KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD. PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 382, 6 July 1889, Page 5

KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD. PROGRESS OF OPERATIONS.

Our correspondent writes from this new goldfield in the vicinity of Mercuvy Bay as follows : — The weather has been wretched here during the present week, but notwithstanding, Thomson and party are bu.-y bagging and packing out quartz ready for shipment to the Thames ; they arc sending 20 tons of general stuff. They liavo cut the reef about 3o feet from the surface, the appearance of which is very good. Kawhine, alias Coffin, is bagging 5 tons, also to be sent to the Thames. The quartz id beinjr taken from the upper portion of tho reef. Cold can be seen in the stone, and with proper treatment it ought to give a handsome return. He is putting in a drive to cut the reef about 40ft feet from thesurface. There are a number of claims pegged out on bbc supposed line of reef. Pat Hayes, an old Coromandel miner, has got a slice of it in his ground. He deserves ifc, as he has spent time and money heroin prospecting. Thomson (native) and Lynch, trom Coromandel, have also a good show. Further on is the Red Mercury claim, the owner of which had a good reef before Kawhinc's patch was discovered. They arc putting in a drive, and expect to cut the reef at a low level in about two weeks. They jom i the prospectors on the Bald Hill. Johnny Evets and Party : Four payable reefs have been cut by Evers, and also some small, rich leaders. They have put in two drives, and cut reefs which give good di&h pros- I pects. About half a mile from the coast, the owneis ot the Maori Dream are packing about CO tons to be sent to Auckland for treatment. The owners of Sea View and Black Jack intend to ship large quantities from each claim. The reports seem to have attracted some outside attention, as a number of speculators have already visited the Held, but nearly all the claims are held by residents of the district. Most of the goods required are packed from Mercury Bay, a distance of seven miles. The county officials have one man employed widening the tiack, which on account of the recent rains is two feet deep with mud. A line of road through a swamp at Kuaotunu is laid out, but there ifc rests, I .suppose, until fine weather or private enterpiise steps in and takes up the case. If the work was pushed on at once, it \\ ould considerably reduce the cost of packing. There is about three feet six inches on the bar at the entiance to the river at high water. — " Auckland Soar," July 4.