The New Goldfield.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1956, 12 April 1875, Page 2

The New Goldfield.

(from octe special bepobteb.) The proclamation of the extension of the Hauraki Goldfield took everyone by surprise, and a good many who had ) expected to be in at the meet came in ) only at the heel of the hunt. Your correspondent was able to be amongst the first on the ground, and can now supply you with some information gathered on the spot, with personal observations regarding the find and other particulars. When gold was discovered by Neaves.. on the Awaroa Creek, situate between the Puketui and Pakerarahi blocks,: he traced it into the ranges and soon found "a payable prospect. He then informed the Superintendent of the fact, by whom he was referred to Mr Maclcay, as the locality was nat ire land and not belonging to the Crown. Neaves was alone and dependent altogether on his own reources, and when a party oT men found their way to his locality it in said that he warned them off, and threatened that the Natives would be brought to drive them off if they interfered with him. On appealing to the Natives, they; denied having; granted any exclusive right to Neaves,and gave a written permission to the party to prospect. Whatever expectations may have been formed by the original prospector I cannot say, but I may assert that should the i area of the extension give anything like the prospects hitherto obtained, the bene-. fits will be incalculable. The country has every appearance of carrying gold, and indications are to .met with outside the actual discovery of the prospectors. I may tell you hp\v I came to know that something of importance was about to happen. During Wednesday last, whilst in Shortland, I observed facial signs, which reflected the murmured conversations of one or two parties, about Butt's Corner. A nod's as good as a wink; you know, to an old stager, and I soon learnt sufficient for my purpose. I started for Piiriri, where I saw something which confirmed what had been only suspected. On Thursday morning I proceeded with Mr Say, and a native I had borrowed from W. H. Taipari, on the Tairua track, and meeting with the party I have mentioned above, I was informed of the position of the ground I was in search of. That afternoon we went on to the ground and found Mjr William. Graham and Mr Samuel 5 Preece engaged in surveying. We pegged out two areas, and then proceeded to cut the lines. Next day we were prepared for any emergency, and so, having disposed ourselves in the most comfortable way possible, we awaited the course of events. On the morrow at three o'clock k messenger arrived with the startling intelligence that we were in the midst of ) a proclaimed goldfield, having been despatched from Shortland as soon as the news had been published through the medium of your Extra.' At daybrealt every man was at his peg, and before the sun rose we had again pegged^-after the proclamation. In a short time cooeys were heard, and we became aware thai the Philistines were upon us. We met, and. after a war of words the enemy dispersed—east, west, north and south, tooc-

cupy the land. Another force soon came up, this time a mounted one, but thej were as easily dispersed as the former, with a few puffs from our pipes; %nd they are now dreaming of mountainnbf gold and oceans of o rum. -^ I will now endeavor to describe the country and its features. The country may be described as indicative of gold at present. The prospectors are working a fissure of rock in which a deposit of quartz rubble containing gold, has been found. The solid vein must be at some depth below, which the miner will have to determine. From what I have seen of the country during the few days I hare been here, I venture to say that, the veinsusuallyfoundinsandstomeformations bearing gold elsewhere will be met with here; The igneous character of the sides °. f tt^xposed precipices shows this, and the blows or upheavals of flinty rock on the surface lead the experienced miner to sink or tunnel for the igneous rock. Below the black soil wherever sandstone is apparent, and on the banks of the creek, fine gold is observable after washing a a tin dishful of tlie rubble, Tbi% has been proved, audit only remains for the miner to search for the reef. A few of the miners on the ground now, and others who follow will give the place a good trial, and, if successful, should be supported by the capitalist. Thirtyacre leases will require capital to work them, and when this is pvovided the miners will do their best to work them. Rations can be easily packed by way of Puriri. The track is passable now, and one and a half hundred weight is not too heavy a load, but should heavy rains set in half that weight will be as much as a horse can carry. From the other side the track is good, but the same remark about the weather will apply to it. The landlord at the Pioneer Hotel, Puriri, haying hoard that provisions are* scarce, has sent three pack horses away laden with stuff.

CFJtOM A COHBESP.:>NDEXT.) I may give you the particulars of the find and general prospects so far as they have appeared up to the present, which en passant, you may rely. upon as being Strictly correct. . . Two reefs have been discovered) measuring respectively 1 toot and 3 feet. The former was come upon at a depth of 8 feet; running .N.W. and S.E., and dipping to the south-west. Good dish prospects of loose gold can be obtained ; also what I consider a payable show of gold in the stone. From a sample of quartz shown me from ihis reef, I calculate that it will turn out remarkably rich. The second reef is a large body of quartz, well defined, and measuring 3 feet through. In it there is an excellent display of minerals, and prospects of loose gold can be obtained. Its strike if N.N.V. and S.S.E., underlying 2 feet in 6 feet to the west and south-west. I hare also seen gold in quartz from this lode. A remarkable feature in th« country here is, that gold can be. found in th» surface deposits. This would naturally lead me to conclude that payable reeft will be found higher up on the lide of the hill. The whole of the work don© up to the present in the prospecting claim would not exceed a fair week'g work for one man. For the expenditure of such a comparatively small amount of labor, I am upon good authority led to believe that 22 ounces of gold hare been,. obtained.