THE RICHES OF JONES’ FLAT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4278, 5 December 1874, Page 3

THE RICHES OF JONES’ FLAT.

_ (From the West Coast Times.) For years Jones’ Flat, Boss, enjoyed the reputation of being, without exception, a piece of the richest ground, not only in Westland, but in the Colony. It was styled the Ballarat of New Zealand, and in every respect deserved the title. It was proved inoontestibly that gold abounded in it, that it was a natural basin, into which the precious metal had been poured by nature, with no niggard hand, from time to time, as the various gold-bearing strata proved. These different bottoms, as they are termed, are most singular, whilst the real bottom has never yet been, probably, approximately reached. As an illustration that is familiar to many, and may be seen by any who wish, we would mention the claim known as the Morning Star, an excellent model, if such a term is correct, of which is in the Museum, showing the various depths at which gold was got in payable quantities in it, and the character of the wash in which it was found. These were no leas than six in number, and were at 110 ft., 124 f., 168 ft., 222 ft., 255 ft., and 267 ft. This - -i- e is only a fair sample of the whole flat, not fiftieth part of which has yet been worked. It is true that it has-been honey-combed as far as the shallower layers go, but the .water has proved too stubborn an opponent for the comparatively puny means to subdue it, that have hitherto been employed. Though strenuous efforts, it is true, have been made, and though miners have waited patiently for years in hopes that their enemy would be vanquished ultimately, hope deferred has made their hearts indeed sick, and the once flourishing flat is now well nigh abandoned. Leases one by one have fallen in, or have become the property of one or two large owners, whilst the ground is unworked, and a locality that should be without exception one of the most prosperous in this colony pines and languishes, its population is fading away, and the primeval solitude of years ago bids fair once more to reign over it. . . If the real facts in connection with the auriferous resources of Boss were only plainly stated with such corroborative proof as could, with the most perfect ease, be furnished, and the way was cleared by the cancellation of all unfulfilled leases, there would not, in the hands of a few energetic, business-like men, be the least difficulty in procuring the money necessary to properly work the flat, raise the township of Boss to a condition of prosperity as yet undreamt of, and give profitable employment for a lifetime to' hundreds, perhaps thousands of men. It has been hitherto customary to restrict all hope to this polony, to pray Governments to do what can in all probability by well directed energy be procured without their assistance. Even if some well digested and well got up scheme were sent to London it might there find favor, but with such proofs of the valuable nature of the ground, and such professional and other unimpeachable and undoubted favorable testimony as can be supplied, a large company could in all probability be readily floated in Victoria, local men of course contributing in proportion to their means. It is lamentable to see wealth like this lying fallow and untouched through lack of ordinary enterprise. The Mikonui race for the present is hung up, but at least an attempt to form such a company as we have crudely indicated might be made.