The Wangapeka Goldfield.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1264, 5 November 1869, Page 3

The Wangapeka Goldfield.

Mb. Warden Bboad has returned from the Wangapeka, aftex' a brief visit. He speaks very highly of the country, and believes it will be found that goldbearing quartz reefs extend for miles. He has sent in a report to the Govern ment of his visit, and its results. Eespecting the miners, it is stated by a visitor that there are only comparatively few who are regular miners; but there is, however, a large number who have taken out miners' rights, and those of them who had not done so gave, so we are informed, their names and their fees to Mr. Broad that he might bring out rights for them on his next visit. He also took down the names of all who were on the ground as miners, the number being about 120. After the arrival of Mr. Broad, the miners held a meeting among themselves, of the proceedings at which we have been furnished with a report, or rather with a copy of the resolutions pasted. Mr. Walter Watson occupied the chair. The following are the resolutions :—(1.) Proposed by Mr. Bourke. and seconded by Mr. Charles Watson: " That iv the opinion of the meeting miners should be allowed to proceed with their work until the district is proclaimed a goldfield." (2). Proposed by Mr. Blake, and seconded by Mr. Walter Lever: ," That the Warden be respectfully requested to have the prospectors' claim measured, allowing them the area of ground that prospectors are entitled to, and to have a base line marked through the Bame North and South from the prospectors." (3). Proposed by Mr. A. Fowler, seconded by Mr. H. Phillips : " That the miners are unanimous in maintaining their rights and showing their auriferous qualifications, at once, according to their rights." These resolutions were all passed, and presented to Mr. Broad along with a protest against the survey of the puichased land being proceeded with.

It appears, from Mr. Haast's map prepared by him and Mr. Burnett, after examination of the country, that Mount Owen as named by him, lies in a westerly direction from Mount Murehison, and not northerly as set down on the Admiralty map. Moreover, the mountain so depicted as Mount Owen in that map, cannot be seen from Mount Murehison, intervening ranges hiding it; whereas, the Mount Owen on Mr. Haast's map, is much nearer to Mount Murehison, and between the two there does not appear to be any ranges of great altitude. Whatever may be the popular view of Mount Owen as produced by the Admiralty chart there is no doubt, judging from Mr. Haast's map, that the Mount Owen he named is not the Mount Owen that appears on the chart. The Government are preparing a lithographic plan of the district, showing the country and the boundary line of the South-west GolGelds.

We understand it is intended without delay to proclaim this district a goldfield, but the survey of the pr rehased land will of necessity require to be made as a preliminary to such proclamation, and the Chief Surveyor, armed wit hall the necessary authority, will very soon be sent to make the survey. It is an important consideration for the miners that no impediment be placed in the way of a declaration of a goldfield, for until that is done (and it will not be done until the survey is made, skeleton or otherwise,) the position of every miner in the district, whether he is working an alluvial claim or shepherding a quartz one—that by the law may or may not be on Government property, —is very precarious, especially with new arrivals making their appearance, and who are up to the science of ''jumping." The affair is in an unfjrtunate tangle as it is now, but to stop the action of the surveyors would only make matters worse, and be a breach cf the law which would probably tend to make the miners lose the support and sympathy they at prpsent possess. The unfortunate circumstance consequent on this delay is the stoppage of all effectual working of the mine, for the existence of a dispute in the matter of land bought and paid for (whether wiselj or unwisely sold is another matter), is deterring that influx of population which the rich character of the country most certainly should draw. The opinion or the Warden, who has had large experience, is clear on the character of the Wangapeka country, which he affirms is the best looking country for gold mining purposes that he has seen in New Zealand.