KING COUNTRY GOLD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 60, 13 December 1907, Page 3

KING COUNTRY GOLD.

Quartz Discoveries

€ Atvarious periods in the history of the King Country, rumours of gold finds have been circulated, and in due course, have, died away. In most "cases the reports were based on slender grounds, and did not bear rigid inspection, but in one or two instances there can be no. doubt that (promising indications were discovered. Owing to the nature of the country, however, and the fact that considerable work and money were required to develop the operations, in addition to the countrj l " being Native - owned, little was done to open up the finds. . Last summer! fresh, interest was infused into the .prospecting schemes by the knowledge that- a syndicate had acquired a portion ''of the Rangitoto Block, aha intended carrying oiit prospecting operations. Other projects were mooted, but nothing definite was accomplished, and the gold question was practically forgotten during the winter. During the past few weeks, however, there has been considerable talk of quartz being unearthed about twenty miles from Te Kuiti, and some stone has been shown said to have come from the place in question. The quartz is favorable in character, being highly mineralised, and showing colours of fine gold. A sample has been forwarded to Auckland for.assay and the result is awaited with interest. It is to be regretted that steps have not been taken to thoroughly test the value of the various reported finds. There is little doubt that gold exists in various localities, and very encouraging prospects have been obtained in several of the streams. Some years ago a party prospected the Waione, a branch of the Ongarue river, and obtained very encouraging results, and dish prospects are said to be obtainable in the main stream. The present reports, supported by the show of stone, are worth investigation, and" efforts are to be made to obtain prospecting rights over a block of ground to the east of Te Kuiti. It is to be hoped every facility will be given for the purpose of thoroughly testing the value of the reports. At present all that appears to be known is that quartz exists in various localities, and the indications are promising for the discovery of payable ore.