PROSPECTING FOR GOLD AT MILFORD SOUND.

Kumara Times, Issue 2904, 18 February 1886, Page 2

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD AT MILFORD SOUND.

[From the Dunedin Evening Herald,

February 11. J

A good deal has been heard within the past few years of the West Coast Sounds, especially since the Union Steamship Company's steamers have run on excursion trips to those wonderful arms of the sea, the scenery of which has become so famous as to attract visitors, not only from the neighbouring colonies, but the Old Country. From time to time brief mention has been made of the prospectin g for gold about Milford Sound by Mr Donald Sutherland, who, with one of hi« mates, Mr Wnlter Richardson, is now in Dunedin. In 1877, the former took up his abode at the head of Milford Sound, intending 10 make that the headquarters iu connection with exploration of the Sounds. During the course of his joimieyings he states that he became convinced of the existence of gold along the coast. For about a year his only companion was his do™ "Joe," but subsequently he has always had one or two mates, and now the party consists of four. Among the various recent successful undertakings by Mr Sutherland and party was the opening up of a track from Milford Head to Martin's Bay, 15 miles, which a man with a swag can now travel. About eight months ago the party started to prospect the coast north of the Sound, and though, owing to the rough nature, of the country, they have had many difficulties to encounter, they appear, from the statements of the two members of the party now in Dunedin, to have met with encouraging results. They take in these trips sufficient provisions for several months, tents, and appliances fot alluvial miniug. Traveling is done by boat, the coast down to high-water mark being mostly covered with bush and dense scrub, and tracks have to be cut in many places to penetrate into the country. This is the chief obstacle in the way of prospecting and how great it i 3 may be imagined from the fact that it takes up fully two-thirds of the men's time. The range of country they are now testing is about 15 miles in length, and from fire to ten miles inland. At one place—Ruby Beach—they have brought into a terrace a water-race three-quar-ters of a mile long. For the purpose of analysis Messrs Sutherland and Richardson have brought with them samples of different minerals. They also show a nice sample of scaly "old and pieces of gold-I.earing quartz, which they obtained in their alluvial workings at Ruby Beach. By all appearance these pieces «.f quartz had not travelled a great distance, and though uu uxfss showing indications of

gold have yet been come across, Mr Sutherland thinks that a good reef must exist not above four or five miles frooi where they got the samples. Among the other minerals are coal, scheelite (used for bleaching calico), and 2001bs of asbestos, a fireproof material utilised in many ways. The latter is to be sent to London, and should the quality be found anything approaching that anticipated, the discovery will turn out, most profitable. A quantity of black sand, containing specks of gold, it is intended to try with Malfroy's gold-saving apparatus. now at Messrs A. and T. Burt's, and which Mr Sutherland thinks is the best contrivance for the purpose he has yet seen. He and his companion, as is known, waited on the Minister for Mines, and on laying their case before him, the hon. geutleman gave them assistance for further prospecting by allowing them three months' provisions, with the assurance that further aid would be-accorded if their reports to the Government were satisfactory. Owing to various circumstances con- ... siderable delay has occurred m getting an analysis here of several of the minerals (they have 12 or 14 samples), but the men are so sangaine of coming across a really good thing in their prospecting for gold that they intend continuing their operations as long as they can hold out, in the event of the Government declining further nssiatance, Tbey have provided themselves with 300 feet of hose, additional blacksmiths' tools, &c, and when they go back the party will be able to give the ground a far better trial. They aie fully satisfied that gold does exist there in payable quantities. Not the least interesting of the exhibits shown by Mr Sutherland are photographs of tne " town " of Milford, showing the gradual development of his hut into a neat-looking three-roomed cottage, together with his blacksmith's shop. The first timber was brought from the Bluff, and the story of how Captain Fairchild having a dispute with Sutherland took the timber away to Wellington, and subsequently, having to take it back again, landed it on the opposite shore to Sutherland's location, is too well-known to be worth recapitulation. But it may be stated that in the interior of the house, the cabin fittings of the ship Cassarewitch, wrecked some ten yeais ago in a voyage from the Bluff to Sydney, have been utilised. It is said that this vessel was at one time a Russian man-of-war. In one photo Mr Sutherland is seen in front of the cottage with what at first glance seems to be a child in his arms; bat it is the figure-head of the vessel named. About the time another view of the "town" was taken, the Governor was expected to arrive, and of course ample preparations had been made for the event—among others, the getting ready of the British ensign for running up on the flagstaff (54ft."high).