THE AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Issue 719, 4 September 1867, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND GOLDFIELDS.

. «> We have Auckland papers to Aug. 17, and from them we extract various accounts of the newly-discovered goldfield. The " Southern Cross" of August 17, thus sums up the news : — The news from the Karaka goldfield is assuring. That a rich quartz reef has been struck there cannot be a doubt; but the unusually wet and tempestuous weather that has been experienced since •the opening of the goldfield/ has put systematic prospecting out of the question. For several days nothing has been done in the way of bottoming the holes already sunk; the v reef fever" had infected the mining community ; but we. have no doubt, when the weather improves, that the work on the flat will be vigorously proceeded with. Indeed, as Major Von Tempsky said in his letter to us some time ago, the work has been begunjat least a month too early, and the small success which may attend the present prospecting on the Thames cannot be accepted as a fair criterion of what summer work would be likely to shew. The diggings, so far, indicate good creek working : and if systematically gone about, it will require the application of a great deal of skill and labour. Indeed, those who have seen the Karaka field, and are familiar with mining in California, are of opinion that a very Similar system of mining must be adopted here to that which was found most advantageous there. Of course we do not in any way desire to create a rush. On the contrary, there is nothing whatever in the result hitherto which would warrant anything of the kind. There tis quite enough, however, to satisfy pratical miners who are on the field that the chances are in favour of their doing well, if they remain. We have seen several excellent specimens of quartz, impregnated with gold, which were obtained from the reef claims at Kuranui They are, to all appearance, very similar to the specimens which have, from time to time, been brought up from Coromandel. There cannot be the least doubt that the stone we have seen is very rich; the only question remaining is, whether it is "to be found in quantity. That will not be decided in a day or two. It must be ascertained by systematic working ; and until the fact is made indisputably clear, we would not advise any one who has employment, or the means of earning a livelihood otherwise, to go to the Thames. The correspondent of the same paper, writing from the gold-field on August 16th says : — The intelligence of the value and quantity of gold in the small parcels of the quartz taken from the Kuranui reef has been received with intense satisfaction. We have been in doubt for some days. Tools were brought to act upon the dust crushed out of the stone, but, in the absence of the proper chemicals, no result could be received with confidence. From the appearance of the gold in the bulk of the reef, as seen on the surface, I am inclined to think that the gold has been washed into the creeks and level ground bearing towards the beach at a very recent period of time. lam also of opinion, since looking at a sample of quartz shown to me by Mr Hunt, one of the prospectors, that a heavier and better quality of gold may be found in the shaft now being sunk in the Karaka flat, under a false bottom that is met with at about 20 feet from the surface. This is borne out by a prospect taken from Dean's claim at 31 feet, which is coarser, and of a better color. During the last few days the prospecting claim has been visited by nearly every miner on the ground, and the prospectors were not at all sparing in permitting the men to take away samples. Now that the value of the reef is ascertained, the good sense of the diggers will teach them that the claim is the property of the finders. The names of the prospectors are William A. Hunt, George Clarkson, William Cobley, and John E. White i whose energy ia prospecting the

Karaka goldfield, may Ke classed as pro- j during one of the richest reefs in the j Southern Hemisphere, j I would not lead you to suppose that, the large body of rock known to be in; the prospectors' claim is equally auriferous with the sample sent to Auckland. Time will develop its value ; for the present every claim pegg§oi.--out will be worked, and" as Ido nofr- think the G L will have to be sunk for to 'any greaF depth, other claims will shortly Jtfe proved what they are worth. In order to give time to the prospectors to obtain tools and other quartz mining appliances, protection has been granted for a fortnight. Indeed, with the "weather we now have," this kind of mining could not be prosecuted as it ought to be ; the land has to be cleared of heavy bush and timber, which cannot be done until fine weather sets' in, when I hope to see every claim (quartz or alluvial) worked in that hopeful manner which gold-digging always produces. Mr Hunt, named among the prospectors, is a brother of Mr Albert Hunt, the discoverer of the fl-rp.en atone diggings on tlio West Coast, mentioned in your issue of the 10th, in the publication of a lecture on the West Coast goldfields. Storekeepers are laying in stores, and miners are purchasing at Auckland prices. The frontages are being willingly paid for, and I have heard that the Commissioner, who is acting for all parties, native and European, will take care that the interests of the latter will be protected, should substantial buildings be erected on the sites allotted to them. ; The following remarks on the Auckland goldfields, by " One who has visited them," appear*in the " New Zealand Advertiser," o£ August 19: — A great deal of what may be properly called " trash" has been circulated with respect to these diggings, and perhaps a few words from one who has visited them, and who has. no interest in causing a "rush," >nd would be but too glad to see payable diggings established, may not be out of place: — Judging from the newspaper reports, the public of Auckland must be under the impression that the place with the hard name (Kaueranga) is fast assuming the proportions of a second or third class diggings in Australia. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kaueranga is yet pretty much in a state of nature. Over a small area of the ground opened to the prospectors there are dispersed about 200 persons, very few of whom may be called really practical diggers. There are a good many of them that may have had some little experience on goldfields; and who make good prospectors, but the men who can set to in a businesslike way with the pick and shovel and the " gad," form but a small minority. I am not without hope, however, that their joint exertion will, before many days are over, test the true value of the Thames gold-fields. Hardly one hundred persons, and the majority of these are prospectors, are at work About twenty or thirty had commenced sinking in earnest. About half a-dozen of them had got down to a depth of from 15 to 20 feet, and expected to find the bottom in another 20 feet, which it will take three or four more good days' work to accomplish, even with favorable weather. The probable depth of the sinking is however a mere matter of surmise. In some cases the operations of the sinkers have been much impeded by their.striking upon huge boulders, which have to be removed with considerable labour" before the pick and shovel can be freely used again. Some of them, old Australian diggers, are making the best use of their time, and are working day and night turn about. Indications of gold, and gold in fine particles, are found all over the " ground, but it takes a good deal of washing to obtain a good prospect. Besides several small " prospects " of gold in iron sand, I have seen specimens of gold in quartz, but the locality from which they have been taken has not been very clearly indicated, although I have no reason to doubt their genuineness. Accepting the pretty general opinion of experienced miners on the ground, the most likely looking country is not yet opened to the diggers. Great hopes are entertained of what will be done on the Waiotahi creek, but it takes a good deal of working to obtain a good prospect ; several small prospects of gold^ in iron sand and quartz have been exhibited, but I am not aware of the locality from which they were taken, and cannot vouch for their genuineness. The "New Zealand Herald" of August 17, gives the following account oi the Kurunui reef : — The intelligence brought up by the Enterprise yesterday is not only encouraging, but actually exciting. Some very valuable samples from the reef were brought up yesterday by various parties. One of the prospecting party which" found the reef brought up between 81b and 91b of the quartz, nearly 61bs of which has been left with us on exhibition, and may be seen at onr office this ' day. It is even richer in gold than the 21bs smelted for us by Mr Beck from the^ same reef, and which produced at the

rate of 280 ounces of gold to the ton 01 quartz. Some little account of the finding of this reef and of its character may not be uninteresting; to our readers. The fortunate party to whom /belongs the credit of finding: the reef consists of four ; members, Messrs J.E. "White, Glarksorii Gobley, and Hunt. On Priday las;fc_-one of their number came in and informed his mates that he had found a decent prospect in the bottom of a blind gully. They proceeded forthwith- to follow up the prospect, and having satisfied themselves that it was good, after a deliberation amongst them, decided on pushing up the creek in search of a better, prospect. They had not proceeded much farther up the bed of the stream, when Mr "White, who was leading up the creek, and who proposed pushing on a-head, was met by a barrier of stone, rising perpendicularly above their heads to the height of twelve feet, and across the creek to either bank. Over the stone the water ran in a small fall. Looking at the stone they found it to be quartz, and climbing by the crevices .to the top, stood upon the surface, when they found it to be nine feet across. They returned back agaiu and re-examined the face of the stone. One of them then struck it with his pick and the first blow brought down a piece of stone, in which the gold was clearly visible. Satisfying themselves that this was no extraordinary sample of the reef they started back to the township and sought Mr Mackay, who having furnished them with their miners' rights, proceeded back with them to the reef, and together with the "Warden, Mr Bayley, saw the prospecting claim of 300 feet square marked off.- Further inspection satisfied the party that the reef of . rock contained as many as four distinct leaders, which commenced on the face at only an inch or two in thickness, widened out within : the reef to as many feet, and equally as rich in gold. That night the reef was rushed en masse. By candlelight the bearings of the reef were taken, and the ground uorth-east and north-west was marked off in claims. Then began the dispute as to whether that which was taken for gold was really gold or mica. Opinions differed. Some really thought it mica ; others pretended to do so, wishing to induce the holders of claims to abandon the same as worthless. One man, anxious to put the metal to the test, brought down some quicksilver. The' gold was placed upon it; but floated. It refused to amalgamate. The claimholders looked blue— the sticklers for the mica theory were exultant. At this critical juncture a man named Barry rushed out and returned with a shovel, and placing some of the gold upon it, held both over a fire, till the shovel was red hot. The gold thus treated was again placed in contact with the quicksilver,- and lo ! it no longer refused to amalgamate. The sulphur in connection with the gold, which the action of the heat dispelled, had been the cause of its not amalgamating at first. We need not say that a general feeling -of joy and satisfaction was felt at the result. Our correspondent's letter contains much interesting intelligence. "We are glad to say that Barry has a claim next to that of the prospecting party, and still more so that on trial 31bs weight of the stone yielded, half an ounce of gold. Even this rich quartz reef discovery will not warrant a rush to the Thames. Eor, even though other reefs be discovered, it must be remembered that few o.f the claims, taken out upon them have not quartz cropping above the surface. Claims have been marked all along the Kurunui reef, but those who hold them will have to sink till they find the reefs perhaps 50, 100, or even 200 feet below the surface. Machinery and capital are, except in occasional circumstances, necessary for reef mining,, as well as experience. On the whole, however, the intelligence received is highly satisfactory. We learn, too, that one of the parties sluicing is using quicksilver, and therefore that some satisfactory test of the alluvial washings may soon be obtained. "Without quicksilver the gold cannot be saved. '_