Gold in Canterbury.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8610, 27 August 1896, Page 2

Gold in Canterbury.

(Press.) It has long been known that gold was to be found on the Ninety-mile Beach, running from Lake Ellesmere to the mouth of the Rakaia ; and, indeed, on the sea beach down to and below

Timaru. Borne eight or nine years ago there were a couple of men washing the sand of the beach not far from Timaru, and though their appliances were exceedingly primitive, it was stated that they made “ tucker,” if not a trifle more. Old diggers have frequently tried their luck on the Ninety-mile Beach, with varied success, but never, it need hardly be said, with sufficient reward to warrant a rush. There is apparently some gold there, if in rather minute quantities, and three young men from the Ellesmere district have, it is stated, lately proved this to be the case. They started work about four months ago. and at first their efforts threatened to be fruitless. However, after some weeks of disappointing work they

“ struck it ” to such an extent as gave them fair average day’s wages for the , whole time they have been there. Their great difficulty was procuring water for slucing. This may appear strange, with the South Pacific just in front of them, but the trouble was that there was rather too much South Pacific. The gold-seekers used the patent amalgam process, and with a Farringdonpump sought to utilise the seawater, but the heavy seas continually broke their pipes lying on the shelving beach. By some means this difficulty was surmounted, and the subsequent success of the party has led others to try their luck, there being now two more camps on the beach. The gold is found mixed with what is called ruby sand a few feet under the surface of the beach, and it is hoped that with better appliances it may be obtained in regular payable quantities. At present, however, matters are not out of the experimental stage, and it is too soon to base any very high hopes upon the auriferous nature of the beach.