DISTRICT MINING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5268, 30 April 1928, Page 1

DISTRICT MINING.

THE REVIVAL AT KARANGAHAKE.

EARLY DAYS OF THE FIELD.

.OPERATIONS IN PROGRESS.

During the past few months there

lias been quite a revival of mining

activities is the Karangahake dis-

trict and the locality is now being explored in a more, thorough manner

than since the first rush following

tlie declaration of the field open for mining purposes on March 3, |1875, with thq completion of negotiations for the purchase of the auriferous area from the Maoris by the late Mi James Machay.

Karangahake was then the centre of attraction as it was believed! to be a perfect El Doraido of wealth and it is interesting to recall that at an early hour on the day of the opening there* was great excitement at Macay town, which sprang up, mushroom 1 - like, and in a few days became a veritable canvas town, quickly deveL oping into a population of 1600 people. The 'headquarters of the warden’s department were in the town-" ship and applications for miners’ rights were received by an army of clerks under the supervision of Mr A.. J. Alllom. At 9.55 a.m. the late Mr Warden Fraser mounted! an improvised platform and after a brief speech declared the field open. A great struggle then ensued to obtain minors’ rights, followed by a helterskelter down the hill, across the Ohinemuri River andi up the opposite bank, no less than 600 1 excited men starting out together at a given signal. The track led down; the steep hillside, across, a mountain torrent, and thence up another steep incline, the goal being the prospectors’ claim, the tip head of which, can still bei seen at Karangahake. One of the original prospectors of this famous claim was Mr W. F. (“Daldy”) Macwiilliams, but it wa® not until March, 1882, that he, with his brothers, the late Messrs J. McCombie and J. Liddle, and Mr John Kelily, the present licensee of the Junction Hotel, Thames, started! prospecting operations higher up the mountain range. Within a few months the party succeeded in intersecting ore-fbodies which led to the opening of the erstwhile famous Talisman, New Zealand Crown, and Woodstock mines, now defunct. The history of these mines are well known. FIVE 'CLAIMS BEING WORKED. Coming down to the present-day revival of the industry in the district it is interesting to note the keenness of the parties engaged in prospecting. One of the more important works in hand 'at the moment is the putting in of a tunnel by an Auckland-Wailii syndicate in a portion of what is known as Scotchman’s Gully, and not far from the location of the original prospectors’ claim already referred to. This tunnel, is penetrating virgin country- not touched by previous operations. It is in about 250 ft, and the country rock being driven through is said to be of a good description for the existence of gold-bearing reefs. The syndicate has also pegged out other areas in the, vicinity, including Taukane Hill, which is 011 the left of the Karangahake gorge and the face of which comes down alongside the old Talisman battery, now being dismantled. In the early days, right on ton of the mountain, rich stone" was secured by prospectors, and the claim worked was called the Sir Walter Scott. Farther up the range considerable; tunnelling has recently been done on the old. Imperial ground by a Paeroa syndicate with a view to intersecting certain ore bodies. Prospecting is. also being carried out on the Crown mines area, which was forfeited and recently taken up by a) Karangahake resident. Another prospector is working on what is known as shepherd’s lode, while farther up the range is Morris’ claim. This latter property holds what have been proved to be valuable ore bodies, and a small crushing anidt reatment plant is in operation. In addition to these works the well-known prospector, Mr Sam Sliaw, ,is operating a small river claim, dealing with the; olc|< tailings in the rough. Some months ago a Cinfiaibar deposit off the Rahn valley, which had been worked in the earlier days, wah pegged out on behalf of Nobel and Company, tlie welLknown Explosives firm. Altogether five claims are now in operation, three of which are working on ore bodies.—Waihi Telegraph.