WEST COAST CLAIMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 22

WEST COAST CLAIMS.

TO THE EDITOR. * .j>ir, — In answer to your ~ correspondent "' L.S.D. ' in your issue of the 16th I, as one who has lived on the banks of the Karamea River for 25 years and bought gold from the cradlers ?t different periods, and from inforfaiation I have received from two Dunedin dredging experts at Westport, feel confident that the Karamea River would be highly payable. Some ,Df the beaches have no snags whatever or large atones as far as I have sank or seen others ' As far as I have tested the beaches the Result has been from sgi to 33gr per load. If !' L.S.D." or any of your readers wishes to send an expert to test the accuracy of this I will feive the same a home while here> and give them 'Jill the information I can free of chaige. — I * «m., etc., OifARLES Mattew. Rosebank Faian. Karamea, August 23. TO THE EDITOR. Sic, — I think your correspondent " L.S.D." «ivho writes in your issue of the 16th could not Xlo better than invest in some of the Karamea Vitiver claims now in the market in Dunedin. I have been with some old miners of great experience prospecting the beaches of Kars.mea River, and we found good and highly payuble prospects on them all. In fact, all the (practical miners of my acquaintance agree that

Karamea River is the best for dredging purposes on the West Coast. '" L.S.D.' says he has been mfoinicd that trunks of tiee& are so l'umerous that it would be worse than useless to attempt diedging operations. But I can safely say that his informant nevci has seen or been in the Karaniea or Oparara Rivers. There are miles of good gold-bearing beaches with not a tiunk of a tree on them, and miles in the river that you will not see a snag. — I am, etc., J. W. Hunteb. Karamea, August 27. 5 TO THE EDITOR. Sic, — In your issue of August 16 " L. S. D." invites the opinion of miners on the nature and gold-bearing quality of West Coa&t rivers north of Hie Buller. Peihaps niy experience of 25 ycais might be of intere&t to jour rea'deis. I have piospected several terraces and riveis north of the Biiller, which are all gold-bearing ; bus just now I will confine my remarks to the rivers Karamea and Oparara. These rivers pre both gold-yielding from their source to i their mouth. The Karaniea, which commences near the head of the Mokihmui River, on the north side, urns north-west, taking all the drainage of Mount Arthur and the table-land, which is, well-known for its gold-yielding qualities. During the last 30 years miners have been working the terraces and flats of the tableland, and splendid samples of gold have been obtained m payable quantities also on the rivers known as thu Crow, the Roaring Lion, and the Lessily (the latter cuts through port of the table-land), and many other strcsms, all ol which cmy gold, and which empty into or ore the sources of the .Karamea. After flowing a distance of about 30 miles the river' bends to the wo°t, and runs more rapidly till it reaches the gorge, about eight miles from" its mouth, where it widens out, making beaches on both sides. These have been the receptacle of the gold sluiced i^own the liver for agr.s. j The river also cut* ihiough terraces bolow tho ; gorge, containing gold, and now borne, sluiced. i I have worked at the mouth of the goige, and, | also five miles further up the rive; 4 , on the j bsaches. There vere 12 ol us working at the I panic time. Wo could only pink about 2ft on | recount of water, but we were making from I 8s to 12s per day. The gold is of a sholty nature, and weighs well, the largest specks being si pennyweight. The besehes from the gorge to the mouth of the Karamea have leteiitiy been pio&pecled by the late Mr J. Gow and Mr C. L. Rass.mus-.sen, mining experts. T happened to bo one of the men employed by them, and saw the yield of gold obtained, which averaged from Ggr tc 9gr of cleaned gold to the square yard; — that, is. including all the stones in the measurement. No difficulty was found in separatixig the sand from the gold, as is noted by your correspondent. The gold is ea.=ily saved, and I noticed the best yields were taken from the deepest holes. This is, in my opinion, the best river north of the Buller to place a diedge on, it having a good uniform, pitch, and also ,a blue reef or marine bottom. The flats along the river on either side also contain gold, having been also formed by the river at an early period. As regards snags, this river is an exception, tlie_ - e being no snags to 'interfere with dredging. If your "correspondent will come along I shall have much pleasure in introducing him to properties ' which he can easily prove to be good and safe investments. The River Oparara is the next best, and contains gold in payable quantities. I have prospected it also, and the average yield above Fenian Creek was 7gr to the square yard. 'Miners have woiked on this river for 30 years -past, and are still working theic. They get into the bars of the rives when low, and have obtained good gold. These rivers are both held under lease and license foi dredging purposes', and I hope soon to see good returns from these rivers. — I am, etc., John Johnsoic. Karamea, August 27.