STEWART'S ISLAND GOLDFIELD.

West Coast Times, Issue 673, 20 November 1867, Page 3

STEWART'S ISLAND GOLDFIELD.

- (fbom the otago times.) Very contradictory rumours of the extent aud character of the auriferous ground lately discovered in Stewart's Island have obtained currency. The most reliable information is that contained in the report of the Warden, W. H. Rogers, who furnished to the Superintendent of Southland an account of his late visit to the Island.^ It will be seen that although tho existence of quartz reefs is incidentally referred 'to, the information obtained applies chiefly to the beach workings at Ruggedy Point. The following is the report : — I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of application received by me from Messrs Baxter and Party, and Messrs Longuet and Party, who have been for some months past prospecting for gold near Ruggedy Point, on Stewart's Island. In accordance with your Honor's instructions, I have visited the ground applied for; also, that of another party (Robert Todd and Leatham), near the same locality. I first landed at Ruggedy Beach with food landing, under- shelter of Rugged sland. Toad and party are working a sand flat on the border of a creek, at the east end of this beach, some two or three hundred yards from high-water mark. Their statement was that they were making about L 4 per week a inani They had not sufficient water brought in to their claim, having failed in damming the larger creek on which they were working, which might supply eight heads of water ; and they were taking their supply from a small creek (scarcely two heads of water), most of which they lose in their race, which crosses a quarter of a mile or more of sandy river bed. I saw several prospects washed here. The gold is in layers of black sand with no stripping. There are only about ten heads of water in both creeks. The ground is payable, but not for more than twenty men, unless water is brought on through the bush from a distance, and at some expense. 'Claims here should be granted of large extent. From Ruggedy, I walked over to Longuet and party's claim. Say two miles of bush, over a saddle, and two miles of sand dunes and beach. This party are working the beach above high water mark — some foot of stripping and about three feet of shingly wash. They report it payable, but have failed in getting on sufficient water, owing to the difficulty of leading it along the side of the sand hills; but they still report good pay. There is, I consider, some six heads of water on this, the southern end of the beach (Codfish) ; and the party report gold in about equal quantities for a little over the last quarter of a mile. I washed several prospects, and believe the ground proved ; the water is sufficient for about twenty miners. I have no report of the northern portion of the beach ; it has similar indications of gold, but is short of water. On the return track, near the northern end of this beach, in passing up a gully through the sand dunes, Mr Longuet, junr-, showed me a quartz reef (of which I forward you a small sample). We crossed a section of the reef from E. to W., I believe, at least twenty-five yards. The bearing of the line of the reef is supposed to be about N.E. to S.W., and it is stated by Mr Longuet to crop out in several other places. There is no safe landing on Longuet and Co's beach (called by them " Codfish," being opposite Codfish Island). They staved their own boat, and injured their provisions greatly, when landing here. I next landed at Smoky Cove Beach, at the eastern end of which (one mile long) Baxter and party are working — up a creek — a broad sandy bed, with a roughedged, broken stone, not water-worn, in the wash-dirt. I believe the prospects here are richer than in either of the two former places. Baxter reports L 5 a-week per man ; and, I believe, has kept well within the mark. This party have the only water readily available already taken up, aud have been to considerable labor, having failed in several races from a quarter to half a mile long. They have finally flumed through the sand on the sides of the dunes with timber, aud covered the top. In the event of the ground being declared a goldfield, I should recommend their race and water should be secured to them, and the extended claim which they have applied for granted. In conclusion, I have to report that I have every confidence in tho value of this district being at least equal to- what has been reported to me, and what I now report lo your Honor ; but there are great difficulties to be encountered by any parties setting in on this ground. There is great risk in landing both men and s fores, and it will be necessary that any parties trying the ground should have money to start with, and make arrangements for supplies of stores at stated intervals. Under these circumstances, large claims should be granted to those taking up ground.

Tbo subjoined interesting extract relating to tho Californian wheat trade, is from a leltcr received by a mercantile house in Adelaide from San Francisco, dated Bth August : — " Complaints from the farmers are very general that on thrashing their wheat the yield cloe3 not come up to their expectations, and the estimates of this season's surplus arc now reduced to 200,000 tons. Fifty thousand ton 9 of shipping are now under engagement to carry wheat to England. AVheat is firm at Idol. 82£ c per 1001 b., free on board, for choice qualities" (say 4s 6d per bushel.) (For remainder of News see 4th Page.J