THE ALLEGED NEW DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 685, 9 June 1870, Page 2

THE ALLEGED NEW DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

[express, may 28.J

A new gold field has been proclaimed this afternoon by the Superintendent, under the name of the Wairau Gold Fiejd. The boundaries are as follows : — Towards the west by the river Goulter to the Ward's Pass Creek, and thence by that creek to its source;; towards the east by^tEte^femtk line of road from the river Wairau towards Havelock ; towards the south by the Wairau River ; and towards the north by the summit of the dividing range between the Pelorns and Wairau Valleys, so as to include all the watershed of the river Wairau between the beforementioned east and west boundaries, excepting Ihe freehold lands within these boundaries. The old gold fields regulations are revoked j and those now- in operation on the Nelson South- West Gold Fields are to be enforced. J. B. Wemyss, Esq., the Crown Lands Commissioner, is authorised to issue miners' rights until a Warden is appointed. 4 The prospectors are 0. Cawte, J. Ragg, and C. Co wper (native). We have seen the prospect lodged, which is eight ounces of large shotty gold, one piece weighing 18dwt. It was obtained in various small creeks; some in the Onamalutu, but at least seveneights of the' whole was got in Bartlett's Creek by sluicing. The prospectors have applied for an extended claim, and a bonus. Several parties have already gone up. Of course, our own reporter was at once despatched to the scene of operations, and the following is his first report : — We only got to Ren wick the first night, as we heard that the rivers were up. Next morning we went up to the creek, and took up our claims ; btit it is impossible, as yet, to say whether it is any good until we have fairly tried it. I don't there is room for more thau fifty men altogether, as it is but a small creek, and if no more ■ creeks or ground are discovered, it will be a very small diggings | indeed. The locality is about six miles from Bythell and Mason's new flax mill, and four from Adams's station at Langley Dale, on which run this creek takes its rise, emptying itself into Bartlett's Creek, six miles from the Wairau Rivet. It is very narrow, and all covered with timber, large manuka, or short manuka Bcrub ; and very rough and rocky. — : — and have not l>eeu up to the creek yet ; they went up Bartlett's Creek, as we did not know where the diggings were, but we marked off their claims with our own. There are no provisions to be bought here; but that will, of course, soon be altered. The creek, at the lower end, for the last three-quarters of a mile, ia very rough—

in fact, it is impossible to get down, as there are a number of waterfalls and immense boulders, and the only way is to keep to the siding ; and even then it is very dangerous, for no one could carry anything with them, as it requires all your hands and feet to prevent an accident — in fact, you must hold on by your eyebrows. The best way to the creek » up a spur near Bartlett's house, and keep along the main range, it being a very good road —of course, all hills, but very . good ones for travelling. The Creek, Thursday. A number .of holes were sank along the creek during , Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and in no yne case wag anything found — in fact, 1 don't think, btrtVside the prospector's claim, a quarter of an ounce of gold has been got altogether ; but were there much gold, someone would be sure to obtain a prospect, whereas himdreds of dishes from off the bottom were washed and not the color obtained. A few specks were got from off the reef, which is certainly as fine a looking rotten reef aa one would* wish to see. I would not advise anyone to go at present. A number of Wakamarina diggers assisted the prospectors to sluice for about three hours on Wednesday, in order to satisfy themselves as to its genuineness, and got abont half an ounce of coarse shotty gold ; and if all the claims were as good as the prospectors', it would be no catch; for they have done a deal of work to get a proper fall to work on. The gold that the prospectors have got in the creek (about five ounces) has taken them six weeks to get, although they say they haVe not worked more than half their timei This 1 -may -be- -true, but an immense deal of work has been done for the gold they have got. The creek may turn out better than appears at present, as patches may be found ; but I will' stake my reputation that for every ounce of gold got ten pounds worth of labor will be spent to get it. Two persons have started scores here on a small scale. The Government are greatly to blame for their precipitato action in proclaiming it a gold field, and so causing a rush of people from different places. LATEST PARTICULARS. V On Wednesday, Inspector Emerson was * dispatched to the field, and on hjus return last evening he kindly supplied us with the following particulars as to what had been done in the several claims, beginning at the top of the creek : — Pike and party, 4dwts to two dishes of washdirl Gibson and party had got a sped prospect ; but while absent to obtain miners' rights, had their claim jumped by Pringle and party, who had rights. Others stated they had obtained fair prospects, but would not repeal to what extent. Cawte and Ragg had thejr claim challenged by some men from! Deep Creek, who got 15dwt in two houijs' sluicing. , Griffin and party got lpdwt in half-a- --' day out of Robinson's dajim. Croft and party got Ifldwt in half-a-day. Mintyre and party, 4dwt on Thursday, and were satisfied. There were several made terraces on the upper banks of the. ereeki" and the men generally believe that the gold has been washed into the creek from them. About 150 men are on the field, but 'very little real prospecting has been jdbne so far. Inspector Emerson sold seventeen rights to persons on the ground who have struck gold. All hands are commencing to make boxes, and go in for sluicingproperly. The sinking averages about three feeti : / ' ' ■■/;;.•>■ ; /;.