THE GOLDFIELDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 6

THE GOLDFIELDS.

gold discoveries AT MANGONUI.

As will have been noticed in our report of the meeting of the Crown Lands Board, held on Thursday last, a considerable number of applications were received by that body for proapeoting licenses to be exercised in several portions of the Auckland province. Two of them were for districts in the Mangonui County. One was at Taemaro. This is a place lying to the eastward of the township of Mangonui, and is the name of a blook in whioh the Government have many thousands of acres of unsold land. Daring an interview yesterday with Mr. S. Percy Smith, the Assistant - Surveyor General, on the subject, we learned that the geological formation of the Taemaro Block is very favourable for the existence of gold. The slate formation underlies the whole of that and adjoining distriots, a circumstance which experienced miners look upon with great favour where gold is found. Some twelve years ago gold was reported to have been found in this distriot, but at that time the Thames goldfield eclipsed all other "prospects," this was forgotten. The locality however is promising, and Mr. Smith would not be surprised to learn that a large and payable goldfield has at last been found there. The other district in the Mangonui district from which the report comes of gold having been found, is what is known as Fern Flat. This is a portion of very rich and fertile land on the north-eastern slope of the Maungataniwha mountain range. The head waters of the Oruru River rise in this section, the lower reaches of whioh should be searched for wash dirt. A few months ago it was set apart as a village settlement, and only a portion of it ib as yet occupied. The ■ gold dsoovery appears to have been made by two of the village settlers upon laud within the settlement. Mr. Smith states that the surfaoe of this block is extremely fertile, and is called by Professor Glutton " the bsulder. formation, a form of deqomposed volcanic rock. Underlying this volcanic deposit is the slate rock, and he thinks that as this distriot iB distant from 30 to 40 miles from Taemaro, it is probable that the same i gold-bearing formation will be found in a continuous line between the two places. The North has had as yet very little careful prospecting by skilled gold-seekers, - but it would seem as if it were deserving more attention than it has hitherto received. Mr. Smith is also of opinion that as the whole of the Maungataniwha range is of the same geological character and age as the Thames goldfield, gold discoveries might be made at many places if careful and skilful aearoh was instituted. The country being heavily timbered is a disadvantage to prospectors, but if the gold is there the day will doubtless come when it will be found, and large portions of it saved. He also states that the slate formation is found cropping out at many places between the two abovenamed and Hokianga and Herekino, and that rich gold deposits might be come upon in several portions of tbat extensive distriot. It is to be hoped that those who have applied for and obtained prospecting licenses from the Crown Lands Board will soon be able to show that the wealth beneath the surface is equal if not superior to that on the surface. SIZE OF CLAIMS. Mr. G. A. Buttle writes:—ln the present depressed condition of trade many are earnestly hoping that history is about to re« peat itself, and that prosperity will return to this part of the colony at any rate through our goldfields. This hope has no doubt been stimulated by the more recent discoveries at Hikut&ia and Waitoa, discoveries which appear to confirm the impression that notwithstanding the wealth these goldfields have already produced, it is nothing compared to the wealth that still remains to be unearthed. The Waitoa deposits are apparently of so extraordinary a character that further developments must be awaited before any practical suggestion can be made as to the mode of dealing with the auriferous area excepting to deprecate any attempt upon the part of the Government to resume the title of any portion of the land that has already passed into private hands. At Hikutaia, however, the matter is on a different footing. Here we have what appears to be a valuable, welldefined reef, which has been traced along its line for a considerable distance. At one point in this reef Mcßrinn, the prospector, baa discovered, judging by the various tests of the ore from this place, a rich deposit of gold and silver ore. That he deserves special consideration for the energy and perseverance he has displayed in prosecuting his researches in this particular locality none will deny, but it is a serious question whether that consideration will not be greatly exceeded, aad that to the detriment of his own interests by granting his request for a mining lease of thirty acres, while to grant under existing circumstances similar areas to other applicants will be simply Huicidal. In a locality such as Hikutaia, if it is to be thoroughly tried and proved, it iB absolutely necessary that there should be a large amount of vigorous prospecting. To secure this it is equally neoessary that as maay different parties, or claimholders, as possible should be allowed to get into the near neighbourhood of the centre of attraction—viz., the prospectors' find. If large areas, such as indicated above are granted, the attractive ground is confined to the two or three parties who may be first on the field, and later arrivals leave the distriot in disgust, feeling that they might as T&ell try and find gold in the moon as commence prospecting outside the ring already formed around the prospectors' find, while the number of men actually employed on the ground taken up ii altogether inadequate to give it a thorough prospecting. Supposing, by way of illustration, that when Hunt and party discovered the Shotover find, on the first opening of the Thames, they had pegged off and applied for a lease of 30 acres, their claim, extending towards Grahamstown, would probably have covered the whole of the Kuranui hill, absorbing the numerous olaims situated on tbat hill, and utterly preventing any prospecting in their immediate neighbourhood, while for months the party would have devoted all their attention simply to that little piece of ground in which the gold they bad fortunately discovered lay. The balance of this large claim would have been unoccupied, and might possibly have remained undeveloped for years. Other similar areas would have intensified the evil. Fortunately, in those days our ideas of mining claims were simpler, and miners were content with small areas, the result being that the Grahamstown auriferous area was covered with a large number of small claims seldom exceeding six or eight men's ground, and mining was prosecuted vigourously. If history is really to repeat itself, the old ideas must be adhered to, and every encouragement given to prospectors. In the present instance, Mcßrinn's find seems to be a very rich one. Miners are well aware what immense wealth lies in a small compass. A very small area should then compensate the discoverer, and every additional claim should be a small one. In a district of this kind permanent success depends upon a number of good or valuable olaims being developed simultaneously, and as soon as possible after the discovery is made public. This is more likely to be secured when the claims are small, and in the near neighbourhood of the first find. After permanence has been seoured other considerations come into force and play, and, if necessary for economic working, several claims may be amalgamated and worked as a mining lease.

Diamond (Karangahake). — The mine manager reports:—The weather has improved, and I have made another start to bag atone. There are now 20 tons bagged, and Mr. Dickey intends starting to cart it to the reduction works to-morrow, and I expect to have it all down at the reduction works by the end of this week. Tho 10 tons that are to go to Te Aroha will coat £2 8a per ton delivered at the battery.