THE CEMETERY RUSH,

West Coast Times, Issue 60, 21 October 1865, Page 2

THE CEMETERY RUSH,

A great many reports having been circulated during the past week respecting tho " latest discovery," the last one being to tho effect that Mr. Salo had proceeded there on Wednesday last, and had ordered tho miners to ceaßO working as they wcro |'within the surveyed township, we determined to pay a visit of inspection to it ourselves and judgo whether the place was really worthy the name of a diggings, or morely one of thoso excitements resulting from the discovery of a few grains of gold in now ground. Twenty minutes' walking brought us to the sosne of operations, which is situated on a flat at tho foot of the terrace, immediately under tho cemetery, facing the sea 'beach, and so far is extremely limited, there boing only four shafts on any gold at all. The sinking is shallow, from eight to twelve and sixteen feet, and tho best gold, as is generally the case, is found in tho shallowest ground. We washed a prospect ourselvca, and saw two or threo washed by others out of the prospecting claim and tho on» adjoining it, and in each case tho results wero very poor, our own dish having ft remarkably hungry appearance after tho process had been completed, showing a, few colors only ; tho others wero certainly better, but tho best only gave a prospect of four grains. These returns, however, must not be taken as a criterion of tho absolute worth of tho flat itself, especially as thero aro certain indications that would lead to the supposition that gold exists in the neighborhood in payable quantities. The terraco in which is tho Cemetery is at least 80 feot above the level of the flat, and is formed of clayey gravel, which changes into puro alluvial sand, alternating with layers of washed gravel, until tho drift in which the gold is found is reached. This, which is about 18 inches thick, rests upon layers of firm sand, forming an excellent bottom that in many parts of the Kanieri district contains the heaviest deposits of gold found there. The drift itself is rather too fine in our estimation, very few, if any, boulders being found in it, but as tho ground oan scarcely bo said to be opened yot, and has certainly not received a systematic trial, there is no telling what changes in this respect may occur if further researches are proceeded with. Much blaok Bivnd is found in the wash-dirt and on tho beach. There is a layer of it six inches thick about four feet from the surface, lying between two beds of tho common sea sand, and as it contains a little gold and runs into tho above flat, which extends to the yory edge of the beach, thero is good reason to Buppose that patches of gold, not only payable but rich, may yet be found there. At present the rush is anything but a lively one ; in fact, it is nearly deserted already, several boles having been sunk on each side those that aro on gold, with the most barren results, hardly tho colour having been found. We certainly think the Government is premature in the action it has taken in prohibiting miners to test this flat becauso it is part of the Town Reservo, for if it is not payable thoy will loaov it fast enough of their own accord, and in tho interim do a great deal of good in draining nnd clearing it. Already much good hai been effected by the slight rush of last week, and certainly when the day comes that will see this waste land converted into freohold property, those sections which are the driest and least encumbered with timber will realise tho highest prices. Moreover, it fs extremely problematical when tho land will become of sufficient yaluo to tempt speculators into giving such a price for it as in all likelihood tho Government will demand. Certainly it will be in request for no other purpose than tho formation of market gardens, As for tho town oxtending so far in that direction in anything less than sovornl years (nnd those, too, must bo periods of prosperity to cause such an extension), wo think it uot only impossible but absurd to imagine so. But should this flat really contain rich deposits of gold, how senseless it would bo to attempt to stay tho hundreds of willing hands now idle in our Btreets from taking it out, and not only senseless but impolitic in the oxtremo, for in all probability such rush would bo tho means of thoroughly testing the country round it which being quite as likely looking would possibly be attended with tho happiest results. To securo tho Government from any loss through tho township? being so cut up, tho same laws which aro in use.' in Viotoria could bo adopted hero — that overy minor or party of miners should doposit a certain sum on breaking tho ground as security that when thoy had finished working it they would fill it in level r.nd secure it as much as possible, so that it could bomadouSo of by either the builder or agriculturist, not that wo think even such proceeding necessary ; on the contrary let the miners work after thoir own fashion until tho diggings extend much nearor the town than they are at present jit i$ quio time enough to adopt stringent measures for the purpose of protecting tho interests of tho government when they aro absolutely endangered at present thoy are not.