LONGWOOD DIGGINGS.

Southland Times, Issue 1155, 27 October 1869, Page 4

LONGWOOD DIGGINGS.

The following report has been handed to us for publication : —

Longwood, 22nd October, 1869. His Honor the Superintendent. Sib — I have the honor to report that an application was made to me on the 20th inst. for a prospecting claim on an auriferous quartz lead at Longwood, described as to locality — about 1£ miles from N. W. corner of Longwood Ground Sluicing Company's claim, and as to size and yield of reef to have shown particles of gold in several pieces detached by pick from the reef, and sampled by crushing and amalgamating^ produced one quarter grain to one pound two ounces of stone, which would about equal

one ounce eighteen grains to fch© ton ; Of from a leader or reef about cne-and-a--half feet thick, backed by pipeclay and sandstone.

I have not deemed the evidence sufficient to warrant the grant of a claim, but have given intermediate protection for one month to enable further development. Some excitement having arisen, I consider it necessary to remain in the immediate neighborhood for further research, but beyond the facts alleged above, I am in possession of no information to warrant any saaguine hope from the reported reef, or of any reasons for a grant for discovery. Good results are certainly to be expected, but the reef at present bared is so small, and the trial of stone from so small a quantity, that no definite idea of its value can be at present assumed. There have been many applications for miners' rights and claims of various kinds, but beyond pegging off ground, no work has been done except by parties who have been some time on or near the ground; in fact, the applications are nearly all speculative, and the d\Btanco and difficulty of communication will require time to be given to enable holders of claims to get mining tools and provisions on to the ground. I am happy to report to your Honor that in the Ground Sluicing Co. 'a workings, two nuggets were found yesterday, reported as three and a half ounces and half ounce. One of seven ounces was sold by a miner working at Longwood, but doubts are expressed^ as as to whether it came from this locality. I intend to remain in Riverton on Monday for issue of rights, and to hear other applications in disputes which have arisen. I Bhali again visit the ground on Tuesday, and hope to report to your Honor on Wednesday.

I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

Henby Rogers, "Warden.