THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 85, 25 September 1869, Page 5

THE MAREWHENUA GOLDFIELD.

There are, we are given to understand by a gentleman just returned from that place, about 150 miners on the Marewhenua diggings. These are scattered over a large extent of country, working in small parties in the different gullies. The general earnings per man is estimated at £2 per week, by box sluicing " under difficulties." One party, however, is reported as doing considerably better; we, however, refrain, in the absence of precise information, from stating the amount which has reached us. Though the diggings are not what may be called rich diggings, there is no saying how far that character may be attained when the district is proclaimed a goldfield, and the mining rules and regulations are brought in operation, enabling parties to bring water to the assistance of the miners. The climate is described as being very fine and salubrious. Though wood is so scarce as almost to amount to an entire absence of that commodity, good coal can be brought on the ground from Oamaru at £2 10s. per ton. Provisions are mentioned as being cheap — mutton, 4s. 6d. per side ; bread, Is. per 4lb. loaf; sugar, groceries, and slops, at a small advance on Dunedin prices. We are informed that the conduct of the prospecting parties in confining their operations to the flats is considered anything but judicious, as these flats can be tested and worked at any time by • auy parlies, independently of those subsidised by the town of Oamaru and the Grovernment. What is said to be the proper course for these parties to adopt is to test the hills and the deeper ground, which they, from the means and appliances at their command, should be in a position to do. Unless the hills be thoroughly tested, and found to be sufficiently auriferous to induce population to settle, the workings will be confined to the flats and to large sluicing parties. If, therefore, Oamaru knows its own interest, and really desires to obtain population, the parties will be kept in the field, and advantage taken of the present five weather to test the higher and more hilly ground. As an instance of the anticipated permanency of these diggings, we may mention, upon the authority of our present informant, that a church has been alj ready erected on the Awa Moko B-i- ! ver.— " Mount Ida Chronicle."