MANAWATU GORGE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 182, 27 April 1908, Page 9

MANAWATU GORGE.

SLIPS.—VEGETATION—GOLD-DIGGERS.' (by TELEGRAPH — BPECIAI, COIIWJSrOJSDENT). ' Feiltling, April 25. A Feilding party' travelled through the Manawatu- Gorgo yesterday. Tlicy found a gang of ten or a dozen men' at work clearing: tho .load. Owing to tho sizo and nature of tho slips somc : timo must elapse before the thoroughfare is clear. ■ Quite' a numbor of small bridges • on tho Pahiatua portion have been burned clean outby the recent fires. These will have to bo replaced before traffic can be resumed. A good doal of brushwood has been destroyed by fire and drought, but the recent warm rains have started the ' growth, rfnd soon all will be green again. It would bo a good thing if the Government would take advantage of tho burns to plant out a fow hundred eucalyptus and other hardy troes, also periwinkle (Vinca Miliar) and other creepers to help to bind the rubblo and diminish the risk of slips. ; The unusual sight of gold prospectors' pegs, with tho accompanying marks and documents, may 1 be seen at the'present timo in tlio Manawatu Gorge, says to-night's Feilding "Star." Two or tlirco prospecting claims have, been taken up on each side' of the river. One . party of prospectors reported most hopefully on their; chances of doing well. Tho. last vein discovered was calculated to set tlio : thing going, specimens tested having shown gold, silver, and copper in very payablo quantities. Tho, lead has been traced from the AVoodviilo flats I right across tho ranges to Palmerston side. ' It, runs in a north-east and soutlMvcst direc-1 ti'on.