NEW GOLD FIELDS. A Holiday Tour of Coromandel's New Mining Areas.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 86, 24 January 1885, Page 3

NEW GOLD FIELDS. A Holiday Tour of Coromandel's New Mining Areas.

Auckland, January 16. • As one bent on a holiday tour, I betook; myself in the direotion of the deserted vil-i lage of Coromandel, the once favoured spotj of the wandering miner in search for gold and fortune, and at various times the abode of thousands who are now scattered far and near, as their respective inclinations and means may have carried them. It may be interesting to some of these and to your readers to know something of Coromandel, how fares it, and also of the new gold field, Manaia District, ita situation and prospects. Coromandel, as a goldfield, has had many ups and downs during the past thirty years, many new reefa and new finds, and yet Coromandel has no stable industry. Why ? Is this the fault of the population? Is it the fault of its politicians ? Echo answers ? Why is this ? Will the people bestir themselves and sro to it ? Coromandel is no better now than it was thirty years ago. Manaia, the new goldfield, is Bituated about ten miles from the bank corner, which makes it about one-third of the distance on the Thames Road, between Coromandel and G-rahamBtown, and not far from Mercury Bay. By following up the main creeks from the Mercury Bay settlement to the dividing range, miners will drop on to the auriferous belt of country in a very short distance and time. There is a good landing place in the Manaia Harbour, and a road may bo made for dray traffic at a very trifling cost to the foot of the ranges. Getting to the mines from here is a different matter, and it is only the indomitable perseverance of the gold-miner and the product of his discoveries that will solve this almost insurmountable difficulty. However, to roach Blackmore and lluffins's claim is an easy matter, and thore will be no difficulty in getting machinery here vhonovor sufficient inducement offers Moantimo Blackmore and Ruffin have lost ro time in gotting to work again after tho Christmas holidays, and will soon devolop what it is to be hoped will turn out one of the most promising discoveries of the goldfields. It is many years since Rulun and Blackmore first attempted prospecting tho Manaia district, and it is only those who have penetrated the New Zealand forest but a short distance who can at all understand the difficulties a prospector has to contend with before discoveiing a trail of gold, and then to follow this to the reef from where it is supposed to have been thrown. The supplejacks, the fern, the scrub, the undergrowth, the surface wash, and what not ; and yet all theso difficulties have been and will be overcome by miners in search of the precious metal. May they all be suitably rewarded for their industry. Tho reef in this case has been discovered by driving, and is covered by 7or 8 feet of surface. The drive is now in about 35 feet, and all along the floor fcr about 24 feet golden stone was picked out— some worth about 2ozs. to the lb. The drive in the face enters a fine sandstone rock, and the reef has every appearance of making as it goes ahead. However, the management have for the present determined to try another drive below the run, and if this proves the run downwards, tho proprietors will have a valuable reef to work upon. There are several other leaders and reefs on the claim ; but as they cannot all be tried by tho same hands and by the same men at tho same ti»ie, a little patience will be required to await their development. The prospectors have about 18 acres applied for under license, but as the auriferous belt extend* for some miles on oither side over broken country and bush, any person working the ground adjoining may hit something equally good, if not better, than the prospectors. Hayes and Coghlan are at work on ground adjoining, and have a small stringer, which they purpose following into the sandstone iock, where they hope to have good chow in tho stone. At present loose gold only is obtained from dish-washing. Manaia No. 2 wants about 8 feet of driviug done yet to intersect the reef, where good prospects were obtained upon tho surface. The Khartoum Claim has also a fair sho »v, and a considerable amount of prospecting work done. This claim has a good show for cutting the reef, and will give a good account of itself after the holidays are over This is not the only auriferous belt.

Another Goldflold. McGregors new find, although in the same locality, speaking figuratively, . quite a new goldfield, situated about) ix miles from Blackmore and Ruffin's claim and is more inland towards the dividing range, more difficult of access, and more precipitous. There are few men possessed of the patience, perseverance, and pluck to penetrate such rough country for such a length of time as McGt egor has done in search of the golden treasure, and Mr McGregor i 3 certain he has it this time in solid gold. He feels quite insulted at being told by tome inexperienced new-chums that he is showing retorted gold. It is no such thing ; it is gold from the wash alongsido of the reef, and McGregor owns the centre block of one of the beßt auriferous belts in the neighbourhood. Of course, McGregors friends have the ground adjoining 5 but there is plenty open to be taken up by any party of miners game to tackle the ranges, and with means undor command to keep them feoing for a term. To any such I would say, Try your luck. McGregor will be happy to give any infor nation in his power to strangers visiting his goldfield who are anxious and willing to try their luck. His long oxperienco in prospecting the neighbourhood gives him an advanced knowledge which no one else possesses.