A NEW ZEALAND KIMBERLEY.

Lyell Times and Central Buller Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 290, 11 September 1886, Page 4

A NEW ZEALAND KIMBERLEY.

[lndustrial Gazette.]

The following is a summary of a paper laid on the table by the Minister of Mines. The paper is a very voluminous one in manuscript and will not be printed until after the session. I have therefore simply given its gist. It is an account of the prospecting expedition of Timothy Carey and Robert Hyndman in the Big Bay and Red Hill district, on the West Coast of the South Island. Carey says that the prospecting party cut a track from Big Bay to the Red Hills, about 28 miles. The first 11 miles is over flat country, through which several large creeks run, and in all these creeks there is quartz in plenty, which the floods bring down from a range where the creeks rise, about one mile from the track. The flat is about eight miles long, and about five miles wide. After describing the country Carey goes on to say that there is another part of the district, commencing on the south side of the Awarua river, and thence by Martin Bay to Kaipa river, the ranges on which are all quartz-bearing. The gold he saw obtained from the district hung on the quartz, and looked as if it had been broken from the reef, as it did not show any sign of being waterworn. It was the opinion of those who saw the sample of gold that reefs were not far distant, and that they were rich reefs. Very little prospecting had been carried on in this district owing to the difficulty of obtaining provisions. One man working at the mouth of the Kaipa is reported to be getting gold and rubies. Looking upon the valley from Martin Bay there is a valley girded by some nice-looking terraces which appeared to the prospecting party to be gold-bearing, but no prospecting had ever been done there. North of the Gorge river three men are reported to be at work at the junction of the Gorge and Ferry rivers, about eight miles from the mouth. In twelve days with a common sluice-box they obtained 6ozs. of gold and 50R) of nickel. Mr Carey states that there is a large tract of likely-looking country over which the prospecting party travelled which has never been prospected. He concludes his report as follows :—" In my opinion, and that of the rest of the party, this is one of the richest fields in the Australasiar colonies, and only requi*" w - tsmatically prospected I am perfectly confid long there will be a than there is now to the KimDb**. k goldfields." Mr Hyndman says : "I have carefully read the above report, and can safely confirm what is therein. I am perfectly confident that the district is a rich one, and only requires prospecting to develop it."