THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7648, 27 May 1886, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

THE NEW RUSH AT WAIOMO, 1

VISIT TO THE FIELD. [from our own correspondent.]

Messrs. Bradley and F«rgcson, the enterprising coaching firm well known here and at Tβ Aroha and the Waikato, have inaugurated a four-horse coach servioe to the new rush at Waiomo. Monday morning was the first of the service, and your correspondent constituted one of the passengers. Leaving Symington's Hotel at ten o'clock, we bowledaway at a brisk pace, IN at Ferguion handling the ribbons and Bradley accompanying as pioneer. The trip was an exceedingly enjoyable one ; in fact, I never spent a pleasanter Queen's Birthday. I have been between Thames and Tapu a dozen times, but what a change! A delightful change, My previous journeyings had been in the "60's." No artificial roads then, nor even the promise of European settlement. Sometimes there was a track, and again the road lay along the trackless beach. At two or three places there was a big rock to clamber over. Still, on the whole it was not unpleasant travelling. Those were the days of Nature's reign and the Maori rule. The primeval forest was scarce disturbed by man, and then the disturber of its solitude was the coeval aboriginal inhabitant. The native tracks through the forest, anon the shelly beach, and the occasional Maori settlement, with outposts of unique carvings, ensconsed in secluded groves of peach and other trees, constituted a varied scene to the traveller. With the exception of a trip to Puru about ten years ago, in Elijah Targett's yacht, I have not been far beyond Tararu since. Now the coach runs along an excellent road, better than they had in old England a century ago, if the writers of those days are reliable, And, as for tho surroundings, why, Sir George Grey's smiling fields aud happy homesteads were ever in my mind. Cottages, paddocks, fences, cows, sheep, horses, and all the etceteras of civilisation line tho road. Everything betokens comfort, if not wealth. One thing which struck me up the mountain ranges, not only here, but at OUinui, was the rich soil, foet deep in places. The seer who propheaies that these hills will be largely cultivated in a generation or two need not pietend to supernatural inspiration. We arrived at the foot of the creek about ten minutes to twelve. A very slight expanditure would reuder tho road excellent for coach travelling. Make channels for the water to drain off, spread some metal here and there, lop off aome overhanging branches and you have a serviceable road. The distance to the creek is eight or nine miles. Upon commencing the ascent (some half dozen of Uβ), the redoubtable Joe Williams, of the "Provincial," took the lead, and hie evident intention was to "make those fellows behind travel." Our way for some distance lay through comparatively flat country, and we were surrounded by beautiful forest scenery. Soon after starting we came to a gate, at which, above tho name of "H. Plummer" was a notice that no horses were allowed to pats through unless upon payment of a shilling. As none of the party were exactly of that order of creation, we disregarded the warning and proceeded through the gate. After half an hour's travelling the way became more precipitous, and a five minutes blow was called. Then we ascended still higher, and in ten minutes another halt was made. Here a common impulse seemed to seize the party, and solid and liquid refreshments were produced as if by magic. So they did eat and were filled, aud drink and were merry, Queen Victoria, of course, not being forgotten at high noon. Our surround* iugs deserve a passing notice. On every side were trees and vegetation, moat of them peculiar to the North Inland of the colony. Kauris abounded. Many of the monsters had succumbed to the axe, whilst the most numerous remaining were email dead trees which had most probably been killed by fire. And about theae an argument arose. !>ome one said they would make excellent spars for ships as they were supple and pliable. Somebody else, however, contended that they were unsuitable, as the experience of " rickers " was that'asjthey had no heart, and the sap soon decayed, they would last but a short time. One of the prettiest sights was the rata vine, in full bloom, clinging lovingly to some sturdy tree. But, alas I a tree may bloom and bloom and be a cheat. That lovely but cruel rata will gradually tighten its hold upon the fostermother that now yields its substance, until, constrictor-like, it crushes the life out of her, and absorbing that life into itself develope into a fine tree. Even in inanimate nature—so called—beauty and goodness are not of necessity affinities.

Having washed down the edibles with the drinkables, we resume our journey ; and still " Excelsior" is the cry far up the height. Our leader, Joe, while we are in the midst of a s:iff upward pull, shouts out, "Now I want you all to sing ' God save the Queen.' " Joe didn't start the anthem, and we all did likewise. On we toiled for an hour and a half, when tho road became much flatter, and occasionally there was a declivity. As we neared our goal we found sixteen sacks of the prospector's quartz awaitiug conveyance further along. Close to the claims the road becomes muddy, but this is,t,heonly disagreeable part of the track, and there is not much of it. At last wo reach the huts, or maimais, of the catnp, and after greeting two or three of the dwellers therein proceed onward to the rKOsrECTOKS' CLAIM, of six men's ground, found by two of the Brothers Piummer and the Lowrie Brothers, halfcastee, of the winning crew in the recent whaleboat race on the Waitemata. All hail from Tapu. As it was now two o'clock, and we were expected back at the bus by three, our time for inspection was exceedingly limited. The first claim we visited was not the Prospectors' but the Waiotno (Trotter's) claim. Here a tunnel has been driven 3f> feet with a view to picking up tho Paroquet (Prospectors') lode. The country is like a bluish sandstone, having cubes of bright mineral through it. On the Thames the mineral is nearly always incorporated with and is part of the sandstone ; here, however, the cubes, while adhering to, are not of the sandstone, at least not so closely allied as at the Thames. In the face the country is softer and more reefy-like. A vein of white quartz is traversing the face. Judging from a Thames standpoint, I ehould say the country, if not the best class for gold, should not be pronounced unfavourable. In fact I liked it better than I thought I should. Some are of opinion that the reef should be to hand in a few feet ; others say that the lode dips, and the drive is above it, therefore cannot cut it. In that case sinking should intersect the lode. A few strides take us to the Paroquet. When here, what can 1 say about it? Not. much. I cannot make head or tail of it. Briefly, 1 did not see as much gold as 1 expected—so much for the disappointment— but I B*w more and better quartz than report had credited the district with. Yes, thero was brown sarfaoe quartz, and there was blue quartz with colours of gold in it—" the genuwine article," aa Sam Slick would say. Was there a reef ? Well, there was a quartzy, reefy formation, whioh might be the outcrop of a> reef. I have seen many a good reef no better defined at the surface. The main portion, however, looked more like sandstone than quartz, but good prospects, we were told, are found in that. Prospect* in the loamy soil, prospects in the sandstone, proapeota in the conglomerate, prospects everywhere ! The distance stripped, or partially stripped, is roughly estimated at about 20 feet. In one place a hole has been unk, the prospectors say, 4£ feet, and is 2£ feet wide. Now it is almost full of water, so that we were unable to explore its interesting bottom. We were informed that the quartz improved as they sunk upon it, the best being at the bottom. They showed a dish of small pieces of bluish quartz containing gold, and my impression is that they told us these came from the bottom of this hole. A reason I heard assigned for filling this hole was that as the prospectors intend not to work at this face at present, they do not deem it advisable to leave golden stone exposed to everybody—that to do so would not be a businesslike proceeding. I saw nothing to be classed as a specimen from a Thames point of view. One prospect which I saw washed contained an excellent prospect of gold. To all appearance the formation is running in a blind creek, and one of the prospectors who accompanied me to the Maoris' claim adjoining, pointed out several holes right in the little creek, in each of which he etated prospects of gold had been found. In the Maoris' claim, a drive started to iuteraect the lode is iu about 15 feet* I have

seen country reeembling it very much on Murphy's Hill, Thames. Judging by what I saw—but far be it from me to say that I know sufficient to

- — ~-*J -—— — — form a correct estimate even of what is already uncovered—l am inclined to think !)hat those who have been circulating ideas of 50, 100, and 200 ounces to the ton, upon the strength of their 20 and SO years' experience, stand an excellent chance of being denominated " gas-pipes " after the crushing. Once upon a time I was fairly expert at decimal fractions, but the dunce of the fourth standard could knock me "sky-high" now. When I have re«loarned decimals, I shall work out my own estimate of the value of the find. But, to descend to the region of common sense, if the stuff only yields a tithe of some of these estimates, the proprietors have a very big thing on hand, provided the gold carries downward. And, on that point, I again say there is a reefylooking formation, and I know of no just cause or impediment why it should not go down. The prospectors assure me that people may say what they like, they themselves are perfectly satisfied with their show. But, granting this ia only a surface show, it is a good prospeot, and where gold is found so freely the district is worthy of vigorous and systematic prospecting. The chances are all in favour of permanent deposits, or at least profitable surface patches being found. One feature which attracted the attention of miners and myself was, that along the road where the cuttings had been made, and up the creek in many places, the formation seemed likely enough for gold. The prospectors hope to have two tons in Grahamstown by Friday, when it will be crushed. Leaving the prospectors' claim at thirty- ..„.-!.._ A. - __ ... . U.J i.U_ _J

Hv V ell IJII LIU tea UtiSJu bnUi TV v 1 iMUUtu tuu i umu in an hour's time, to hear Nat Ferguson impatiently calling out " All aboard." At a quarter to four we started for Grahametown with a full load inside and out, and quarterpast five saw us at the Theatre Royal Hotel. In future the coach will leave Grahamstown at half-past eight in the morning. Visitors may calculate upon the travelling up to and down from the mines to occupy three hours, irrespective of tho time occupied in inspection. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Wednesday evening. Suarkmauk ST. — Blanche, sellers Iβ Id ; Cambria, sellers 10a, buyers 9s ; Devon, Sd ; Manukau, sellers Is Id, buyers. Is; Alburnia, sellers 2s, buyers Is 6d ; New Eureka, sellers Is ; Prince Imperial, Is 6d, sellers Is 9d ; Caledonian, sellers 7s ; Golden Crown, sellers Is 6d ; Silvertou, sellers 4s, buyers Ite 6d. Cambria.— 2O3oz gold from 230 loads quartz. Blanche.— 22oz lOdwt gold from 12 loads quartz. Mew Find (Tβ Aroha.)—3lsoz melted gold. Kokanoi. — James' tribute, 540z gold. Moanataiari. — McCann'B tribute 19oz Sdwt gold. Cambria.— Tho manager reports: The drive at Xo , 4 level is not through the reef, and it in close up to tlio MoanataUri boundary. There la lome nice-looking mineral in hoido of the atone, but no nold lias boon seen yet. A little gold has been acen during the week In the cross reef at tho Intermediate below No. 3 level. Tho leading stope east above th>> intermediate level on the Darwin reef is in a disunce of 34 foot from the winze. A little gold hits been eeou in dome of the quartz in breaking down the reef, but nothing worth picking out. In the »tope on the western side of the winze above No. 3 level dabs and colours of gold are frequently seen in the stringers ou the hanginiiwall of the reef. On the cross reef over the intermediate level below No 2 level about 101b of picked stone were obWine.l during the week. 12lb of picked stone came to haud from the cross reef on the intermediate below Xo. 2 level. A little gold is also being seen in tlie slopes below No. 2 level on the Dirtrin reef on the eastern side of the winze. Crashing: 90 load* of quartz have been crashed during the wee* for the return of 16(!oz of amalgam. The following telegram was received yesterday from the mine manager: " 2J6 loads quartz and 60lb picked stone cruahed for 2050z retorted gold," Bla.''CU»". — The following telegram was received yesterday from the mine manager: "Crushing (12 loads) yielded -J2oz lOdwt melted gold." Darwin.—Tho manager reports: The drive on the hsnaingoall of the reel at No. 2 level is In a distance of 'US feet from the Cambria boundary. here is nice-looking inluer.il in some of the stone, and a little gold is seen when broaklng down the hanglngwall portion of the reef. In the stopo over this drive gol.i is also seen when breaking down the hnngingwall portion of the reef. Di-883 (Karangahako).—Since date of last report nothing nut of the usual routine hive occuired in the mine. The »toi e opened out from the back of No. 1 level has a fair show of tiold in the No. 1 ore, about the same average qusllty as in tho (toping below. The reef in the trench lias been sunk on to a depth of 8 fuel. It is about 18 inches thick: a promisinglooking stone. I.ooso cold can be washed oat from It by the dish, but cmnot be got from tho quartz by mortar. Anti.i.VE (Karangahako).— The mai.ager reports: The last breaking dowu in the innln level looked poor, the reof bolng very broken and split up. The «h"t of gold appears to be about GO feot through, and carries the No. 1 home to the break. I believe the reef will again make a few feet ahead and another shot of gold be met with. New SdAUROCE, —The manager reports: InbreakIng down the gu*rtz In the «tope, to-day, dabs and colours of gold were teen in some of tho stone. Nut ALRCBNIA. —Tho manager reports: In the7o- - level, four men have been encaged rising on the Sons of F/oe :oru hanglnjwull leader, and a distance of 16 fe-1 has been acci nipllihed for the weok. Very little quartz has been broken in the rise, but the lead whore latt broken showed gold freely. There is now a fair *how of gold in the face of the rise. The lead from the floor of the diive to the point whero last broken down in the rijej presents a vtry promising appearance, varying in size from six to eighteen inches wide, in splendid country and showing gold in leroral phcei. Saxok.— manager reports :— The dropper fr .m No. l reef at No. 3 level continues to supply f lirlyfood crushing dirt, which thows good strong col urs of gold, The country is of a firct-clau nature, and the quartz is from a foot to fifteen inches in thickness. In tho hillward drive there it no change to report: colours of gold are seen iu breaking tho quiitz, thouch tho leaders are yet small. Crushing has been completed at the Oolden Crown Rattery, :;9 loads and the picked stone on hand have been reduced ; for the return of iibcz retorted gold. Mtw Find (Wairongoniai).— The manager report! on May 15: from the stepes on the reel north from winze in the low lovol good crushing d rt is mill coming to hand. From the f.tope« south of thereof some very fair crushing dirt is also being obtained, rhe reef, though small here, shows somo very fair fold in breaking. CmeHne:Tho first retorting for the present month, after 1-20 trucks had been crushed, returned from battery 720z; tailings from same, llof. making a total or Vivt retorted gold. Tuo general dirt being treated «ince is looking very fair at :ho battery. The trial crushing from No. 1 roof south, ibove Aiiz <na level, which 1 had crushed on halves, will yield about 3dwt of gold per truck when rotortod. [ will wire you final returns for prjaent mouth when o hand. The following t-rlegr*ie was received from ho manager yesterday ;—" Return from battery, >570z-; taihiigi, 4U. z : boxes, 80oz: making total for nonth'a crushing, 3200z from 2CB trucks crushed."