COROMANDEL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3791, 21 February 1881, Page 2

COROMANDEL.

(FEOM THE MAIL.)

The Tokatea are making good progress this week in No. 7 level. Last night from 20 to 25 feet had been driven for the week.

Five or six miles from Manaia, a party of prospectors are at work on ground which is giving goorf indications of gold. . Messrs G-. McLeod and J. McGregor have signed the pledge together, and Mr McGregor will deliver a lecture on the subject of teetotalism at the Lower Township at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, when it is hoped there will be a good attendance. In the case Dooley v; Fraser, the former had pegged out land at Fraser's Mill for a business site under the Goldfield's Act. His pegs encroaching on land held by Fraser under lease from the native natives, Fraser destroyed the mining notice and removed the pegs. The Warden first drew the attention of the interested parties to the fact that the land occupied by Fraser for'mill purposes was within the boundaries of the goldfield, and therefore subject to goldfield regulations. The mill site had, however, been obtained from the natives by a valid lease. Fraser had done wrong by taking the law into his own hands and removing the pegs, thinking he had absolute right to the ground. It was wrong to remove the pegs, while on the other hand Dooley should not have put pegs in land'occupied by buildings without obtaining an order from the Warden's office. With respect to Fraser's interest, the Warden would have a sufficient area marked off for the requirements of the mill property, and would have it proclaimed a reserve, thus securing to Fraser's tho ground required. He would get the County Council to lay off the road, and mark out the business sites, Dooley to have first choice of a site, as his application would be ' the first lodged—but he would grant; no order until the site had been r surveyed. Fraser having legal title;;: his section should be reserved. Applicants would have choice of sites according to the order their applicants were received at the office. Beyond these sites the whole ground would be thrown open for goldmining purpnses. Mr Fraser had to pay expenses. Mr Wilson made similar complaint. His pegs had been pulled up. The Warden gave similar ruling as in Dooley's case respecting the withholding of orders until the CounPy Council had laid off the road; the applicant would then have priority of choice.

Work in the different mines is steadily progressing, and almost every day reveals fresh indications of the richness of the field. Last Wednesday, in Blackmore's claim, a new leader was found, which although small, was very rich in the precious metal, about 6lbs of specimens, estimated to yield over an ounce to the pound, being taken out and bagged. Miners who know the district and saw the stones certify that they are the richest yet obtained in the district. This mine appears to be a complete network of reefs and leaders, and all are more or less auriferous. In Sheehan's claim the small leader running parallel to> the reef after being worked upon for a short distance widenened out considerably, and is now in the face about a foot in width, the quartz containing dabs of gold. The reef has also been worked on and a quantity of picked stones obtained. On Wednesday the shareholders in Barrett's lease broke down a part of their leader and obtained some good specimen stone. Tiernan and party have commenced a drive at the Creek level, and as they have not many feet to drive before cutting their reef will soon be able to ascertain whether the rich gold shining on the surface is likely to continue down. I hear that this party do not. intend to crush their specimens entill next month.

The'party of natives who have taken up a lease adjoining Messrs Green and Walker's leases have been fortunate enough to discover what they believe to be the reef which shed the specimens they picked up, and they are consequently in a considerable state of excitement. They kept up a kind of jubilee the whole night after taking out from the reef some quartz showing gold. The discovery is close to the Tiki G. M. Company (Major Green's) boundary, and will considerably enhance the value of the Company's property. Srveral 5 acre pieces of ground have been taken up on Government land, on Mrs Mclotosh's western boundary, and the owners are doing a considerable amount of prospecting. In Messrs Sullivan and Thorley's lease a leader' of blue and white quartz bearing east and west and underlying N.W., has been instructed in a surface drive. In two or three pieces of quartz in the small stack outside the tunnel a little coarse gold could be seen, owing to the roof of the drive having fallen in. I was unable to examine the lode, which, from the quarter outside would doubtless be about six or eight inches wide. A tunnel abovit 50 feet lower has been started, from the bed of a small creek which will test the value of leader.

The Alpine claim of five acres adjoins Sullivan and Thorley's on the east, and expect to cut their leader. Un the west is situated five acres; taken up by George McLeod, of Tokatea memory. Below the road level a good-looking reef had been cut in a drive, but no gold lias yet, I believe, been seen in it, although I was informed that when pounded in a mortar a few colours can be obtained. McGregor's claims adjoin McLeod's and Sullivan's. A considerable amount of prospecting had been previously done by: Blackmore and party some time back, and several likely leaders intersected. The workings are now being extended, and some quartz taken from a leader which I saw pounded in a mortar gave a fair show of fine gold when panned off.

The Break of Day G.M. Cos. ground is favorably situated, adjoiuing Barrett's and White's on the east, and the Government land on the west. This Company was the first formed to work on the new Tiki goldfield. At present the Company have not commenced operations, but the fact of their, property, leased from Mrs Macintosh, being situated in the immediate vicinity of good gold, should induce them to work the ground vigorously. ; The chief, Ngakapa, has purchased a half share in McDonnell Brothers' claim, the amount paid being £100.