THE PUHIPUHI GOLD AND SILVER FIELD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 26

THE PUHIPUHI GOLD AND SILVER FIELD.

So much has been heard of late about the discovery of gold and silver in the Pubipuhi i forest (Auckland) that a little authentic 1 information about the field will be of considerable public interest. Such information is supplied in a report just received by the Government from Mr G. Wilson, Mining Inspector at the Thames, who recently visited the locality of the discoveries. Mr Wilton reports that the reefs discovered by the prospectors are situated in the northern part of the Puhipuhi district, about 550 ft above sea level, and the workings are chiefly included within an area of about 60 acres held by the prospectors. The general bearing of the reefs, with a few exceptions, is north and sonth. The rock in which the reefs are found is principally a soft clay slate, with occasional runs of sandstone, but it is probable that a hard bluish rock will be found underlying this. The quartz is generally of a hard nature. Some of the reefs contain a hard agatised rock, but the harder the quartz is the less its bullion value. Silver occurs but in small quantities in the quartz Mr Wilson saw, except in one reef, which yielded from a specially-picked sample as much as 970 z lSdwt 9gr of silver and ldwt 15gr of gold per ton. The silver in this reef is found both native and in combination with sulphur and antimony, and is very difficult to extract, the ore requiring to be roasted first. In a schedule attached Mr Wilson supplies information as to the results of assays of specimens from fourteen reefs visited. He explains that the specimens which gave the large yield mentioned above were specially picked by the prospectors at his request. Admitting that the bulk of ore in this reef (which varies from 2ft to 23ft in thickness) could be reduced 10 per oent. by picking, so as to give the result referred to, he does not think the reef coaid be profitably worked. There is a possibility that farther prospecting might develop one of a better grade, such as conld be worked to a profit. Mr Wilson recommends every precaution against injury by fire to the forest, and advises the Government only to grant pro--Bpectors’ licenses to reliable persons. He has received no authentic information as to the alleged discoveries reported in the newspapers. He thinks that for the present it is not desirable to proclaim Puhipuhi a mining district because there is not gold or silver enough to warrant a rush. According to the schedule attached, by far the best result was that obtained from the hard-picked specimens quoted. The next best result is 320 z lOdwts 2 grs of silver and soz lOdwts Bgrs of gold. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, January 3. News of a satisfactory assay of Puhipuhi stone sent to Sir James Hector, at Wellington, has been received by Mr T. P. Moody, at Kawakawa. Sir James Hector states that thOv_.No. 1 assay of reef stone haa yielded 118 oz 3dwt lOgr of silver and a minute trace of gold,