MAHAKIPAWA NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, 22 March 1889, Page 2

MAHAKIPAWA NOTES.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Since my return to Mahakipawa things have been rather quiet. The rainy weather at the beginning of the year having caused some damage to several of the claims. Corbett's shaft on the flat is not progressing very rapidly, I think it is through want of capital to carry on the work, as it is with most of the deep ground. A portable engine and pulsoraeter pump is used to keep the shaft dry but does not appear to work satisfactory. Johnson's claim is also at a standstill ; the shaft on the middle of the claim has been abandoned, and another one sunk on the side land reef on the east side of the valley. It is intended to sink in the bed rock for a few feet and then drive across the supposed lead. The Hibernia claim has been taken up by a company composed of local and Wellington gentlemen. A water -wheel has been erected to work a Californiait pump, and everything will soon be in good working order. Good prospects have been obtained on the side reef, which should be encouraging, as no doubt very good gold will be got at the bottom. Oliver and party are also erecting a wheel pump, theirs being the next claim up the creek. The Wairarapa claim suffered considerably by the floods, but the damage has been repaired and provision made for carrying off flood water, which was wanted in the first place. They are now ready for work again; they also had bottomed on good gold. Several more claims are putting up pumping gear and working in a more systematic way, and I have no doubt but that they will be repaid for their w -rk, as good quantities of gold is being obtained both ia the main creek and terrace. The right hand branch still continues to yield the most gold. Gorrie and party have worked out their ground, but I hear that their ground is to be worked over again, and I believe in most cases the old ground will pay handsomely. .\ number of the miners in this district have a very poor idea of saving gold, they rush the wash dirt through the sluice box and fine gold must be lost. At White Pine gully a few are getting payable gold, but the ground is very limited. There are several gullies similar to this one in the locality, and I believe gold wiL eventually be found in most of them. The reefs are showing up well, but no machinery has yet been put up for crushing. I expect the WaiKakaho^d^ be the site of the machinery; JjjßbLwnshi i > of Gullensville has a^Hßsettled look, several more buflHgs have been put up, and a number of families are settled in the town and up the creek. The new track is still incomplete, there being one section near the township unfinished, owing to some «*rror on the part of the Pubic Works Department, .This portion is on Cullen's land"," and had to b© taken under the Public Workß Act. Messrs M'Kenzie Bros have this contract, and have been put to considerable loss of time through the unnecessary delay. Until this part of the track is finished the road is of very little use. From tbe termination of the formed road, the "men at the reefs have formed a very good private track up the spur to. the reefs, and it is now possible to ride from the township to the summit of the ranges. The track should be complete in four or five weeks.