MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 142, 17 November 1871, Page 5

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own Correspondent.)

I should have written again before this Had | there been anything in the shape of good news to communicate. The reverse has, I regret to say, been the case. There has been a very limited supply of water for sluicing, the consequence of which has been little gold and dull times. This district must, in my opinion, eventually become a very valuable gold-pro-ducing one, but unfortunately the only water yet available for sluicing purposes has been obtained from mere insignificant tributaries, noneof the large rivers or main sources of supply having been so far tapped. The natural consequence is that, in a climate as dry as is this, the supply from such sources must soon fall short. Such being the case, and the summer being now far advanced, no large return of gold from this place can be expected. The tributaries have no doubt done good service byenubling parties, in seasons of rain, to prospect the ground and prove it to be highly auriferous ; but before these diggings can make a show we must reach the permanent source of water supply —the main rivers. Ido not think that there is, at the present moment more than one half a Government head of water available throughout these diggings. These permanent sources of supply—the large rivers—the miners are busily engaged in attempting, by the extension of their various races, to reach. Late prospects have established the fact that we have a payable G-o.'d-field, almost unlimited, extending from the Otekaike river to the Kakamara river, an area of about fifteen miles in length wi^ l a breadth of from three to five miles. The formation is quartz made hills, with layers of sand from one foot to ten feet in thickness. Throughout these luyers there is, as a rule, colors of fine gold, and the prospects in many of them have been highly promising. The hills are, in some places, covered with hard conglomerated and cemented blocks of quartz —a great source of nuisance to the miners. The G-oldfield is bounded by the foot of the mountains on the west side, and on the east by a belt of sandstone formation, with sea shells thickly imbedded therein—causing high table lands with fine pasturage on the top. The formation to which I have referred runs almost parallel with the G-oldfield for about eight miles, and then breaks off on the west side of the Maerewhenua river. In the sandstone formation there is a chasm of about 130 feet in depth, supposed to be the effect of an old earthquake. Close to this chasm runs the gold formation, and from the prospects I have seen, and the free nature of the ground, I feel certain that were water once introduced, this field would be a favorite one, and oue much sought after by the miners. .As 1 have said before, the great drawback to these diggings is the insufficient water supply. The cutting of the water races here has been a very expensive affair, and has brought two large companies to grief. Still, 1 am of opinion that, had not mismanagement been the order of the day, these races would have been completed and in full supply long since. The following facts will show the faith which is still entertained with regard to this field:—The Mosquito Company hus already cut eight miles, and have yet six more to cut. The G-olden Hill has cut eight miles, and has yet three more to cut. The cutting in the last race is very heavy, and there are ten men engaged thereon. Botting and Son have already cut about ten miles, and have yet five aules to cut. They are busily engaged in cutting the Bushy Creek race, about seven miles long This race is well cut, but the water is very light. Nimmo and party are extending their race seven miles, into the Sheepwasli Creek Even with the small tributary water at their command, they have already tukeu over 100 ounces of gold at different washings-up. Mr Cairn's party have recently had a washing-up with tail water, and obtained twenty.five ounces. This party is. now cutting a race into the main river and will, when the work is completed. have ou« of the best water supplies on these diggings, being at a very low level. Six miles of race are already cut, and an extra twa miles cutting will bring them to the riv®