakino, from which it is separated by a high range impassable in winter. On the whole, there appears no doubt of the existence of a valuable goldfield on the other side of the range, only limited by the supply of water. Quartz reefs have also been struck, but we are not-aware that gold has yet been found in them. Living appears to be cheap —from ten to twelve shillings per week; and" the climate good.