A TRIP TO THE NEW GOLDFIELD.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 101, 9 March 1880, Page 3

A TRIP TO THE NEW GOLDFIELD.

(From a Correspondent.) II AVI Kg heard during the past week or two various reports of a new goldfield having been found in the Upper Wairau \ ullcv, 1 determined to visit the locality, and accord inglv, accompanied by a friend, I left Blenheim on Wednesday morning between S and 9 o’clock by way of tho Renwick Middle Road. After a pleasant ride of three-quar-ters of an hour we pulled up at Host Stevenson’s Hotel, and having refreshed the inner man and filled our flasks we re-mount ed, and made for Mr Bell’s accommodation house at Waihopai, where we arrived about eleven o’clock. After a short stay here we proceeded on to Buckman’s in the Wairau Valley, where we halted again, and then made another start, our host kindly directing us on our road pointing out the mouth of the Top Valley, to which point we were to steer our course. After crossing the Wairau river, which just now is so low that a man with long boots on can easily cross over without getting wet, the big boulders making capital stepping stones, presented a very different scene to the river in high flood, we cantered the top valley, which is of considerable extent l A small creek runs through it, which the track crosses and re-crosses several times. Following this stream for about miles to its junction with the Arm Chair Creek, we came to the first party of miners we saw at work. From this spot to tho head of the Arm Chair Creek, I judge about five miles. The country from the Wairau River up this valley is clear of bush for several miles, and covered with fern, manuka, and flax. The first claim on the creek is that of Eves, Watson and party, who have only been working there for a few days, during which time they have been constructing a tail-race, for sluicing. They were busy fixing their tent and making boxes when we came up to them. They seem well aatisfied with their prospect during the time they have been at work, and have found gold from top to bottom in all the wash dirt they have operated on. This party will not he easily “ rubbed out,” for they have brought out a dray load of stores right on to their ground, notwithstanding the difficult and dangerous nature of the road for wheel traffic in many places. I believe this party may have the credit of having brought the_ first pair of wheels up the Arm Chair Creek. At the next claim, which I will name claim No. 2, where Jackson and party are at work, I tried several dishes of washing stuff myself, taking it from the surface, and I obtained easily from three to five grains per dish. This party is at present sluicing the top stuff which contains gold more or less all through, and they also appear well satisfied with the prospect. Here we tied up our horses and preceded the rest of the way on foot. At claim No. 3, Messrs Watson and Co.’s, we came across some old friends. They are working in the bank of the creek, and have bottomed en gold, and are finding it running into the hill. I did not try a prospect myself, but the party seemed quite contented with what they were doing, and this appeared to be the case with all to whom I spoke. On visiting claim No. 4 where Samuel Vailed (?) and party have started to work I found them clearing up at the bottom, off from the creek on the hill side. They are on a •‘bump ” or piece of high reef, where I should hardly think much gold will be got, but of course I may be mistaken, and the party are at all events determined to give in a trial by putting in the winter. I tried one dish of dirt here and got a fair prospect. After wishing them success we went on to the prospectors’ claim of Messrs Morgan and party who seem to be doing well. They informed me that they had been getting at the rate of an ounce per man per week. Mr Morgan showed me a terrace near the spot where they were camped where five grains to the disli could be obtained by washing. Mr Morgan hospitably invited us to dine, and we made a capital meal of wild pork and cabbage, and home made bread. These have been at work at this spot for some time, who were previously at Onamalutu, and they brought cabbage plants with them which are now growing near the camping ground, The view from this place is very fine and it is altogether a charming spot in .Summer. There is another party working higher up the creek, Messrs Pipe and Jones, who are getting gold and intend, I believe, to stay the winter. A passable road could, I think, be made on to this ground for about £SO.

Thomas Taylor and party are working up a branch of this creek, which extends some 6 or S miles further, but I did not go in that direction and cannot say what the party is doing. My friend and myself left the creek at five p.m. and came back to Buckman’s from whence, after partaking of refreshments, we came on toßlenheim by way of Renwick and riding pleasantly in the cool night, arrived at our journey’s end at two o’clock in the morning, well pleased with our trip to the new gold field. Later. Since writing the above letter I have learned some further particulars which, may be of interest to your readers. There are now about 40 miners on the ground, being an increase of nearly double the number who wora here a few days ago. Many of them are from the Wakamarina, and I hear that more are coining over from their side of the range to try their luck here. Those who are here seem satisfied with the prospect. I hear that Mr Diamante from Deep Creek intends to start a store here, and Mr Mason, carpenter, of Blenheim, has, I understand, some intention of going into the same line. Mr Charles Elliott and his brother have been up here and think sufficiently well of the prospect to make arrangements for bringing up stores and setting to work. All the miners, so far as 1 can learn, are on gold more or less. I have heard that on Saturday a nugget was picked up on the Arm-chair creek weighing H ounces, but I have not seen it myself, and although I believe this to be true, I do not state it to be a positive fact, nor would I advise any one to come up here on the strength of its having been found. Mr Bell, whose run is, I believe, on the oundary of the Goldfield, complains of

miners trespassing on hisground and claims I undersuaml, £1 per man for two months and a grazing fee of Is 6d per week fot each horse. Of course, if the miners are on his land, some arrangement will ha ve to be made with him and 1 have uA doubt satisfactory terms can he made. A meeting of miners was held on Saturday to consider the matter, and I understand that one of their number came into town to make enquiries as to what ought to be done. Mr Bell need not be afraid of the miners killing his sheep, or doing anything that is not fair between man and man. I here is plenty of wild pork about here. V hilst I was talking to a friend on Saturday about dinner-time, as he sat in his tent smoking his pipe, having slung the “ billy ” over the fire preparatory to getting a pot of tea ready, the barking of a dog was heard, and on going out we saw a large pig making straight for us. The animal jumped right into the fire, knocked over the billy, capsizing the water, and made for the tent hut wascapturedamlsubsequciitlyconvertedinto pork, which made ample compensation for the upset of the bill}'.