Another Prospecting Party's Report— The Waiau and Mararoa Rivers.

Otago Witness, Issue 1813, 20 August 1886, Page 16

Another Prospecting Party's Report— The Waiau and Mararoa Rivers.

Wellington, August 14. The following report of prospecting work in the vicinity of the Waiau and Mararoa rivers, by R. Crosbie, was laid on the table by Mr Larnach this evening: — Sir,—l beg most respectfully to submit to you the following report of our prospecting work on the Waiau and Mararoa rivers since June 1885 till date:—Finding a prospect of light drift gold on the beach at the southwest extremity of run 427, we built a doublewalled wing dam, cutting off a side channel of the Waiau. Owing to there being no fall for tailings we erected a water-wheel and Californian pump and sank to the depth of 15ft in order to give the ground a thorough trial. In consequence of the difficulties in getting stores, tools, &c, transported, and to us having to cut, saw, and carry the timber required a considerable distance, we lost the opportunity of the river being at summer level, and we had to abandon the attempt for the season. We then directed our attention to prospecting the Mararoa river from its junction with the Waiau upwards for a distance of from two to three miles, finding drift gold, with an occasional heavy speck in places, but we decided it would require more capital than we could command to try it. Our next effort was a small fiver terrace on the Waiau, which we could not prospect owing to the absence of available water until the recent floods. We found in it a slightly heavier class of gold, which induced us to give it a thorough trial. As the ground shows a gradual improvement towards a hill distant from 200 to 600 ft from the river, we are taking advantage of the surface water at present to sluice out two paddocks in different directions towards the hill, and have brought in a water-race from a lagoon distant about a mile, but which will not be available in summer. Should we meet with sufficient encouragement, water will have to be brought in from a large swamp at the foot of the paddock hill, about three miles from the claim. We have as yet received no return for our labour, and as our expenses have been considerable, we would have been unable to continue had it not been for the kindly assistance that we understand the Government is willing to give us in the shape of stores during the winter, which will enable us to prospect the field, and we will have much pleasure in supplying you with a report of our progress from time to time. Thanking you for your kindly interest in our welfare,—l have, &c, Robert Crosbie (Pro M'Donald and party).