THE WANGAPEKA GOLDFIELD.

West Coast Times, Issue 1327, 23 December 1869, Page 3

THE WANGAPEKA GOLDFIELD.

The following letter concerning the above goldfieid, has been addressed to the Editor of the Westport Times :—

Sir — As the lately-discovered quartz reefs in this locality are at present the cause of a difference of opinion with the Provincial authorities, and much excitement amongst the miners assembled here, I have thought that a description of the place and the state of affairs may prove acceptable to you, as it would certainly be interesting to the mining community on the West Coast. As you are doubtless aware, the reef was discovered by a man named Culliford, and the fact soon made known to other miners in the immediate neighborhood, where gold digging h s been carried on for several years past. Several claims were marked out by these men, and Culliford proceeded to JNelson, to obtain protection for a mining lease It is now a matter of common notoriety how Culliford was in uced to depart from his original honest intention, and to purchase, out and out, rich auriferous reef under the denomination of rural land, as also 1 ow this scandalous transaction was connived at and shared in by the very Government officials paid to watch o\er and protect the public interest. Upon arriving in Nelson the other week I found the city aroused from its usually quiet slumbers, knots of its inhabitants busijy conversing about the reef, and "Nelson expecting every man to do the hard working miner" admiring gjid

envying the sharp practice of its landjobbing officials. I had seen some good specimens, and resolved to have a look at the ground myself. The distance is about sixty miles fi om Nelson, and for the first forty miles or so leads through a farming country, which strongly reminded me ot home scenery, and is traversed by good, well-metalled roads, the faultless state of which clearly showed "which way the money Sues." This ended at the Tadmoor Hill, and from thence the means of ca w y progression became gradually " smaller and licaiitifully less" until within a few miles of the reef, the recognised muddy disgraceful, and dangerous track clearly pointed out that I was on a road formed " only for the diggers." This passes by the rivers Sherry and Dart, in which, as well as in the neighborhood of the Tadmor Hill, gold digging has been extensively carried on for years, clearly showing that the auriferous nature of the locality must have been well known to the Nejson officials, and proving the culpability and illegality of the sale. The very site of the present Wangnpeka township presents all the wellknown indications of its having been formerly selected for the same purpose. When I arrived there I found what might be likened to two camps for civil warfare ; the Warden's Court, officials, and surveyors occupying tents on one side of a small creek, and the dijjirer*' tents, and Uisiness places the othei, in one of which the commifee appointed to protect the miners' claims held th. ir meetings. Between this place and the Warden's camp bine-coated officials might often be seen passing and repassing, the bearers of negotiatory documents. Still further on was what I may term an intrenched camp, leading *o the disputed reef, only attainable by a bridge, across which the officials were not permitted to pass, and floatintr above it a banner, with the suitable motto " The Miners' Rights." At a rough calculation, I should estimate the number of men upon the ground at about 120. The reef crops out on a spur between Blue and Nuggetty creeks, which, with the Grani'e creek, form the Rolling River. It appears to be about three feet thick, and rich specimens can be obtained in many places, gold being easily discernible with the naked eye. I have also seen some good specimens from other reefs, the position of j which is not at present disclosed, and should this unhappy affair fee equitably adjusted, I can safely predict lucrative employment for a large mining population. I regret to say that at present through jfelfe" unwarrantable action of the Nelsonites, the men are thrown into ?. state of compulsory idleness, many parties being just a! Je to keep the others going in tucker by working the banks of the creeks, but great fears are entertained that want of funds, superadded to the intentional tardiness with which the Government is treating the case, will eventually compel the diggers to surrender their just rights to the grasping Nelson drones, " who toil not, neither do they ! spin." It is, theref re, to be hoped that I this matter will be taken up by the miners of the Buller and other districts as one which might affect their own personal interest at no distant occasion, and the pressure of public opinion be brought to j bear upon the subject. The fact of the I list of the so-called purchasers being two- I thirds composed of salaried officers of j the Provincial Government will show that, having long subsisted chiefly up >n the exertions of the mining community, they desire to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, and it depends upon the united action of the mining classes to say whether injustice and chicanery shall prevail or not. lam glad to say that, since I have been here, I have observed the strictest order kept, and the utmost respect shown towards the officials j by the men. The attempt to cross the j bridge to commence the Mirvey was formally made, and as formally and quietly repelled by the committee, supported by every man on the ground. An excellent arrangement has been made by the committee, prohibiting all sale of intoxicating liquors pending the dispute, and. taken j altogether, the quiet but firm and determined action displayed, calls for the warmest support on the part of their brother miners. It is the general opinion of the miners, confirmed by the experienced knowledge < f several of their number, x \\ ell acquainted with the various mountains forming the boundary line, that the hind in dispute is within the r-outh-west Goldfields, and if such be the case the sale is doubly illegal. I may mention in conclusion, as a proof of the claims of the district to rank as a L'oldfield, that I am writing i this letter in a hut alongside a sluicing claim in Nuggetty Creek, where working has been carried on for several years, the race brought in being over a mile in length. The insertion of the above in your columns will oblige your obedient servant, R. A. MOSS. Wangapeka, December 10.