COROMANDEL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 224, 16 May 1872, Page 8

COROMANDEL.

(From the "Auckland Weekly News."

Coromandel is now going through a transition state (from a prospecting to an acknowledged goldfieid), which the Upper Thames experienced in 1868, when reports of its value had been accepted by miners on other goldfields in the colony, thereby causing many experienced men to resort thither to test for themselves the gold-bearing capabilities of the country. The result was proved by the returns from the Shotover, Long Drive, Golden Crown, and Caledonian Claims, and the development of a large extent of auriferous land. In a like manner this field has been an attraction to many of the Thames miners, in addition to the few who faithfully persevered during the last ten years, and by their united efforts have proved that' Coromandel may be classed amongst the most valuable of gold-producing fields in the colony. Twelve months ago goldmining was limited to a few claims on the Tokatea Range. Now the country within a radius of threo miles from the old Kapanga Claim has been prospected, and many of the claims applied for have been proved to be intersected with gold-bearing quartz. From day to day new discoveries of gold have been made in the spurs and creeks extending from the main range to Kennedy's Bay on the east side of the Peninsular, and Keven's Point on the west. Within the past manth a locality designated as the Court-house Creek has been prospected with success, and all the available ground has been pegged off, even the allotment on which the Court-house is built. From thence the old Trig Station Hill has been proved to contain gold ; also the adjacent lease, known as the Ravenstock. Crossing the swamp which separates thesfc claims from the opposite range, Wynyardton is reached, where every inch of ground has been taken up ; and several claims have shown that gold is there in more than payable quantities, thereby giving a value to this old surveyed site for a township which it never would have had were it not for the working man. Allotments have risen in value commensurate with the find of gold — the Golconda Claim giving the greatest impetus, Passing over the cutting

which divides Wynyardton from Keven's Point, a most auriferous country is entered, containing the original claims which first started in Coromandel as a goldfield, but wofully disappointed the investors in Auckland. However, during the past two years, the Green Harp, Golden Pah, Venus, Pacific, John Bull, and other claims, havo been worked to advantage ; and latterly the Neptune Claim has crushed loz. Bdwt. to the ton. The Sea View Claim, situate on the beach between the Neptune and Golden Pah Claims, was amongst the first tunnelled on Keven's Point, when Mr. Keven predicted that gold existed in that particular spot. Whether it was that quartz-reefing was then its infancy, or from mismanagement, that gold was not then extracted, I dare not say, but I can confidently assert that his prediction has been verified by the finds of gold in both the Neptune and Sea View Claims. The latter is situated on the beach, extending the whole length round the point to the G-olden Pah ground. Thus our readers will perceive that the late addition to our mining population has done more.to develop the ground within the last two months than for ten years past.