The Tairua Goldfield.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2046, 17 May 1875, Page 3

The Tairua Goldfield.

MINING PEOSPEOTS. (fbom oub owa eepobted.) Tairua, Saturday. Late yesterday afternoon I visited tho shaft of tlio Tairua Company, or Prospectors' claim, and found it had been sunk to a depth of 19 feet,, and the manager was then preparing to secure it by timber. During the last foot or two tho managor informed mo that tho ground in the bottom had become much harder than heretofore, which has had a - perceptible influencouponlbo lode; so much so, that it had split or divided it into tiro portions. Beyond dividing the lodo it has not yet beeii ascertained what effect it has had upon the quality, and this cannot be solved until a foot or two more have been sunk. One thing is quite certain, that not only is tho quartz very much harder, but the rock.that flanks the lode sounds, like bell metal. A very fair prospect can be washed from the casiug and loose stuff, but I could not see so much gold in the stono as I have been accustomed to do. Another new feature is also apparent, and that is the appearance of a black vein almost like coal. What this is cannot be determined, inasmuch as it is something new to all present, and there being no mineralogist in our midst wo arc- entirely in (he dark as to its nature and value. 'Ibis class of stono bos also been found in other portions of the field,.notably in the Pride of the .Bast claim, tho one recently surveyed by Messrs Wright and Bayldou, In tho latter claim it yields a show of gold, but in the Prospectors' it is of a much harder constitution, and was not tried for gold. A liltlo of this peculiar stone will be sent down for assay. In the lower tunnel the ground still remains hard,butseveralquarlzslringers have been intersected, but 1 failed to see any gold. The Pride of the Kast claim is situated considerably to the north of theprospectors', and is the one thatwas surveyed a few days ago by Mr Wright) and on tbe locality being made known a small rusli set in to the adjacent grouud. The lode here is of largo dimensions, from 6 feet to 8 feet wide, composed of layers of quartz and the black stuff alluded to in (lie paragraph above. In this claim, however, tbe black leads' are much softer than in the prospectors', resembling plumbago more than anything else.' The quartz veins flank the banging-wall, and the black ones the foot-wall. From either constitution of tho lodo a golden prospect can be obtained, as we tried sevoral dishes and in each wo got fine particles of gold. Prom sto Gibs of the lode were triediii a berdanon the Thames a few days ago, and the result was 9grs of gold, To-day about 2cwt has been sent down, and should tho result prove anything like tho first trial, tho shareholders havo got hold of a valuable property, inasmuch as the lode is being followed from the bed of a creek into tho spur, commanding hundreds of feet of backs and splendid water power at the mouth of tho drive. A very low percentage of gold would, pay handsomely, as the grouud is good, freo sandstone, and (he out-put of quarlz would be easier than any mine I have visited. The 2ewt trial is looked forward to with interest, as the ground has been pegged off all round. - The ground on the northcast, owned by Sirns and/parly, have' made arrangements to start right off and erect a small machino should the trial of the 2cwt be satisfactory. In tho Band of Hope ground the time bos hit.ierto been devoted to prospecting, and tho shareholders have been rewarded by the discovery of a conglomerate body of quartz about 5 foot' wide. .No gold has been seen in the solid stone, but from the casing about one-half to a grain of loose gold can be washed. They intend to start a shallow drivo this next week, and strike the lode about 20 feet below the surface. In the El Dorado (Hunter and Fratcr's) have recently had their time occupied in preparing winter quarters which will bo completed to-day. Work will commence this week, and it is hoped that they will bo able to confirm tho prospects which have hitherto fallen to their lot, It is admitted on all sides, that so far as made public, their show is equal to any but the Prospectors.' It is stated that Eeid and Bird, and Quinriand party, havo agreed to amalgamate, in order to avoid litigation, ltcid's lease is south.of the Prospectors, and Bird claims to have pegged off 10 mens' ground prior to iieid. Wow that an amicable arrangement has been agreed upon, it is no breach of faith to say that Bird and Kelly discovered a four-feet reef in their piece of ground, which not only shows gold in tho solid stone, but also a splendid pros-' pect of freo gold.' In Kennan's lease a stranger in this part of the country found a leader about 4 inches wide in which gold was distinctly visible, not only in tho quartz, but also in the casing. On informing him that it was lcased'ground he did not take it kindly, and swore that if he could not get an interest ho would do' his utmost to keep others from it, and with this he returned to cover up tho " ground. Jackson and Graham havo.vit is said, pegged offa lease of 15 acres to'the south of the Golden Qato, which latter is situated south on the Prospectors' line. It is rumoured that a small vein has been discovered in which gold was got. Since the above was completed I hear that a portion of the ground in question was pegged off some days ago by A. Newdiek, Joo Woods,, and Goldsworthy, so that if the ground is really valuable, thcro is another lawyer's feor two sticking out, Mr Jackson has completed his now road from his store on to tho flat, to tho one near the Prospectors' claim, a distance of uoarly three miles. I travelledover' it on Friday, and without flattering the contractor, I must say that he has proved a benefactor to the locality. In swampy ground ho has corduroyed, and over streams thrown bridges sufficiently strong to withstand pack-horses. Ho is now engaged cutting a now road through the bush from his lower store to tho fern country going towards the main river, about one and a-half miles long, the old track being frightfully bad, as 19 horses per day pass over it. From the cud of the bush to tho upper landing it is about eight miles, through - an open fern country,

The Government men on the track abovo Menslestown, towards Puriri, nro making good work and progress in comparison' with (ho number employed.