THE TIKI GOLDFIELD.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 25, 5 March 1881, Page 256

THE TIKI GOLDFIELD.

The township of Coromaudel, like all other mining townships, lias had achequretl career — at times presenting the busiest of aspects, and then, for long periods, suffering from the deepest depression. Coromandel is the oldest goldfield in New Zealand, and also if not the richest, one of the richest iields for quartz reefs. The first reef operated upon was Keren's reef near the Leach. The company, it is said, spent over £20,000 in opening out and erecting machinery to crush the reef which, however, proved barren, and ruined Mr. Keven and several of his too sanguine co-partners. The township, long and straggling sprang, into existence with mushroom-like rapidity, hurried into life chiefly by the peculiar richness of the

Green Harp Mine, since known as the Union Beach. But long before the Green Harp period loose gold in quantities had been discovered in the neighbouring Matawai and Pukewau Creeks, and nearer at hand, in the Driving Creek, which led to the discovering of the rich reef in the Kapanga Mine, in the heart of what had but. lately been a dense kauri forest. Then years passed away, and the discoveries at the Thames attracted most of the mining population. But suddenly, one line day, a reef sparkling with golden ore was stumbled upon on the very top of the Tokatea, cropping out close to the very surface, amongst the roots and brush that covered the hill top and sides. The ]>opulation, which had all but dwindled away, rapidly increased, and prosperity was the order

of the day. Three discoveries were made on the Tiki ranges, followed by the find of gold in the mine now known as the Union Beach. At this time the lower and largest township was erected, miners and speculators arrived in hundreds — two steamer-loads a day was no uncommon event. The main street was crowded all the day and greater part of the night long ; beds could scarcely, if at all, be had ; every hotel was full, and a shake-down on a floor or table was better than no shake-down at all. Time passed away and so did the gold and the fever engendered thereof. The tide of prosperity had turned and ebbed and ebbed till at last there was scarcely any prosperity to ebb at away at all. The thronged streets became deserted, gloomy and silent, the numerous shops erected and opened under such bright auspices were closed up one by one and the mournful legend "To Let" stared one out of countenance in every direction. One sanguine storekeeper, in the height of enthusiasm, had painted on his signboard the cheering motto, "Advance Coromaudel," but it was all of no use ; it was shut up and was to let with the rest, and the owner long since departed for other fields, and there, half ' obliterated, the sign remains now for the traveller to see and moralise on the ups and downs of this life. All the inhabitants did not depart, for a few clung and held on through the dead- low water period

-waiting patiently, Macawber like, for something to turn up, and now, at last, there is reason to hope that the tide so long out has commenced to turn and that the new discoveries ;it the Tiki will be the heralding of a lon« period of prosperity. ° To those who love a trip on blue water, no journey is pleasanter than the passage, on a line day, in the small but commodious s.s. " Coroinandel " from Auckland to the harbour from which the steamer takes her name. Gliding down the harbour, winding through the Waiheke passage, passing charming headlands and sandy bays, forming scenes of endless variety, then suddenly darting out into the broad estuary of the Thames, with its heaving ocean swell and tumbling porpoises ; glimpses of white-specked sails on the horizon of vessels bound South ; and straight ahead in the distance the high, broken ranges of Coroinandel. The passage across the Thames rarely exceeds two hours, and once inside the heads, the water is like a lake, Coromandel harbour being; completely land-locked. The point of especial interest to the traveller at the present moment is Castle Rock, which stands up from amongst the surrounding wooded ranges like a hoary -headed weather-beaten old giant, as it is. For some distance down from the top the surface lias slipped away, leaving the rock,

which forms a pinnacle quite Ijarc. The Tiki •livings arc about two miles on the Coromandel side of Castle Rock, but are expected ere lon«' to extend the whole distance. The distance fl T,I C 1 °!' omamlel (iower) township to the new "•old held is about four miles and a-half Visitors if not on horseback, can travel more than Halt the distance in (Mover's coach which runs twk-e daily to the Waiau Hotel and Erasers Mill, at the foot- of the Tiki ran-e iM-ascr's saw-mill has lately come prominently before the public on account of some miners having pegged out and applied for the land on which it stands, it being within the goldlields boundary. A\ arden Kcnrick. however; decided against the applicants. The mill is a small one, an overshot wheel working only one break-

ingdown saw and one circular. Many visitors from Auckland in the summer time visit this spot and ramble up the creeks in search of ferns, of which there is an endless variety. Leaving the coach and saw-mill behind, a steep windingroad of some two miles in length brings the traveller to the Tiki saddle, on which is situated Thorley's store and new Junction Hotel j a butcher's shop for Mr. Lynch is now beingerected, and when completed, with one or two other stores talked of, will comprise the young township for this portion of the new goldfield. Past the new hotel to the right is the new road lately made to give access to the rich reefs now being worked. The road was intended to have been cut seven feet wide, but owing to want of funds the width lias been altered to lour feet, which is scarcely enough to admit of a sledge and team. The road is formed as far as Tiernan's mine, which, after' inspecting the rich quartz in Blackmore .and Heenan's claim, will arrest the attention of the visitor. The reef from which such rich specimens have already been taken is showing on the floor of a cuttingput in on the side of the spur near a small creek. ilich gold can be seen in the reef as it stands, and visitors not unfrequently go down on their knees to assure themselves of the fact. Several other claims have golden reefs, and there is every reason to suppose that a rich belt of auriferous country has been discovered.