PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD. VISIT OF INSPECTOR WILSON.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 430, 21 December 1889, Page 4

PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD. VISIT OF INSPECTOR WILSON.

Mr Wilson, Mining Inspector for the Thames district, arrived in Whangarei on Saturday week with instructions from the Government to proceed as quickly as possible to tho Puhipuhi Silver Camp and inquire into and report upon the extent and value of the silver lodes discovered by tho Whangarei Prospoctors' Association. As it was generally understood that it will depend on Mr Wilson's report whether the Government will proclaim tho Puhipuhi Block a mining district, considerable interest is attached to his movements. He visited Puhipuhi last week, and referring to his subsequent movements tho "Northern Advocate" says : — The Inspector remains behind to I make a very minute examination of the various lodes. His modus operandi is to take samples from every lode, and with the assistance of Mr Rhodes (an assayer who came from the Thames on Thursday to join Mr Wilson) assay each sample, and, after having ascertained by assay the lodes which contain the best ore, a small parcel from each will be got out and taken bo the Thames School of Mines for treatment. Should M r Wilson find by the assay tests proof that the ore is as good as has been represented in some quarters, he will immediately make an interim report to that effect to the Government, which of course will expedite the oponing of the field. But to check the assay tests, ore will be got out in bulk and forwarded to the Thames and treated before Mr Wilson furnishes his I final report. Ib is hardly likely under all the circumstances that the field will be opened this side of the new year, but that the field will be opened is quite a foregone conclusion. Mr Wilson returned from Whangarei this morning. Some feeling is displayed in the North as to whether Whangarei or Kawakawa is tho better route to Puhipuhi. The " Northern Advocate " says in its last issue : — The cheapest route from Auckland to Kawakawa and return is via Whangarei, by steamer and coach. Via Whangarei, the refurn fare is 455 ; via Russell by steamer ib is 50s. As for PuhiDuhi, travellers may reach it via Whangarei in less time and at just half the cost that are involved via Kawakawa. Whangarei to Rasmupsen's by 'bus for 7s 6d ; at Rasmussen's, 9 miles from the Puhipuhi mining camp, horse? may bo hired at 5s a day.

RETURN OF MR WILSON. Mr Wilson, Government Mining Inspector for the Thame3 district, who has been on a visit to Puhipuhi extending over several days, returned to town from Whangarei by the steamer Wellington. While at Puhipuhi, Mr Wilson went over the prospector's claim, and inspected a great number of reefs. He relected 6cwt of store, which he brought on to Auckland, and hence to the Thames by the steamer Botomahana at 8 o'clock this morning for treatment by the School of Mines. Considerable importance will attach to this test, as being from etone selected by an independent expert, and the result will be looked for with interest.