STEWART ISLAND TINFIELDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2434, 6 December 1892, Page 3

STEWART ISLAND TINFIELDS.

On last Saturday Professor Black returned to Dunedin from Stewart Island, where he has been inspecting operations on the tinfields. These tinfields were discovered some two or three years ago at Pegasus, in the southern end of Stewart Island, but nothing has since been done in developing them. For some time past, however, two men have been working away at the eastern claim, and have taken from about an acre of ground 3 tons of stream tin, and 80ozs of gold, without having to go to a greater depth than from two to five feet. The tin is worth £6O per ton, and the gold is worth £3 18s per oz, being considered of first-class quality, so it will be seen at once that the discovery is a valuable one. The tin was washed by the usual tail-race process, and the gold separated from it by various hand processes, and then the two men carried the 3 tons weight over precipitous bush country on their backs to the sea, after which they had to take it 4 miles in an open boat to Pegasus Bay, where it was put on board a cutter which brought it to the Bluff. Professor Black went to Stewart Island in his private capacity to examine the results of these men's labor, but as he is personally interested in the discovery he declined to offer any opinion as regards the richness of the field. He leaves everyone to judge by the results above stated. The lodes from which the tin came, ami which are of a segregated character, have been discovered in the southern point of the Remarkables, IGOO feet above the sea level, but their extent and richness cannot be ascertained until they are properly tested. A good deal of capital will be required for this, as a tram-line will have to be made for a distance of eight miles, which will cost about £2OOO, and machinery to the value of about £4OOO will also be required. Want of capital has caused the field to lie dormant since its discovery, but there is an expert on his way from Queensland at the present time who has been commissioned by an English syndicate to report on these lodes, and consequently we may expect work to go on vigorously before long. This information was given to us by Professor Black, who will be associated with the Queensland expert. The discovery is apparently a very important one and it is to be hoped that the field will soon be developed.