BIG BAY AND RED HILL DISTRICTS (REPORT ON), BY T. CAREY AND R. HYNDMAN, PROSPECTORS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1886 Session I, C-10

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1886. NEW ZEALAND.

BIG BAY AND RED HILL DISTRICTS (REPORT ON), BY T. CAREY AND R. HYNDMAN, PROSPECTORS.

Laid on the Table by the Hon. Mr. Larnach, with the Leave of the Rouse.

No. 1. Mr. T. Caeey to the Hon. the Minister of Mines. Sib,— Wellington, 27th July, 1886. I have the honour to report to you that the Bed Hill prospecting party cut a track from Big Bay to the Bed Hills, about twenty-eight miles. The first eleven miles is through a flat country, through which several large creeks run. In all these creeks there is plenty of gold, which the floods bring down from a range where the creeks rise, the range being about one mile from the track. The timber on this flat consists of black-birch, red-birch, and red-pine. This flat is about eight miles long and about four miles wide. The remainder of the track to the Bald Hills adjoining the Bed Hill is through and over steep ranges. The timber on these ranges consists of totara, rata, red-birch, and silver-pine. The width of the track is about 17ft., and is well cleared. Five of the larger creeks are bridged. The time occupied in cutting the track to get down to the Cascade Biver was about nine weeks. Four of the party commenced clearing away some slips where John McKay's supposed tunnel was ; the other two were out on the Bed Hills getting specimens. The time occupied in clearing away the slips was about eight weeks, the balance of the time being spent in swagging tools and provisions from Big Bay. The party left the Bed Hills on the 17th June, the snow being about a foot deep where the tents were pitched. The pass through the Bed Hills to the Cascade Biver was blocked with snow; the party therefore had to cross the Cascade Biver to the north side, and cut their way through the bush to Jackson's Biver, distance about twenty-four miles. There is splendid land on this route, and also some valuable timber, consisting of red-pine, black-birch, white-pine, silver-pine, kawaka, rata, and red-birch. Between the belts of timber there is considerable open country, or what are termed "pakihis." The land is good, the kawaka, or New Zealand cedar, growing here is of the best kind. After crossing Jackson's Saddle we came upon the survey track, which took us on to the Arawata Biver and into Jackson's Bay, after a ten days' journey through a part of the country never traversed by Europeans. A very good track could be made from the present survey track to the Bed Hills, the distance being about twenty miles, with an easy gradient. The amount of work done by the Bed Hill prospecting party, and the distance they have gone through a new country, in such a short space of time, speaks for itself. There is also another part of the district in the Provincial District of Otago, commencing on the south side of the Awarua Biver, and thence by Martin's Bay to Kaipa Biver, the ranges on which are all quartz-bearing. The gold I have seen obtained from this district hangs on the quartz, and looks as if it had been broken from the reef. As it does not show any sign of being waterworn, it is the opinion of those who have seen this sample of gold that the reefs are not far distant, and, further, that they are rich, as only a little gold has been found on the beach; the deduction being that the reefs still contain the gold. A few parties came to Martin's Bay at different times to prospect, but were unprepared for the task, thinking that the settlers could supply them with necessaries for prosecuting the search. The settlers were unable to do this, as they can scarcely manage to provide for their own wants, and the prospectors went away disappointed and gave the district a bad name, although they did not even wash a dish of earth, nor did they try anywhere off the sea-beach. It can therefore be easily understood that their prospecting did not prove successful. One man, working at the mouth of the Kipa Biver, is getting gold and rubies. Looking up the river from Martin's Bay there is a large valley, girded by some nice-looking terraces, which appear to be gold-bearing. No one has been up to these terraces, except settlers looking for stray cattle, and, as no prospecting has been attempted, it cannot be expected that gold or minerals could be found. Leaving Martin's Bay District and returning to Big Bay, north of the Awarua Biver, in the Westland Provincial District, it is known that a few years ago one or two parties were working on

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the beach and on a flat about six chains back from it, making £6 and £8 per week, although they had only a poor way of working. Andrew Williamson, one of the party, was doing very well, until he and five others were drowned returning from Jackson's Bay in an open boat. This accident created a depression amongst the small community, as Andrew Williamson was the leading man amongst them. I think that the Union Steam Shipping Company could inform the Mines Department what amount of gold was bought at Big Bay, as they bought it and supplied the different parties. The gold on this flat and that which has been found on the beach has come from a terrace adjoining the flat. The terrace is about six miles long with no break, and has not yet been prospected. It is the opinion that there is a good " run "or " lead "of gold through it. At the present time there are two settlers from Martin's Bay, who arrived a few weeks before the " Stella" came in, who obtained gold on this flat, although their manner of working is a poor one. Leaving Big Bay and coming farther north to the Gorge Eiver, three men are found at work, where it joins the Jerry Eiver, about eight miles from the mouth. They have only started to work recently, and for twelve days with a common sluice-box they have obtained 6oz. of gold and 501b. of nickel. The question naturally arises, where did this gold come from ? The answer is feasible. Standing on the Bald Hills where the Jerry Eiver takes its rise, about 4,000 feet above sea-level, the whole of the country through which the Gorge Eiver runs until joined by the Jerry Eiver is visible, and looks like one large flat. This, however, is not the case, as I found out when travelling through it; but where the Gorge and Jerry Eivers join, and on the north of the former, there are several terraces (I mean made terraces) probably alluvial, and it is doubtless from these that the gold obtained by the working-party referred to has been washed down. I made particular inquiries whilst in Jackson's Bay to find out if at any time these terraces had been prospected, and the answer on all occasions was in the negative; the above party being the only one that has ever prospecced in the district. It can therefore be plainly seen from the foregoing that this part of the country has never been prospected, and that those who still say that there is no gold in the locality, nor minerals, are those who have never tried, or are too lazy to do so. In my opinion, and that of the rest of. the party, this is one of the richest districts in the Australasian Colonies, and only requires to be systematically prospected. If this is done, I am. perfectly confident that before long, there will be a bigger rush to it than there is now to the Kimberley Goldfields. I have, &c, The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Minister of Mines. Timothy Caeey.

No., 2. Mr. Bobhbt Hyndman to the Hon. the Ministeb of Mines. Sib,— Wellington, 27th July, 1886. I have carefully read the above report, and can safely confirm everything therein. I am perfectly confident that the district is a rich one, and only requires prospecting to develop it. I have, &c, The Hon. W. J. M. Larnach, Minister of Mines, Robert Hyndman. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil; printing (1,250 copies), £1 3s. Odj

Authority : Geoege Didseubx, Government Printer, Wellington. —1886.

Topographical Plan OF COUNTRY BETWEEN JACKSON'S RIVER and HOLLYFORD VALLEY