PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 453, 12 March 1890, Page 5

PUHIPUHI SILVER FIELD.

PROSPECTS OF THE FIELD. In view of the fact that the “ Gazette ” declaring the Puhipuhi silver field open will probably appear to day, the following information regarding the field will probably be of interest to all those in Auckland who feel any desire to have the field thoroughly developed. It is now soino time since the first discovery of silver was made in the district, and there has been much feeling displayed over the question as to whether the field was one which should be opened for ordinary mining operations. The Government showed a remarkable amount of caution in dealing with the matter, so much, in fact, that a feeliug of strong irritation was roused in the whole of the northern districts bordering on the Puhipuhi. At last, however, after many urgent representations from the settlers, and after careful examination of the ground by the mining inspectors, the authoiities determined a week or two back to throw open the field under the Mining Act. Since that decision they have been preparing regulations for the management of the field, and Mr Clendon has been appointed Warden of the district to administer the mining laws. HOW MATTERS STAND. At present there is little or no work being done, as everybody has been waiting for the field to be formally opened. There are a large number of persons hanging about all over the place, ready to take the first opportunity to get a piece of ground. After the issue of the regulations fourteen days must pass before pegging out begins, and then there is sure to be a rush for the various likely spots. Many have been already pegged cut, but such pegging out has no etlect. Most of those on the lield are Whangavei people, but many outsiders have an interest in some of the claims. Good prices have been paid for shares, and in some cases the only thing to be sold is the chance of a share ; for no one can tell at present who will get the various pieces of ground. There will be a pretty lively time on the field in about a fortnight. MEANS OF APPROACH.

The most convenient way of getting at Puhipuhi is by way of Whangarei, though it is also reached by way of Russell and Kawakawa, the .distance from the latter place being very short. By the Wbangarei route it is possible to leave Auckland at 10.30 at night, and to bo at Puhipuhi by 1 o’clock next afternoon. Anyone going up should take the steamer for Whangarei, and then coach it to Hukerenui, where horses may be procured for the rest of the journey at 5s per day. Altogether the journey will cost about 27s bd.

The present road from Whangarei is not so good as it might be, and goes round to the prospectors’ ground in a very roundabout fashion, forming almost a circle from Edward Nehua’s place to the camp. If it were run from Nehua’s in a straight line across the head of the Wairekei to the Prospectors’ Claim, a fairly level road would be obtained, with a saving of about 6 miles, and such a road would open up a block of very fine agricultural land. The present road is almost impassable in winter. The total distance from Whangarei by the present route is about 26 miles ; by the proposed route it would be about 20 miles. EXTENT OF THE FIELD.

The whole of Puhipuhi comprises about 20,000 acres, but of course only a very small part has bee.n prospected. Minerals have, however, been found over a considerable part of the district. Traces of gold have been found in some of the silver ore that has been treated ; while there i 3 a deposit of antimony on the Kaimamakau Greek. The Prospectors’ Claim is situated on the Waiotu Creek, and comprises about 60 acres. Silver has also been found on the Wairekei Creek and other places. There can be no doubt that the whole district requires careful prospecting. It will not do at present to be too sanguine, but there is every ground for hope that there has been discovered a good mineral field. MINERS’ RIGHTS. At present there are a number of men on the field ho'ding miners’ rights from the Thames, and they claim that they can take up ground on these rights. It would seem : that they are perfectly justified by the Act in making such a claim; for the Act says that miners’ rights are available on any ■ part of the Crown lands, and Puhipuhi is a portion of the Crown lands. There is pretty sure to be some difficulty over this question as soon as the field is opened. The holders of these rights will contest their claims against all-corners. The field cannot be considered an El Dorado for poor men. Silver is not nearly so valuable as gold ; hence a much greater area of ground and much more work is required to get the same return. It is thought that the ground should be let on prospectors’ leases instead of on the miners’ right system, as the latter would require too many men to be employed on a piece of ground. On the lease system protection could be given to a piece of ground worked by a few men, till it could be seen what the ground was really worth. A great assistance to the district would be the opening of the railway or a tramway to get off the kauri trees that have been partly burnt, and that will soon be useless unless they ore cut down and sawn at once. FOOD AND WATER. Provisions can be obtained easily enough on the ground, as they will be packed in from Whangarei and Kawakawa. As soon as the field is fairly opened, a store or two will be started, and goods will be obtainable at a small advance on Whangarei or Kawakawa prices. There is plenty of water all about, as there are two or three never-fail-ing creeks flowing through the ground. WILL IT PAY ? Though it is admitted on all hands that silver has been discovered at Puhipuhi, many are very sceptical as to its being in payable quantities. Of course time alone can prove that, but at present the indications are really excellent. Ruby silver has been found on the field; and it is said that silver is never found in that form except where the deposits are very large. The Prospectors’Claim has been sunk to a depth of 15ft, and the reef is found to improve in size, giving hope of running to a good depth. One of the difficulties to be faced is the question of treating the ore. The process recommended is chloridising, roasting and the pan amalgam! The cost of carriage will be considerable ; but after a little time some local works might easily be erected. The great point is to go carefully to work, and not to spoil everything by plunging. We are indebted for most of the above information to a gentleman who is at pi-e----sent in town on a visit from Whangarei, and who is vei’y well acquainted with the whole district.

FAILURE TO FLOAT THE PROSPECTORS’ MINE AT SYDNEY. It was recently stated on the authority of a Whangarei informant''that "a new reef

having been discovered in the Prospectors’ Mine at Puhipuhi, the promoters of that venture had instructed their agent, who recently went to Sydney with the object of floating the mine as a company, to withdraw it from the market. We find, however, upon careful inquiry that the real cause of the withdrawal was the failure of the agent to float the company. He wrote by last week’s steamer returning his credentials and papers and stating that owing to the number of companies that had been put on the market, there, and the failure of some previous ventures, he saw no prospect of success,and therefore he relinquished his commission. Another agent is now in Melbourne endeavouiing to float the Taumatxhinau freehold property as a company, but no advices have yet been received from him as to his ‘ success or otherwise. It is considered in Whangarei thactheProspectors No. 1 Syndicate made a mistake in not going to Melbourne instead of Sydney, atid probably this will be done.

LANDS CLOSED TO SETTLEMENT. OFFICIALS CANNOT GRAPPLE WITH THE DIFFICULTY. Wellington, March 7. It appeal’s the Government foresaw the difficulty with regard to the Puhipuhi land, but as the law stands there is no way out of it. If the district is to be thrown open for mining the land must be reserved from sale, and if it is wanted for settlement it cannot be used for mining. Ministers philosophically say Aucklunders have made their choice and must abide by t for the present at any rate. FORMAL PROCLAMATION. THE BOUNDARIES DESCRIBED. TIMBER REGULATIONS. Wellington, March 8. The proclamation signed by His Exccel lency the Governor, appointing Puhipuhi to be a mining district under the Mining Act of 18S6, from the 6th March, 1890, appears in the “ Gazette,” just issued. The following particulars are given immediately following the proclamation : NORTH ISLAND, PUHIPUHI MINING DISTRICT.

All that area in the provincial district of Auckland bounded towards the north by the Omapere No. 1 block fi’om the county of Hokianga to Omapere Lake, thence by the said Omapere Lake to Te Totara block ; thence by the said Te Totara block to the roads which form the north-eastern boundary of the block, thence by that road and the road which forms the northern boundary of section No. 3, Parish of Omapere, and the continuation of the latter road past section No. 521, through tho Tangatapu block, the Whatitiu block, the Hauhaupoenama block and the Pirirotaha No. I block, and past the old land claim, No. 55, to the road intersected by section No. 4 (G. Clarke, 440 acres), thence by the last mentioned road and its continuation to the Waiaruho river, then by that river to the Waitangi river, thence by the said Waitarigi river to the Bay of Islands, and thence by the Bay of Islands to Cape Brett; towards the east generally by the ocean to Whangarei harbour, thence towards the south generally by tho said Whangarei harbour and the Mangapai ; thence by that section and sections Nos. la, 2a, 2, and 3 of the said parish of Mangapai to the Taurarra river ; thence towards tho south-west generally by the counties of Hobson and Hokianga respectively to the Omapere No. 1 block aforesaid. REGULATIONS AS TO TIMBER. The following regulations for the Puhipuhi mining district appear in the Gazette of this evening : 1. Every holder of a claim or licensed holding within the Puhipuhi mining district shall be entitled to cut and use for mining purposes, without charge, all timber other than kaux’i or totara growing within the limits of the area of his claim or licensed holding. 2. Every holder of a claim or licensed holding within the said district requiring kauri or totai-a timber shall apply in writing to the Warden for the district or his agent ► peeially authorised for that purpose, who, on payment of Is a hundred superficial feet for kauri, and Is 6d for totara, shall grant permission in writing to cut the same, but tho minimum price to be paid for each tree shall bo not less than Tl ss. The right to sell or take any timber growing on the area included in any claim or licensed holding shall x-emain with biiG Warden. 3. Every holder of a claim or licensed holding in the said district shall be held responsible and shall pay for any kauri or totara trees which may be destroyed by fire originating through the wilful act, carelessness, or negligence of any such holder of a claim or licensed holding respectively.