The Tairua Goldfield.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2039, 8 May 1875, Page 3

The Tairua Goldfield.

CONTINUED HIGH SHOW IN THE PROSPECTOES' CLAIM. (EEOM OUIt OWN EEPOBTEB.) Friday. The splendid prospects visible in the shaft on Wednesday were in no wiße richer than what was obtained yesterday, but these latter operations I consider of much more importance Jlian those of the preceding day, inasmuch as blasting in the shaft was undertaken, and the result of the B.hot was eminently satisfactory, The effect of this shot was to displace some very largo boulders of quartz and cement, in Yarious places of the shaft, and it was evident from the richness of these that the gold is not confined to any particular place t but, on the contrary, is. disseminated throughout the whole reef. On picking up the large blocks of stone, you could see patches of gold all over them, while here and there you picked up almost pure quartz specimens. The drill-hole was so fixed as to lift the mass of stone away from the north-west corner of the shaft, or the spot from whence the gold, got on Wednesday came, in order to test whether The precious- metal wa9 confined to one particular place. The effects of this shot dispelled the notion, and it is evident that the rich gold is impregnated freely through the lode. The above operations show conclusively that the lode is one of quartz, for there was a greater abundance of stone than heretofore, and that larger in size. The size of the lode is unknown, for in reality no foot-wall has been seen, and at the present moment there is B to 4 feet of first-class crushing_ dirt'. Some of the small dirt was tested in the dish with sp'endid results, while a bucketful of first-class picked stone was put asido exclusive of the block of.stone. in the . shaft bottom. The lode maintains the course I have repeatedly stated; also the under'lie becoming more defined to'the westward than ever. Further will be resumed to-day, and in the. afternoon I will step up to-see, the result. Mr Neeves went out to the N.E. part of the lease yesterday, adjacent to the Ajax lease, and from a reef that he knows exists there brought in a few pounds of stone, which when tested gave a very satisfactory and payable show of gold. It is intonded to operate upon this at no distant date, but the lawsuits with which the company is threatened will have to. be settled ero much is done upon any reef but the rich one. I visited Scahlan's yesterday, and found that it consists of 8 men's ground, taking their area from the south-east corner peg of the prospectors'. On the face of tlio hill they have discovered several veins in the hard rock that is exposed, from each of which a very good prospect can be washed. _ By following this vein alongside the hill, they came upon a leader, which, in constitution, is not unliko that of the prospectors', being cement and quartz veins. A face is being opened upon it, and a few feet ot driving will enable one to form in opinion. What can be soen of it is very promising, as a good dish prospect can be got. _ _ The presence of Captain Goldsmith is wanted up here, as one or two applications for business sites have been made, and the day for objections has passed. So far as can be learned, no objections have been made, and yet tho applicants cannot get their title until tho Mining Inspector comes up to see and approve of tho site. In tho meantime one site has been sold by a second paity, who never applied for it, but had his tent thereon, and the lato' 1 purchaser is now erecting a large slab store, and is about to fill it with goods. The applicant who applied for the ground legally on April,23 is in a and itis possible that litigation will be the result, which would have been avoided if the Inspector had come up before the term of 7 days had expired. I hear that our respected Engineer, Mr McLaren, will be up today to examine the coal seam, latterly applied for by Mr John Riordan, and it is trusted that the tracks will receive attention.

A number of persons returned from tho Tairua goldfield last night, and from Mr Walter Williamson and others we havo obtained sevoral particulars respecting tho position of affairs. Tho news is, wo are glad lo say, entirely of a gratifying character, The shaft has been sunk in the Prospectors' claim through that broken part of the lode which caused so much uneasiness in the minds of some the other day, and beneath _ there is a better formation of stone—in fact tho cap of a distinct reef. A well-defined hanging-wall could bo seen, and the prospects taken out are described as something wonderful. On Thursday night tho men continued working in the shaft till midnight, and took out stone which showed gold belter thau. has been found yet. They havo taken out 2 tons, and are waiting till Mr Jackson has tho road formed to havo it taken to Tairua.

A considerable number of men are now employed in cutliog a track at the worst, ploco of tho route on the Puriri sido of Sully's. They tire, wo aro informed, takiug a good line, making tlio road- so that the sun can get at it, and altogether tho operations seem to have pleased those who have noticed tlicm. '.

i'estcrday afternoon a horse belonging lo Mr E, Gallagher fell down at

tho side of the track- and died.' It had been overloaded for such a road, and after doing its best, and struggling on to the last, it was compelled to givo up and .lay down and died. ; Townships aro springing up, with names which are at least graphic and striking. Surveyors are engaged laying off allotments on Mr McUleary's land at the foot of the' range before the commencement'of the ascent at Punri. We have also Eatcliffetown, at the old'gumdiggers' camp, where there are 15 good serviceable whares now erected. This town has been named after.Miss,Efttcliffo, the only woman who has yet. been on the Tairua goldfield. Sho ..arrived there in such a plight,;as those only-who have passed over the'road can . have any conception of, and her clothing on returning, was of a hermaphrodite character. Then we have Measlestown and Ncevestown, and lastly Maggottytown. It has been frequently said that the English raco was deficient'in the genius of nomenclature, but that is only when we aro determined to be sublime, or cannot craergo from the domain of commonplace. It must bo admitted that wo have struck out boldly at Tairua. Bergin and party, who have taken up and assert .that they have a right to a portion of the. Prospectors' claim,.have driven fifteen feet, and have come upon Sandstone and quartz. We havo been asked to call attention to the state of the road between here and Puriri, which is sadly in want of repair. Where rough: bridges: have boen laidover small'streams, iii some cases planks have given way, leaving holes exceedingly dangerous for,horsemen. ' ■ '