THE LAKE WANAKA GOLDFIELD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2282, 10 July 1880, Page 2

THE LAKE WANAKA GOLDFIELD.

The “ Cromwell Argus ” gives the following particulars of the reported new goldfield between Lakes Hawera and Wanaka. During the latter part of last week application was lodged here for certain mining privileges on behalf of a party of men working at a place known as Long Valley, on the east side of Hawea Lake, aud who were reputed to be obtaining gold of heavy character, in very payable quantity. The names of the prospectors arc Jones, Fitzgerald, and Price, and the party has been working in the locality for about three months with very satisfactory results. Long Valley is on the Fork Hun, about eight miles from the foot of the Hawera Lake. The valley is described as some miles in length, running almost parallel with the lake. Where the gold is being' obtained the width of the gully is about a chain aud suddenly rises into steep terraces on either side. The creek itself contains some four heads of water, and has very little fall. The prospectors have hitherto confined their operations to working points where the crocks turns. The gold obtained is coarse, shotty, and little water-worn, and ope piece lias been exhibited weighing 3oz 12dwt. As it was only on Saturday that news of the field got generally abroad, it is, as before remarked, impossible to estimate what its value may be. Numerous parties have since set out for the valley,and munydays will not elapse before definite information will be available. The gully where the prospectors arc is of considerable extent, and, if auriferous throughout its course, should afford room for a number of men. The locality is easy of access, and the completion of the bridge over the Hawea River—some eight miles from the “rush’’—greatly facilitates the means of reaching the spot, and the conveyance of provisions which will have to be packed from the bridge to the field. This will no doubt led to other places iu the locality being tried for payable gold, so that ispust possible the extent of the rush will he enlarged. It is right, however, that we should warn persons at a distance against accepting the present position of things as more than a mere speculation, and not such as to justify the certain expenses and possible disappointment that may follow a journey to Lake Hawea, until information of a more definite nature comes to hand.

Should it prove that Long Valley embraces all the payable auriferous country it will be taken up by (he number of men at present unemployed in the Cromwell and Wanaka district, and who are now either there or on the way.