THE NEW GOLDFIELD AT MERCURY BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 5459, 2 September 1889, Page 5

THE NEW GOLDFIELD AT MERCURY BAY.

Mr. James Mackay lins just paid a visit to the now goldfiekl at Kuaotunu, Mercury Bay, and has furnished us with the following report:— The Kuaotunu diggings are situated on the peninsula between Whangapoua and Mercury Bay, atsd adjoin the Matarangi block. The following are the principal claims:—

Thy Fldxe.—The reef in this claim wag first discovered by trenching across the hill. A drive has now been put in about 50 feot below that level. The drive was locked up, and I was unable to inspect the workings. I saw somo of the stono, which showed fine gold. TUB CaPvßlNK.—This claim adjoins the Try Fluke, and is to the northward of it. The reef here was also found by trenching. The trial crushing was taken from two places on the surface and from a drive put in tiboub 40 feot below the first find. The reef is cut at about 50 feet from the mouth of the drive, and is there six feet six inches wido. The reof has been driven on thirtyfour feet, and is about four feet in width in the face, and is widening again ; the course is north by wost and dipping towards the east. A leader eight inches wide was cut thirty-three feet from the month of the drive, and runs parallel with the main reef, but it dips slightly to the westward. There is no gold at present visible in the stone, but very fair prospects can bo obtained from both the reef and leader by pounding tho stuff and washing it. I tried it from live different places, with satisfactory results in each case. It is not at all certain that they have yot reached the Try Fluke reef, and they are driving further ahead in the hope of doing so. Tub Mariposa. —This claim is peg-and-peg with the Carbine. Two reefs M'ere cut on the surface ; they are fifteen feet apart. .Both curry gold. They have started a drive about thirty feet lower, and have cut the first reef, hore two feat wide. They are continuing the drive to cut the Try Fluke reef, which they expect to reach in about twelve feet more.

Tub Joirx Bull come 3 next. It is on the same reef. One ton of stone has been sent to Coromandol for treatment. Good prospects can be obtained from it* Tiik Kavai is south of tho Try Fluke. They are driving to cut the Try Fluke reef, which they expect to roach at 90 feot. There will bo 70 feet of bucks if struck there.

This Great Mercury (Prospectors').— This claim is to the north-east of those just described. There are several reefs in this ground, and gold has been found in most of thorn. These are distinct from the Try Fluke. Tick Rku Mercury.—They are on what is believed to bo one of tho Groat Mercury reefs. It is 2 feet wide, and prospects well. These two last claims are believed to bo on native land.

Banks and McDougall have a large claim to tho south-west of the Try Fluke, which L< said to show fair prospect*. There are .several parties prospecting in the neighbourhood of the above claims, and they report favourably. Near to the Ktiaobunn native settlement, and on Maori hind,is the Black Jack, so called from the dark colour of the stone. The drive is in 40 feot, and there are about 100 feet of backs. The reef is not ho well defined as the others on this field.

The BassEN'FEIX is on the ridee above tho settlement. Tho upper level is in 30 feet, the other level is 20 Jeet lower down. The reef is well defined, and prospects well. On tho Otanm Block (Government land), are the Maori Dream and Ska View. In the former two reefs have been cut. Tho courso of these i* north by west, and dipping westerly. They arc ten feet apart, and the one farthest in is all crystallised quartz. Ten tons of stone were .sent to Auckland for troatmont. This was taken by sinking on tho reef, und from u drive 10 foet in length, which has upwards of 100 feet of backs. Tins claim prospects favourably in the dish. The Sea View is on the same reof, bub to the northward of the .Maori Dream. There has been a good,deal of trenching done on this claim. The reef has|beon cut at a low level, and there is a larjje amount of backs. There is somo prospecting going on in the vicinity of the Maori settlement, but 1 did not obtain sufficient information to enable me to report on it. The reefs in this district are, as a rule, well-defined, and the gold is of good quality. Tho country U rather tough for driving. Tho tracks which have been cut by the Coromandel County through tho bush aro in a very bad condition, and it i* difficult for horses to pull their feet out of tho mud since the dry weather .set in.

The Kuaotunu, Mntarangi, and Otama blocks are the property of the Crown. The Kuaotunu Mo. 2 a block is owned by Mr. Robert Comer, of the Thames. The Kuaotunu No. 2 jj, Kuaotunu No. 1, and Kuaotunu No. I c blocks, are native land. The Maoris decline to make any agreement with the Government about mining on their lands, but they aro willing to lease claims for 21 years, at tho rate of £1 per annum for each man's ground, <!old hay been found on Mr. McPhorson'a property at Waitala, on the Mcroury Bay side of tho range. I understand that ho and Mr. Corner rue willing to lease claims on reasonable terms. *