MAORI POINT.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 49, 29 February 1864, Page 3

MAORI POINT.

(From the Correspondent of the Wakatip Mail.) t , February, 23rd. ■Maori Point t"' Who' has not heard of Maori Point, and yet, who has done it justice ? All the residents in the district believe it to have ricli river workings, and many believe that its capabilites and productiveness have been exaggerated. lam not now going to attempt tho task of describing it. I saw it in January 1863, and I saw it yesterday pnee more ftgtvin j ths. chfingo is .-indeed remarkable j but upon this and other lcindtt)d associations I shtvll Jmvo a word to say hereafter. I desire Iti the present to speak I ' of tlio Maori Point of to-clfty, and tltia I must say -will be a brilliant i pichiro. I found tlio late rains had clone no injury. (t Oroftkors," and others who. were nob " ovoakers,": pointed out to me the floodlines, find indulged in prognosticatisns -that I hope may , not be realised) for the sake of those patient men who have endured so much and also. for the. credit- of the Shotover River itsolf. Now, what I really saw on the occasion of ;my visit is , to be the subject of my letter. I found that' the late rains had produced no.- serious injury, and that the strong breastwork of crates erected by the miners for the _ benefit of, their various claims, had resisted the effects of the floods, and that they were rejoicing in the success of their labors in a truly practical manner, for the Point was fall of life, energy, and work. The river they said was low, but it seemed to mcc' as yet a broad and troublesome stream— such: a one as I should not like to encounter under any circumstances. The river is also the barometer of the Maori Point men, and the slightest rise and fall is carefully noticed, and is the universalmedhun of conversation, instead of the weather. They might well rejoice in this . iong-lookcd-for and expected fall of the river — for the confidence felt in the' Maori Point Beach for the last twelve months, despite of difficulties innumerable, was being, realised, and it presented a most animated, appearance — every claim being in fidl working order, both by day and night. Not one moment of time was lost ; experience had taught a dear lesson, and all were working with their utmost energy. The yield of gold being obtained was most oxtraordinai'y — almost beyond belief, unless one actually saw the same. The Enniskillen party, who had spare ground awarded to them beyond the boundary of Sullivan's claim, obtained the richest wash-dirt during the period of my visit that has been seen in this Province. Out of a small crab-hole, measuring some six by three feet, they took out a couple of loads of dirt, wihich they have not washed ; but they had washed out several prospects, and obtained fourteen pounds weight of the precious metal. The yield from this small amount of ground will be between thirty and forty pounds weight, and the time occupied i?i " stripping," &c, was not many hours. They have a large quantity of ground to -work, and as they are bounded by claims almost equally as rich, it will be impossible to say what this fortunate " spare " piece of ground may realize, — of course, it will be something enormous, almost fabulous. Sullivan's claim was turning Out a large quantity of washdirt, but they were not washing and neither were they in the best part of their ground. This party hold a large area of ground known to be of enormous value, and it will be a matter of time to work it out. Shares in this claim could not be bought except at very high figures — if at all. Miller and party's claim was turning out wash-dirt equal to any, if not superior. They expected to net thirty pounds weight for their day's labor, and would not be able to wash up more than half their washdirt. Gallery's party were equally fortunate, and will for their day's work weigh perhaps the top weight. Out of the one day's work from these claims, and another, taken collectively, a yield of something like one hundred and twenty pounds weight is shown, with this important fact added, that only about half the washdh-t obtained has yet been washed up. As I said, these returns are almost beyond belief, and had I not been an eye-witness in some degree to their correctness I would not make such statements. Otago can carry the palm for having, at Maori Point, space and extent of ground considered, produced the richest goldiield tho world has ever seen. But if the yield were treble in amount it would only be a well merited reward to the men for their untiring energy and perseverance. Mr. Warden Williamson was present a portion of the day and tested personally the value of the washdirt raised. He obtained over a pound weight to the dish from Ms trials. As lam speaking of this gentleman, I may add he has gained the golden opinions of the population at large. What I saw, and what I think of the future of Maori Point must remain for another occasion ; the late hour of my arrival in Q.uecnstown prevents me from doing justice to a place that claims a large amount of consideration.