THE NEW GOLDFIELD

New Zealand Mail, Issue 867, 12 October 1888, Page 15

THE NEW GOLDFIELD

(FROM OUR OWN COaRKSPUNIJUVI.) Havelock, October 8,

There is very little news to comniuoioate in addition to what has been telegraphed, but here again it is necessary to strike the. warning note, as an old Wakamarina digger has just told me, who has returned from Mahukipawa, that it takes too much expenditure of time and money to strike the gold, hence he has given the Mahakipawa “ best.” Again, a young man told me on Saturday that he was quite satisfied wi th what he had done, as he was making better than wages. So to those who contemplate going to the diggings it may be well for them to weigh the pros and cons, as I should be very sorry to be the means either directly or indirectly of misleading anyone. As far as I can I will record what is true and no mere.

A deputation is to wait on the Minister of Mines to-day at the Grove, but whether it will result in anything practical being done as to opening up the country by tracks, remains to be seen. It has been suggested that a Bum should be put aside for that purpose and the revenue accruing from the goldfields be anticipated. It is absurd to look upon the Mahakipawa and Waikakaho from a purely local point of view, as those localities have now assumed a colonial importance, and the local Hoad Board is not in a position to do more than it has done for the want of funds, and the quantity of gold that has been fouud should fully justify the Government in granting a

special Bum toward the development of these goldfields. The opinion is very general that the auriferous character of Marlborough generally is but little known, that the goJd-diggiug industry is yet in its infancy, and that the Government would be justified in expending at least £3OO. It is very doubtful whether the Minister of Mines even knew where Mahakipawa was before the present outbreak.’ Possibly the honourable gentleman knew I there was such a place on the map of New ' Zea’and as the provincial district of Marl- ' borough, oud with that knowledge be was ! content to remain.