The Goldfields.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume I, Issue 22, 11 April 1890, Page 2

The Goldfields.

WAKAMARINA,

We paid a visit to the Wakamarina on Sunday, first to the Gorge and then to the Golden Bar claim. We found the work progressing well at the Gorge under the able management of Mr M'Kirdy, who estimates that it will take about eighteen months to work the gorge out. The directors certainly obtained a good man when they obtained the services of Mr M'Kirdy. We have seen that gentleman executing large railway contracts, and from what we know a better man could not have been obtained to do the work. About an ounce of gold was being obtained to a truck load, and the indications are really good, and, seeing that the first paddock is at the upper end there is no question that a good yield will be obtained as they work further back.

On going to the Bar we visited the upper and lower drives, and feel fully convinced there is a good future before this claim. Some stone we saw crushed at the mouth of the lower drive showed gold plainly after being panned out, and some mullock washed by Mr Mace also gave a good percentage of fine and coarse gold. We met several visitors at the claim, including Mr Bannehr, representative of the Nelson Colonist, and Mr H. Lyon, of Wellington. There is no doubt the Wakamarina claims are attracting a good deal of attention at the present time, and the publicity given to them by the Press will cause sufficient interest to be taken as will ensure their rapid development, and the hidden treasure now ascertained to exist in this part of the district to be gradually unearthed. During the past few weeks there has been a constant stream of visitors to the Wakamarina, and all appear to be convinced of the reliability of the claims, and a good opening for the investment of capital. Mr Beere has been engaged surueying a machine site for the battery, and it is expected that it will be erected in about two months. Besides the Golden Bar claim there are several others, including the Federation, the Golden Spur, and the Great Yorkshire, all of which, we feel sure, will turn out well, as they are all on the same reef as the Golden Bar. I We have been asked by a friend to recommend what we consider to be a fairly safe investment. Instead of giving the information privately we have decided to give it publicity. We have no hesitation in saying that we firmly believe the claims above mentioned will pay good dividends. We do not wish to lead any one away with the belief that they would make their fortunes by investing any spare capital in them, but that they would receive good interest on their money we have no doubt, with the off chance of getting something exceptional. Then there are on the Mahakipawa side ; the Southern Cross, Waikakaho, Kapai, Juuoky Hit, Mahakipawa and Jubilee Companies. Hie five last mentioned, we believe, belong to an English company, and there is little chance of buying shares in them, so there is only the Southern Cross which we should say would prove an excellent investment, as from the specimens we have seen from the reef the indications are such as are likely to lead to rich yields. In this issue Mr Yenimore advertises 250 shares for sale in the Federation at 1/6, Later.

The work at the Gorge has been delayed owing to the necessity for the removal of the tramway, and several of the men being laid up with the influenza. They are now bottoming a large pot-hole and expect to get good returns on Saturday, Mr Kilgour, of Greymouth, is on a visit to the Golden Bar, and intends remaining several days. He has expressed himself very pleased with the reef, History of the Golden Bar,

This famous quartz reef has already a short history attached, as nearly ten years ago it was discovered by two Germans, who were so sanguine of its ultimate value they determined to open it out themselves. They commenced putting in a tunnel to tap the reef about 100 ft below the outcrop, but after many weeks weary work and subsisting on the coarsest food they were obligred to give in, and leave the claim. Two old poineer reefers some time afterwards, namjsd Jack West and Charles Thompson, took up the ground, and after some months work tunnelling cut the reef and found gold. It was then taken over by Mr Arthur Harley and others, but some of the legal fraternity were then employed by an opposing party, and the bulk of their small capital was soon frittered away in law, and after some months it was abandoned. Mr James Byrne then applied for it for speculating purposes, but did no good with it. Then Messrs Parker and Buckingham, of Nelson, took it over, and after holding the claim as long as the regulations permitted, and a little longer, Mr skelly applied for it, and finally transferred the lincensed holding to the present company, who have found such good prospects in the new tunnel.

MAHAKIPAWA. Last week has been an uneventful one, Good Friday made a broken week, and a good many claims got no washdirt put through. The National Bank bought lOOoz. The Never Surrender were only on the bottom one day and washed out soz Bdwts in a few dishes of washdirt. This party are making preparations for the winter’s work. They have bought the water-wheel from the King Solomon Company, and have a 9-inch pump coming from Nelson. Since they struck the gold they have driven five sets for 185 oz, an average of 87oz to the set (nearly 9oz to the foot), and I think they are very wise in spending a portion of their very satisfactory dividends in preparing for the coming season. We have had such a long spell of fine weather that I am afraid some of our creek claims look upon floods as a thing of the past, most of the pumps and wheels are only fit for a dry season, and two or three days’ rain will suspend operations for weeks. Experience has shown that the wheels first erected in the creek were far too small. Downie’s Mistake was worked out last week. This was only a small piece of creek between the Pride of the creek and the Wairarapa, but it has turned out little and good. There are four shareholders, and for the last thirteen weeks it has produced over 500 oz, more than £4O a week per man. The Long Time got 16oz, and I think they will have a good record next week. The Try Again party have been driving through a corner of the upper boundary of the Just-in-Time, to drain their creek claim, and got a few ounces for them. They will be in their own ground next week. Their ground consists of 80 feet between the Just-in-Time and Our Boys, with splendid gold above and below them. They should have a rich piece of ground. Our township is increasing steadily, last week the National Bank sprang into existence, and Tyree’s photographic gallery, this week a new blacksmith’s shop will appear on the scene, but I think our old Mend Davy Jones, who, besides being a mining blacksmith, is a thoroughly competent engineering smith, will always do the bulk of the trade. Mr Akersten photographed our school children in a group yesterday. He didn’t do the schoolhouse, because we have not got one, but perhaps if he comes again in another ten years or so the Education Board may have a school built. A Minister of Mines at one time on the West Coast was described in the Westport paper as the Minister against Mines. As far as we are concerned they are entitled to be called a Board against Education. As showing the difference between business men and Education Boards, here is an exemplification—A banker comes up, has a look round, and says: I think the time has come to build a bank in this place, the next week there is a bank, 1 The Chairman of the Education Board says; I think the time has come when a school might be built in this place, the other members coincide with him, several weeks go by and no signs of a school. If they had a decent place to write in our children might write in their copy books : “ Procrastination is the thief of time.”

The influenza has made its appearance here, Mr Oliver, of the Grand National, has a very severe attack, and Mr Sam Draper is also laid up, and two or three more men are recovering from slight attacks. We had a wedding on Monday at the Mahakipawa Hotel, when the daughter of the proprietor, Miss Edith Daniels was married to Mr Ered. Cately. The ceremony was witnessed by nearly one hundred invited guests, who, after the ceremony, sat down to a well got up breakfast. Mr Collins was best man, and Captain Fisk gave the bride away. The bride was dressed in a cream-coloured dress, and had her three sisters for bridesmaids. She looked charming. The festivities concluded with a dance in the evening. The happy pair left for Picton in the afternoon.