THE NEW GOLDFIELD AT HIKUTAI. Prospectors' Application Before the Warden.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 219, 10 September 1887, Page 5

THE NEW GOLDFIELD AT HIKUTAI. Prospectors' Application Before the Warden.

Thames, Sept. 3. At the Warden's Court; on Thursday, before Mr Stiatford, Warden, an application was made by R. Mcßrinn for u licensed holding consisting of 30 acres at the new " find " at Hikutaia. The applicant stated that he was not aware of the existence of a gold-Leaiing quartz reef within a mile of the "fina." It was his intention to expend £300 in working the holding. Several assays- had been made by private persons of stone from the reef which he had discovered, but none had been made for himself. He de-sired a claim of 30 acres because tins was the maximum allowed by the Act. The Warden said this was no reason why it should be granted, any more than he (the Warden) .should impose the maximum punishment on any poison convicted of an offence. Before putting Mcßrinn to the cost of surveying the 30 acres it would perhaps be as well for the applicant to get some stuff assayed by Mr Montgomery or someone else, and let him (the Warden) know the result. Mr Mcßiinn then applied for protection. The Warden replied that by the Act the land applied for became on his application protected by the Crown, arid exempt fiom occupation until the license Avas either granted or refused. He had the power to prosecute anyone for trespass who enteied on the ground in the meantime. Mr Humphreys, solicitor, put in an objection on his owu behalf against Mcßrinn's application being granted, as the latter had refused to show him the pegs defining the claim, which was in direct contravention te section 103 of the Money Act, 1886. The Warden held that this section could apply only to claims, and the ground desired by Mcßrinn had been niaiked out as a licensed holding — not as a claim. He would adjourn the application until the Bth inst., and in the meantime Mr Humphreys could read up the regulations on this point. Addressing Mcßiinn, he said he desiied an assay to be made for him, in order to aiiord some knowledge of the value oi the reef. If it resulted satisfactorily, he would grant him as large an area as he could, as he had made the "find." For the benelit of those who had pegged out other large area*?, however, he might say that he would not be favouiablc to granting large holdings to any other applicants, as were he to do so it would decidedly injure the prospects of the field. In addition to this it would be an injustice to Mcßrinn, as it might stop him getting the reward offered by Government for the discovery of a new goldfield. The case would be adjourned until Thursday next. The action of the Warden has given general satisfaction to the miners.

Thames, Sept. 8. The Wardens Court was crowded to-day to hear the decision respecting Mcßrinns's application for 30 acres of licensed holding at Hikutaia. Mr Humphreys, solicitor lodged an objection. The Warden stated that he had visited the mine yesterday, and had also employed an official, who was pi'eparing full particulars relative to its position to other mining districts. The find was five miles from Waitekauri workings, the reef was seven feet thick and had been di iven on eight feet. The drop of the hanging wall was 75 degrees and the reef which hugs it is very rich in gold and silver. He had had a dish of stnff washed with a result which astonished him. Sundry small pieces of stone had been assayed as follows : — Bank of New Zealand assay — 98oz gold, 1,7750z silver ; School of Mines assay — 690z gold, 1,8050z silver ; Mr Montgomery's — 83oz gold ; 1,708 of silver ; other assays, 63 ounces of gold ; 1,811 of silver valued at £575 per ton ; and 94 ounces of gold and 807 ounces of silver valued at £617 per ton, Thewardenfurtherdescribedthesatisfactory evidence of the value ot Mcßrinn's discovery and its probable importance to the country. He delivered a scathing denunciation of goldfield pests who withoat bodily labour endeavoured to snatch the benefit of hard earned discoveries from the rightful owners. He would award Mcßrinn the ground applied for as a special claim necessitating the ultimate employment cf fifty men but he declined to give leases to men following in the wake of prospectors. These wouldhave consolidated claims worked under miners' rights, and their surveys could proceed.