The Thames Goldfields.

Manawatu Herald, 29 October 1896, Page 2

The Thames Goldfields.

PERSONAL. For tho past two months Mr Douglas Gardner has been travelling over the Thames goldfields and visiting the most prominent mines. As he is a young man full of energy and t-luck, it will not astonish our reader^ to learn that he chose to obtain his information in the only reliable fashion, that by taking work for short periods in the mines, working in the regular shifts. This has not been obtained exactly for the general good, as like other matters of value, it cost both time and money, and therefore particulars of individual mines has naturally been withheld ; but as the information given ta our special reporter is of much public interest, what Mr Gardner permits us to publish will be read with pleasure. THE TOUR. In the first place Mr Douglas Gardner went to Auckland, and thence to the Thames. The point that has to be made for is Pairoa, and the first shop that struck his notice was that occupied by Mr Harris, late of Foxton. In the neighbourhood, on the road to Waihi, are two of the largest mines, and, as is well known, Waihi is one of the principal mining centres in Auckland, tile then got to the Thames and worked there, and being desirous of seeing the northern goldfield had to foot it from Auckland to Coromandel, there being no coach road and no Bteamer suiting, a distance of 88 miles. He returned to Paiaka on Tuesday night. This is therefore a very fair trip by which the character of the goldfields can be tested. Mr Gardner is of the opinion that on the whole the mines are genuine, and show splendid specimens.

As a very useful word of warning to those who may be contemplating leaving any employment here to get work up North, it will ba well to bear in mind that Mr Gardner says that if all the miners were working, which they are not, and are not at | all likely to be, there would not be enough labour on the fields ; but as the case stands there are a3 many unemployed up there as there are employed, though hundreds are pouring in from all places, colonial and foreign. Living is very cheap, ait Goromandel and Waihi the cost can be placed at twenty thiiiings a week, and at the Thames at eighteen shillings a week. The standard wages paid ara, at the Thames 7s 6d per day, a,nd at Waihi 8s per day. If minars baohelorised a sum of 8s per week would find them in tucker. There is terrible competition amongst the storekeepers, and many things are sold cheaper at the Thames than they can be purchased for at Auckland. Not only are the unemployed very many, but they are now greatly in excess of any probable workings. Mr Gardner noticed numbers of yonng fellows employed in breaking stones on the roads in the endeavour to earn money enough to take them back from whence they came, and numbers were unable even to get this work. FIBEWOOD. It is pleasing, however to learn that the personnel of the diggers created a very favourable impression on the visitor, as he describes them as being, as a class, the best in the world. Before leaving the subject of labour, we may mention that one of the employments for labour is firewood cutting, enormous quantities being needed, and just before Mr Gardner left he Baw tenders advertised for 10,000 tone, in contracts of 1000 tons. There would seem to be , an opportunity for some to make money at this, as the price paid at the batteries is between two and three pounds a ton, but then there is the question of carriage, and plenty of hands to do the work. THE MINES. The country is very poor, being but a little black soil on sand, which is covered with scrubby manuka, where bush is not standing. It is all pegged off but not prospected, there being an amount of " taking it easy" to await the result of some one else's work. If the prospect of a neighbour turns out well, then it becomes worth while to go to work, if not, no expense is incurred. Sofar, the deep-sinking has turned out

a success, and at the mines Dear Pairoa a shaft has been taken down 1100 feet, and has good colour at that depth. Gold is coarse at the fields, except at Waihi, where it is so fine that the cyanide process, or dry crushing, is resorted to ; else« where the wet crashing with quioksilver is in force, as cyanide will not touch the coarse gold. Where stone 13 got, it is, as a general rule, richer at the Thames and Coromandel than at the Waihi. Mr Gardner saw plenty of stone of which almost one-third was pure gold, some of the richest going from three to four ounce 3to the pound I It is considered that average paying gold is that which yields three ounces to the (on. At the Waihi the reefs are very mush lamer but, as is generally the case, the gold is more distributed through them. Waihi, though the newest mining district, bas been the les-ft prospeciod, and Mi* Gardner mentioned that he has picked up good specimens lying on the ground away from any pegged-out sites. The quality of the quartz at the low levels is all very much alike, being of a dark blue colour, though the nearer it is to the surface the lighter in colour the stono gets. GENERAL. The general character of the population is much as elsewhere, on paynights there is undoubtedly a good d.ial of drinking done by thosfe who like it, and drunks get full control of the towns, but on the other band the Temperance Party is well repres- nt. d as well as the various religious b Hlies.'knd the Salvation Army is • d ling goo.l work. As a last word, Mr Djuglas Gardner reiterated his wiining and requests us to strongly a-lvi-»e no one to go to these mines a* they are all over run.