THE MARLBOROUGH GOLDFIELDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8271, 18 September 1888, Page 2

THE MARLBOROUGH GOLDFIELDS.

It Beems to be bnyond a doubt, says tho Expres« t that wo are on tho eve of a great expansion of mining enterprise in Marlborough. Never has publio attention been so much directed to the mineral resources and mining probabilities of tho district. Wo have felt a great deal of hesitation in saying anything on the subject, because we did not desire to prematurely " crack up " tho new field, and so induce men to como to what rnigbt be on unproductive field. In the meantime we have lost no opportunity of obtaining information concerning the Mabakipawa towards which the attention of the Oolony is now directed. Accounts, as in all onset of rush, have varied very much, and tbera have been the usual bogus stories of big finds, and equally untruo stories of barren* ne«s. It seems to be pretty clear now, howuver, that there is a considerable quantity of gold at Mabakipawn, and that there is a good field for the ris^ht men properly eqaipped. It appears that one time there were nearly 600 men on tho field, but that many of those wore quite unfit for the work and were quite unsuccessful. They speedily returned to where they had come from, of course dononncing the field as a " chicer." There are now not more thnn about 350 miners on the field, and this number will in all probability be further reduced by about half, for only a proportion of these are really doing any good, and the residue will gradually tire of the unprofitable work. Such at least we gather from the reliable sources. The field 6eems to be very fairly productive, several parties are doing well, none perhaps making piles, but all are making more than the best wages, while a few are doing still better. The judgment of experts about the prospects of the field varies a good deal. One point, however, there seems some unanimity among diggers of experience, viz , that the prevalence of coarse water-worn gold is not an encouraging eign. Their theory is that there is no reef, but that the gold with quirt z, has been at some period washed down from a range and violently deposited ia tbo creek. In that case it will probably be all contnined in a small area, which will bo soon exhausted. The appearanoe •of the gold exhibited bears this out ; for it is coarse and waterworn, and the quarts ii smooth. There may be a reef of exceeding richness there, but tho most experienced miners do not think so, and the field must therefore be looked upon with caution. It is not a Tom Tidler's ground — it is as yet & promising field, but sofa field on which thu inexpert or unprepared can hope to do anything but starve. There havo been good finds, but one swallow does not make a summer. We add this bit of caution, because we have been called to account by the Press Association for not having sent forth to the Colony, accounts of finds at Mahakipawa, while special correspondents of somu contemporaries had done so. This was our reason :— The genuineness of the " finds " was not at all established, and we did not desire to raise a cry, or induce a rush, at the expense of poor men ready to jump at the first sign of good luck. As the realities advance, we shall not be found behind ia recording them, but we decline to publish anticipations.