The Warden's First Official Report On the Aroha Goldfleld.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3736, 15 December 1880, Page 2

The Warden's First Official Report On the Aroha Goldfleld.

By the permission of the head of the Mines Department, and kindness of Mr Warden Kenrick and his officers, we are enabled to publish the following report upon the Te Aroha Goldfield :—

Warden's Office, Aroha, December 6th, 1880.

Sib,—l have the honor to forward for your information a report upon the new goldfield at Te Aroha, recently placed under my charge.

On the 25 November last, at 9 a.m., from the top of a spur of the main Aroha range, upon which is situated the Prospectors' claim, I formally declared the district open for goldmining. Some 60 to 80 men had been camped on the ground for five or six weeks, waiting for the open* ing. On the morning of the 25th, the number had increased to about 800, of whom between 400 and 500 were bona fide miners. As was anticipated, immediately the district was opened for mining a large number of men pegged off the ground adjoining the Prospectors' giving rise to a somewhat complicated series of disputes. The arrangements previously made and ably carried out by the officers to whom the work was entrusted, enabled me to decide at ones upon the ground the questions as to priority of pegging and manning the ground, and possession of miner's rights. These questions being settled, it was found that about sixty (60) men's ground was disputed by some 300 men, all of whom had an equal right to the same. A little time and patience, together with the good sense and temper of the disputants themselves, have settled these disputes out of Court, I having been called upon to act as arbitrator only in a few cases. I am gratified at being able to say that the excitement inevitable at a new rush was kept within bounds, the utmost good temper being displayed by all present. The day prior to the opening, the natives objecting to their portions of the reserve being included in the goldfield, waited upon me at my office, raising objections and asking for various concessions and privileges. Finding that these would not be granted, one of the most obstructive expressed his intention of taking the gold from any miners found on the reserve, but a quiet intimation that if the threats were not withdrawn, he would at once be arrested and detained until he found sureties for his good behaviour made him retract. .

The day after the opening the whole of the Natives came in and signed the agree* ment. Some twenty of them, taking out miners' rights, and starting to work as miners. With respect to the prospects of the field I can only express my opinion— an opinion produced on an examination made by myself and Mr Wilson, Underviewer at Thames, of some thirty olaims —that a permanent gofdfield has been opened, that will prove to be of very large extent, and will not be confined to the or within the present proclaimed boundaries. I have spoken with more than 80 miners who have either taken up claims or are scattered orer the field prospecting. In every instance they concur with me in thinking the indications most. promising. Not only have loose pieoei of stone showing gold been picked up over a large area, but several welldefined lines of reef have been traced, in each instance of very promising looking stone with all the minerals indicating gold. One reef, Catran and party, is situated some 2£ miles North of Prospectors' (down the river), another, Dickson and party, about the Bame distance South (up the ■ river). Both parties believe they have payable reefs. Time alone can prove this, bat it tends to show the extent of ground over which gold bearing stone is supposed to exist. Between the two claims above named some sixty claims had been taken up on Thursday last (2nd inst). In the majority of these, work or preparations for work have already commenced. It is satisfactory to be able to report that the miners—many being experienced miners—speak hopefully of their prospects. The amount of real hard,- practical work they have commenced is the best guarantee they can give of their faith in the value of the field. The time lost in settling the titles to the various claims in dispute, and in making the necessary surveys has prevented much work being done in the claims immediately adjacent to the Prospectors'. These disputes being now settled the value of those claims should soon be. known. In No. IN. (Bonanza) some very good stone was sent to me prior to the opening of the field by Messrs Fergusson and Mclntyre, two of the present shareholders. The locality where the stone was found will—now that the titles are settled—soon be made known. I have taken advantage of the new regulations to refuse the numerous applications made tb me for^protection— thus compelling the claims to be fully manned and worked. Though some dissatisfaction existed at first, when this rule was enforced, I believe that the good sense of the miners has convinced them of its necessity. I need scarcely point out the advantages to the field of having the claims proved before calling on the outside public to invest their money. The difference between the old and new rules is simply the difference between speculation and honajide work. Several claims have sent stone to the Thames for the purpose of being crushed and tested. The return to Gribble and party satisfied them they have a payable reef, and they are pushing on their work in consequence. Martin and party had a small crushing, the result I have not yet learnt. The Aroha Company (Prospectors') are now crushing one ton of their stone, I hope to send particulars of the result in this report. The leader in their claim continues to show well, gold being visible in the stone. It has thickened to about 12 inches in solid ground. A drive is being {>ut in to intersect the leader at a low evel. This should be completed in about a fortnight, and go far to prove the value of the claim. I will report in detail upon the various claims at a future date, but enclose herewith a few rough notes of the

result of a visit paid to some of them. At the opening of the district, a small township was laid off on a piece of land set apart by the native chief, Morgan, for that purpose. These sections were taken up within two days of opening. I therefore requeeted Mr Parchas, the District But« veyor, to lay off two fresh blocks to the north—on land belonging to Morgan's daughter—this land having been given up for this purpose by Mr Lipsey. The northern portion of the township is on a high shingle ridge running from the hills to the river with a good landing place for steamers—or rather several. The owners have behaved in the most liberal manner in respect to reserves—consenting to a block being set aside for Government Buildings, schools, churches, hospital and cemetery, the land being inalienable. I pointed out to the natives the neeessity for draining and forming some of the streets, and that as it was for their own benefit they should bear the expense. They have agreed to this, and are at present engaged in draining and forming one street and clearing another. The town is well placed as a mining centre, and in addition is accessible by river and - road. It should form an important inland town in the immediate future, situate as it is in close proximity to a large area of fine agricultural land—to the Lincolnshire farmers settlement, and in the centre of what promises to be an important gold* field. In conclusion! would again express the opinion that I have formed—and fhat is, that in the Te Aroha district we have^ a valuable and permanent goldfield, bat one that will require time, money, and a good deal of prospecting to develop fully. The discoveries that have already been made should justify all three being brought to bear on the district. The danger to be guarded against is overspeculation — with hona-fide work the future of the district is assured. lean only trust that in a future report I may be able to endorse, from actual results, the favourable opinion I now hold of the field. I would point out the neeessity of warning men thinking of coming to this district that there. ii but little demand at present for labour, and that it requires both time and money to develop even known discoveries, and at present there appears no prospect of an alluvial field being found; In a future letter I trust .to be able to offer some suggestions for the placing of the department on a permanent footing.-— I have, Ac,

Habbt Kinbick, Warden. To the Hon the Minister of Justice, Wellington. . .