TAIRTUA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2145, 18 November 1875, Page 2

TAIRTUA.

The fame of this locality has. been centred in the Tairua Goldmining Company's ground, and its immediate vicinity. The evident presence of gold in the seams, and in a smaller 'degree in some of the rock, has induced a. very great interest to be taken in the district, which, without further detail, may be set down as a most difficult bush country, rendering the: formation of roads laborious and expensive. This, however, could be overcome in time, and even now, is partially done, though a very heavy and arduous undertaking is before the present contractors before the machinery purchased for the Tairua and Ajax companies is delivered on the ground, and it would only be reasonable for the Government to expend a portion or the whole of the money received on account of Tairua Goldfield upon opening the country by assisting in the formation of alright through road. A large amount has been paid in the shape of title to holdings or leases, varying in shape and size from 30 acres downwards, and more or less vrork performed during the last seven months. On the 9th April Tairua was proclaimed a goldfield, and the consequent rush to that locality, with the jumping, litigation, forming of companies ; and the prospects held forth for a time were so dazzling that the Ohinemuri lights were almost extinguished, are matters of history. That an extraordinary rich find of gold took place in the Tairua or Prospectors' claim is undeniable, causing their scrip to start off at an upset price of £2, and which was maintained for a considerable time ; the large return of 40 to even 50 ozs per ton; and later, at the rate of 10 ozs to the ton, was deemed sufficient warrant to peg off the ground any where in the neighbourhood, and get a company floated, some fifty of these have been thus formed, supposed to represent a million of capital to work the ground. Seven months have elapsed—What is the position of the Tairua Gold District ? They are simply prospecting the ground, or rather only a few of the companies are represented on the ground ; they have not yet succeeded in obtaining possession of gold bearing lodes to warrant calling up their capital, and capitalists cannot be induced to prospect the ground and find the means to work it afterwards. Goldmining under favourable circumstances requires large outlay, and quartz reefing at Tairua is no exception. The consequence is, and will be, that the majority of the leases will lapse for want of means to carry them on, and those that manage to exist, need the strictest economy and the best management. There are several places that will profitably employ a few men by working in very small veins and securing as much gold as to pay their way, but as a rule, there is,: with, a few exceptions, nothing to warrant the expectations formed relative to the comparative wealth of the area by the " prospects" continuously obtained and reported fully, by the dish or pestle and mortae process. Quartz reefing districts take time to develope, and Tairua as yet has only given indications of its wealth by the fortuitous finding of a small but rich quantity of gold in the fissures and pockets of a net work of conglomerate rock. This in the Prospectors' case was considered sufficient to erect a small battery to be driven by water power, of a light construction, but thought to be heavy enough to deal with the soft material holding the gold. They have been d eceived. Not only is the water power short; the water-wheel ill-suited to the water, but the supply itself has run out, so far as thu class of stuff for which the mill was erected is concerned, and in order to deal with the masses of rock containing gold the company, have now in hand the construction of a legitimate battery, which is in a fair way of being completed some months hence. The Prospectors'and adjoining claims have had their attention taken up in tracing and digging down for this run of gold found on and near the surface, but instead of finding a defined gold bearing lode; it appears at present to lie between the rocks, and becomes pinched out of existence. Wo proper opening of the ground has taken place to demonstrate its character; it may be very rich or otherwise. An attempt is now being made by the Independent Company to push in a level through the outside bar of rock and test the- nature of the ground ; as this will affect the interest of the Tairua company as much as their own, it would be well for each to bear the expense. They can all get gold but to pretend to erect batteries on the show of good stuff yielding " splendid -prospects " is all nonsense, they must be prepared to deal with the bulk, and that has not yet been properjy attempted. The present stoppage of the Tairua Company's operations cannot affect the real question of its value; it has demonstrated the fact that gold is in the rock, and though rich pockets may be found in the working, the company must

be prepared to crush low grade stone to secure a permanent footing among our mines. Lower down the valley, northwards, or towards the Tairua, the character of the country changes, being of a free sandstone, easily worked, and in which, the only properly defined reef has been discovered. This the Ajax directors have judged of sufficient value to warrant them in erecting a mill of their own to be driven by steam-power. The reef has been driven alongside of for nearly. 200 feet, and a level in higher ground is also now going in to cut the reef, so that by the time the battery is ready, the block of ground will be fit for delivery; the pj». cise value of the lode will only be known on reducing a large parcel; the supply however is good, showing at least six feet wide, traversing the length and depth of the claim; the National are expecting to cut the same reef on the low side of the stope, and are working with that view, as are the North Star people on the upper side. Most of the leases are nominally represented, but proper mining is the exception, the whole of the quartz cut from the several diggings would be crushed in a few days, but the " prospects" obtained could not be counted. Tairua labours under great natural disadvantages, being at hign elevation—heac^f 2000 feet—they are above the water* i power as supplied by creeks, and at ■ the same time are difficult of access, and need an extra yield per tonnage to compensate ■-' for the labour. The future of Tairua liei in the good management of the Tairua Company's property, and its immediate 1 neighbours; and in the success of the; Ajax people to turn their reef to profit.