The Tairua Goldfield,

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2019, 14 April 1875, Page 4

The Tairua Goldfield,

Mb. Edwabd Camebon returned yesterterdayirom Tairua, where he has been for several days past. He reports that there are about thirty-five men there now, gome of them employed cutting side lines of the leases, while the others are waiting for something to turn up. Everybody is ouch dissatisfied with the large pieces of ground which the law allows to be pegged out. The country is covered with "thick, bush, and as those who have taken up claims have merely put in- the pegs, and have not cut lines except in one or two places, nobody can tell whether any particular piece of ground has been taken.up or not. Nothing has been done on the Prospectors'. claim since the morning of the 9th, but it is said that in a day or two they will make a start by emptying out the hole irom which it is said the stuff was taken which yielded so Well at the battery. The ground here looks exceedingly well, but where the big reef is exposed it is only a blow, and contains a large admixture of other substances besides quartz. Stores are going up, and one tent for a store has been erected on the prospectors' claim. Mr Vaughan, of Tararu, is packing stores up, so that the miners will soon be well supplied. Mr Lessong and Mr T. Eennan are now on the ground, engaged in surveying claims which were pegged out on the 9th or 10th. - His Worship the Mayor telegraphed to the Superintendent on Monday evening, suggesting that orders should be given for the making of a road to Tairua. The Superintendent, who has now accepted the charge of the goldfield administration, replied that a survey for the road would be immediately proceeded with. We understand that he has sent word to Mr McLaren to make a rough survey. From Messrs Preece and Graham we have ascertained several particulars on' the important subject of the best road to Tairua,onwhicbquestionboththesegentlemen are well qualified to give an opinion. Mr Graham has crossed the range both at Puriri and Eauwaeranga, and as he is a surveyor, and hag had considerable experience in' laying off roads in rough country, his opinion is the most valuable which could' be had. To reach the locality of the new find, he is quite decided on the opinion that there is no possible road except that by Puriri. There you rise 1,500 or 1,600 feet, and fall again 300 feet to the prospectors' claim. By the Eauwaeranga track, the traveller has to rise 1,800 or 2,000 feet, and then to descend by a very sleep track, the same distance, then to go' back some eight or nine miles, and then rise 900 feet The result by Eirikiri is not much better. There is an old native track by the Eauwaeranga, but it would be absolutely impracticable were it only from the steep descent on the other side. M r Jackson, of Tairua, tried to get a track frojn his place to the gum diggings at the head of the Eauwae'rangß, out was beaten in the attempt. The road by the Puriri is therefore the only, possible track, and an effort should at once be

made to have id put in a passable state before the winter sets in. When the road is made no doubt it will be found easy to do what is thought at present to be impossible, but it is probable that for some time to come all machinery will have to be taken by Tairua. The position at the other side is as follows:—The Tairua river is navigable for eight miles from the mouth by small steamers such as the .'Effort,' and boats can be got up as far as the "fourth branch," which is about six miles from the site of the prospectors' claim. A good road can easily be made from the landing to Banyan's dam, on the fourth branch; the remainder of the road is six miles through forest land up an incline. It is believed that a road by which machinery could he conveyed in good weather could be made for about £400, and the owners of the prospectors' claim state that they are willing, if the Government make the road at once, to put up machinery. A good township could be formed at the landing. We have no doubt that Sir George Grey, who is now armed with the" delegated pawers, and with money to spend, will see the necessity of doing something at once in the way of roads, while this good weather lasts. In reference to the provisions of the Mining Districts Act, as it refers to this extension of the gold mining district, we may, for the information of those who have taken up largo areas, stale, on the authority of the Mining Inspector, that the Government will insist on the ground being fully manned, and as it will require 88 men to man a 30-acre- lease, we have no doubt many who have now marked out will reduce their areas, as the expense of working such an extent of country would be immense, and besides, it is questionable whether so many could be profitably employed. In all probability, the 30-acre blocks will be cut up into smaller sections, suitable to parties of miners and capitalists. We think it right to draw attention to this provision of the Act, under which the new field is being worked, to prevent erroneous impressions. As regards the prospectors' claim, we may state that Messrs Neeves,'Graham, and" Preece lodged their plans,in the Warden's office yesterday, and made application for a 30-acre license, depositing the necessary money. They also applied for a water right. > They proceed to the ground to-day to make arrangements, for working at once, and as a prelimary step they will take out a ton of quartz which they will have packed to the landing place at Tairua, and. forwarded round to the Thames as a test. These gentlemen express themselves as being quite willing, not only to man their ground fully, but to employ double the necessary number, and erect machinery, but they ask, and fairly too, that the Government should make a road by which machinery couM be brought up to the site. "They will accept all risk, and expend capital in developing the ground, and if it proves payable they will not only reap the advantage themselves, but the country at large will be benefited. The p.s. ' Effort' was to leave Auckland yesterday for Tairua, She was formerly employed there, and no doubt will be found useful when gold mining is commenced in" earnest on the range.