The Hauraki Goldfields.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8616, 22 March 1897, Page 2

The Hauraki Goldfields.

INTERVIEW AT HOME WITH MR H. J. GREENSLADE.

(Continued.) "You have referred more particularly to the Thames. What ia tne size of thoHaurakiGoldfields?" I

"They are about 100 miles in length and 15 miles across. The total area is 1800 to 2010 square miles, and the whole of this has, generally speaking, been proved auriferous or argentiferous. The Ooromandel district, in which the famous Hauraki mine is situated has pro red exceedingly rich. Then Kuaotunu and the surrounding districts promise to yield even tetter results in the future. Karangahake and Waiorongomai are being systematically developed by British capital. The Waihi Company's mine when I last visited it in September was looking as well as ever. It is a magnificent property, and from 1890 to October last had produced £461,160 worth of bullion, while it promises to yield equally well for very many years to come. Then I have a big opinion of the future of the Waitekauri district. Several of the mines should in the near future give excellent returns, though, of course, so far the principal mine is that owned by the Waitekauri Company. The Komata section of this property yielded when owned by the Komata Gold Mining Company £28,160 from 5,210 tons of ore, while several lodes have been opened up by the present oom^ pany with such excellent results that the directors consider it may be desirable at an early date to work and adminster the Komata portion of tho property as an independent concern. The Golden Cross section has, however, claimed most attention up to the, present. Here the lode—l have inspected it many a time—runs from about Bft to 30ft wide in Corbett's level, and it is all highly profitable ore. The new 80 stamper battery is now in full operation—making 90 stamps in all— and I am certain the mine will soon rank as one of the best in New Zealand. I believe it is a second Waihi." "Then you entertain a high opinion of the value of the Hauraki goldfields? "I do. If the capital that is gradually being introduced is judiciously expended in the development of the mines, and the erection of efficieut reduction works, and not frittered away in the management expenses, the results will unquestionably prove satisfactory and fully repay investors, Begular paying returns maybe considered a certainty, and goldmining in New Zealand, at any rate, will be lifted to a marked extent out qf its speculative character, and become as legitimate an investment for capital as any other industry. That is what we wLo have a large stake in the colony wpujd Ijke to see." "The facilities for mining are excellent, are they not? " "Yes, the facilities for cheap minr ing are simply unrivalled There is an abundance of water for battery purposes and motive power, the ranges are covered with splendid forest, and the country is mountainous, so that in most instances mining can be prosecuted by means of adits In ; some I arts, of course, sinking is now necessary, and, so far, the lower levels have given marvellously rich results. But with the exception of the Kapanga at Coromaudel, no mining of any consequence has been earned on at a greater depth than 500 ft." " Is much of the land occupied ?" " Well, in March, 1895, there were 4,894 acres held under mining leases, and a year later 5000 acres, while there are now, I should say, nearly 100,000 acres in occupation." "Have all the mines been developed ?" "By nomeaugfc : f M^vopiuiott. is that many of the ureas havebeen taken up for purely speculative purposes, and investors naturally require to exercise a good deal of caution. We have a goldfield of truly immense resources, and hundreds of mines that will amply repay the judicious investment of capital. But investors must discriminate between a gold mine and —well, a ' grazing run.' The latter can, I have no doubt; be acquired upon almost any terms; but a genuine auriferous area, containing lodes of p^e4*»4ue> will always, naturally cqin.ma.i4 * 'deqeijt price. And my experience is that it is better to pay a respectable figure for a gold mine than to take what I have termed a ' grazing run' or a ' wild cat' as a gift." 'I don't want to weary you, Mr Greeuslado; but would you mind briefly reviewing the history of the Thames Goldfield?' "Well," replied Mr Gioeuslade, "that is a big order, since it must cover a period of thirty years, f However"—and here Mr Greensladd rose from his chair aud stood with his back to the fire—" if it will iuterejff^your readers, I will briefly allude tojffnjeof the most wonderful; gold prod^ff of the past. But before doing so, Jyttligut

remait that prior to its proclamation as a goldfiela, there had been rumours of the discovery of alluvial gold at tho Thames. Then increased interest was

aroused by tho reported ' find' of alluvial sold in the vicinity of the Karaka Creek, and a little later the discovery made by Hunt and party in a leader outcropping near tho ' waterfall' intheKuranui Creek, to which

they were directed by a native. At first persons were sceptical as to whether the whitish-tooting metal was really gold, but all doubts were removed when a test of 6 cwts. treated in Auckland gave the splendid return of 58 OZ9 gold. This was exhibited in Auckland for some time, and was the cause of great excitement, the result being that a"' rush' immediately took place. "The Thames goldfield was proclaimed open for occupation on-July 28th, 1867, and won afterwards payable gold was obtained by various parties. It was then that some of those claims which were to play such a prominent part in the history of the field, were pegged out, amongst them being the Caledonian, Manukau, and Golden Crown. The Manukau, however, was abandoned after a little work had been done wich different results, but it was again taken up by Mr B. Schofield and others, who were the first to strike the rich run of gold which was afterwards met with in the Caledonian and Golden Crown mines, and made them famous. In orderto point out the uncertainty of g_old mining, I may mention that this gentleman sold a half share in this mine for £24, but upon the rich patch, of gold being come across, the fortunate purchaser again sold" it for 48,800*verily, a handsome profit on the outlay f" •' Yes, that wa3 rather a decent profit," I remarked. And Mr Greenslade proceeded: "But the first gold of any consequence that was struck on the field was that in Hunt's claim (known as the Shotover), the immense yields of gold from •which placed the lucky proprietors in possession of an. independent fortune. Each is said to have netted £30,000. The fact of such rich gold being struck in this claim had the effect of giving a great impetus to mining, and the population soon reached 15,000, mostly miners, who were engaged in prospecting in every direction imaginable. But time will not allow me to individualise the various claims which obtained satisfactory returns, so I must confine myself to the more important events After the excitement regarding Hunt's rich find had subsided, good return* of gold were obtained from several of the mines, but nothing of a startling nature. Some agitation for a series of tramways for the conveyance of quartz from the mines to the batteries had been carried on, and the Moanatuari tramway was constructed by the Auckland Provincial Government, and opened for traffic on June 17th, 1669. The advantages aud cheapness «f the tramway system were* soon discovered by the miners, and the construction of the Tararn and Waiotahi tramways soon followed; the cost of these three lines being estimated at* £34,000. They were worked by the Govern. men t—the Tararu until July ,6th, 1870, and the Waiotahi until April 24th, 1871, when they were leased, which was found to enable their being more advantageously worked than under tbe old system." " And are they still used? " "No," answered Mr Greenslade, " there is now no trace left of the Tararu and Waibtabi lines. But, the Moanataiari is still largely used. It is owned by the Thames County Council."

(To be Continued.)