The Goldfields.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 16, 18 March 1890, Page 2

The Goldfields.

MAHAKIPAWA. GOOD RETURNS. 1950 z. FROM ONE CLAIM. ' (From Our Own Correspondent). • ‘From the last few weeks’ gold returns 'one would think it would convince the moist sceptical (excepting Education Boards and other wooden structures) that Mahakipawa is not a flash in the pan, it described by men who could help things along, in the matter of schools, roads, &c. There is a lead sf'gold here several miles in length, and the fact that a party of hard-working men, in many instances can’t get over more than one set a week- (that is four feet' by five’or six), ■ and T know cases where they -have been three weeks getting out one set, which clearly demonstrates that the lower deck claims will, take several years to work out, to say nothing of the flat; which will employ a number of mem for a good many years. , There has been splendid gold brought down from several claims this week; the Wairarapa got five pounds weight of gold on Thursday last from one set; and on Saturday they struck very' 1 rich ground. lam credibly informed that they washed out 103 oz. sdwt. in three dishes of wash dirt out of one crevice, the proceeds of the Week’s ; Work being 1950 z. Taking into consideration that this amount of. gold is the result of one week’s work for' five’ men ‘(three shareholders and two wages men) it is a good return, and as the creek is further developed it will be, I think, safe tp prophecy that fair better will be yet unearthed., .’ Downie’s Mistake washed out 50oz. for the week. ‘, . The Lucky Hit obtained 40oz. . The Never Surrender got 14oz. for one. set. A . number of'other claims had far and above wages. ■ The Waihi, a claim that has been worked since the first of the diggings here, is paying respectably, and seems to always give good wages, but as yet they have never come across a real good patch, only getting a few ounces weekly. So far it has been very regular, but I think-they, have some very rich ground ahead of them, as Gregg’s claim, above them, was good ground. ‘ The peculiar feature of this ground is that the gold is all up in the wash and nothing on the bottom, they some-' times get good coarse gold two or three feet from the surface. Between three and four hundred 1 ouncesof gold was purchased by Mr Litchfield for the National Bank. The Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Picton, was up the creek the other day, and decided to give 3d per ounce more for gold, and the National Bank followed suit , by purchasing at £3 15s 3d ; the latter Bank is about to ■ establish a branch ! here, and I am informed that "their deservedly, popular 1 gold-buyer (Mr Litchfield) will take the' management. This will be a great convenience to the community, j Ip the shamefully neglected Right 1 Hand Branch, the Hen and Chickens, ■ the I)gmont, and several other claims 1 are getting fair gqld. .‘ ■ > „ . ? In Maori Gully and Specimen Greek 1 wash-dirt has to be stacked until some rain comes, as they have hardly any water at all. The King Solomon Company is making preparations for a fresh start, this time they are going to sink on 1 their lower boundary. They have several men at work squaring logs for the machine site. The Hibernians are making good , time, and I think will soon give an account of themselves in pound weights. The. British, Empire are at a standstill 'fori timber, though, only down twenty feet or so, the manager informs me, they can get a prospect of fipe gold in the gravel. White Pine Creek is nearly deserted, only one man working there now. The gold that has been got there is a good sample, and nuggets three and four ounces have been unearthed. It is the opinion of a good many men who have worked there that the gold has come from a higher level, and there .'is a back country there that is well worth prospecting. I hear you are organising a Prospecting Association in Havelock. It is a splendid idea, and should meet with universal support. The promoters tell us that there will be a subsidy of pound for pound. But if they could not find the inbney to pay. the promised bonus to the prospectors of this goldfield, fplks wonder if it will be done in this case. It Seems to m e that the powers that be should pay for what has already, been Recovered before they give money tq m a k e fresh discoveries. The contractors for metalling and forming the road through the townshipare going to start at once, this will be a great improvement, as last year we were over our boots in mud in the wet weather, A lot peopl® left to-day to keep up St. Patrick’s Day in Blenheim, and witness the Hibernian sports. _ The circus to-morrow, at Picton, will be well patronised by Mahakipawaites.

Jack Laurie, who gave a boxing exhibition last week for the benefit of the children’s; sports, has been energetically canvassing on their behalf, with the result that he has gathered together over £4 for the prizes, and it is decided to ' sports on St. Patrick’s Day. Our boys, and girls have been training for this event for some time, and 1 am sure will have to thank him for an enjoyable day. We have a new postmaster here, and he seems as civil and obliging as the genial “Mac,” our first postmaster, and is evidently the- right..man. in .the right place.

WAKAMARINA.

(From Our Own Correspondent. f The manager of the Gorge, is pushing bn the .work, steadily, and .expects to bottom at one. end of the paddock within the next : two days. The for- . man of works,. Mr M'Eirdy, arrived last Tuesday, and I understand has expressed the opinion that there can be no improvement on the 'present system of Working, whicl;t we L will take for granted, as there have been 1 no alterations. The rain of last' Thursday was not sufficient ■ to affect the workings further than making it uncomfortable; 1 ' * I was shown a piece of stone yesterday from the Golden Bat, It weighed about eight or ten pounds, with gold showing all over it. 1 There is every probability of this becoming a very valuable property, The Duchess of Albany; now I” believe called the Federation Gold Alining Company; are now driving 1 to strike the reef, which they expect to do in about 60ft. ’ j