PROSPECTING IN THE WAIRARAPA DISTRICT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 712, 9 March 1881, Page 2

PROSPECTING IN THE WAIRARAPA DISTRICT.

■_. p _ (From a correspondent of the N.Z. Times.) . Some two or three miles west of Greytown the river Waiohine debouches upon the plain from a'narrow valley opening between tho lower rauges, branching from the Taravua .Mountains,, whoso buoivcapped summit is for muro than half the year upon clear days to plainly visible to dwellers in the Empire City. For years past it was intended by sundry enterprising young men to oxploro during.the dry season this hitherto unknown district. Want of sufficient means, fear of had wealher, and other causes have hitherto deterred'the venture into what proves to be a primitive Switzerland upon a small scale-whore the naturalist, the|>eolo!»is(, or-the sporting tourist, whose moans could afford payment for guides and other needful accessories, may indulge to the full in contemplation of the grand and the beautiful in nature, and perhaps unveil mineral treasures which- await man's accoptanco and usage.

At 7, on the morning of the 23rd of February. last, a party of'soveti men and horses started from Grcytown upon a prospecting exploration up the Waiohine River Valley. Tho weather was dull at start, but cleared us the day advanced. The explorers found that for somo twelve miles up the valley the river runs nearly due.north. Then the valley narrows to a gorgo, a huge rock, Btandinp nut nearly in the middle of the river, around which the.water ran swiftly and deep, rendering it impracticable for horse fording. Here it was decided to send the horses back, which was done accordingly, each one of the party taking a swag, all of equal weight,'between, forty and fifty pounds. Theso swags contained a tent, blankets, provisions, tools, guns, and ammunition. &e. On foot the party scaled tho cliff, scaled.the almost precipitous sides of the hill, cleared the first and entered a narrow valley beyond, some four milesin extent, when a second gorge was reached. Along this route the debris of many landslips were apparent. Upon clearing the gorge a beautiful little valley opened out, watered by tho river, which here trends eastwards and then southwards. Along its banks grow rimu, totara, inatai, and other trees. Here the party camped for the night, and next day wild cattle were seen, and one was shot for meat, The party starting again on their journey, followed up the stream to the far end of the valley, where the river turned duo west. They prospected this valley for gold, with no particular results. Next morning at 7 a.m. they ascended a mountain, which was named Mount George, in honor of one of the party, and from, its- summit they saw the Wairarapa. After much difficulty they succeeded in clearing sufficient room for a camping place: for the night, upon the side of the mountain, Next morning, however, getting a clear view, they, discovered that they were completely surrounded by mountains to tho north. Two, told off for duty, Avsnfc to explore up stream,' but found themselves shut in by perpendicular rocks'; "another, party went down stream, to fiud a good outlets for further; operations, J:, .One, remained in the camp to.cppk.',; The downstream party.feturried,; reporting' tliat to

be the only way out. '.Next day they struck camp, and went south to the June--tion of the Waiohine, where it is joined • bv another stream, and camped further on, and prospected around. The forma.tion here was of a rooky surface, consisting of bluish granite'and quartz, containing gold and pyrites, apparently dipping straight into the mountains in an easterly direction. Next morning, the weather being, rather damp, thoy started to cross a ridge of table-land, and ascended the Tararua, toiling all day to reach one of its suummits, very near the snowline, Water washerevery scarce, and to reach this elevation the party, in some places, had to climb almost perpendicularly. After a day's hard toil they pitched the camp.- It rained all night, and next day (Sunday) it ■was.too wet to go out of camp, and they had some difficulty in keeping their fire alight. Weather'very cold; and all around was so that they could discern no land works. On the Monday morning they'struck-camp and Btarted, and ascended through an almost impenotreble broom and scrub, matted together in a mo3t inextricable manner. The birch ■trees' at this elevation were.found to have . it most peculiar appearance, the trunk, • about twelve inclies' in diameter, seldom attaining a height of more than eigtyfeet, with branches springing from just below tho top, which is bare and smooth, giving one the impression that from some cause the'-tree could not grow any higher, : The party had- much difficulty and no small annoyance in getting-through the belt of stunted bush. Above the snow line curious shrubs were seen, some haying leaves resembling Inure], the leaves being thick and fleshy, and having exceedingly pretty flowers, other plants having white flowers,' others white with magenta streaks; another plant having the smell and: taste of parsley, but differing from it altogetlierinappearance. Someplantswero also seen having a prickly leaf, and when rubbed emitted a most agreeable scent. A quantity of wild flowering grass also abounds. From this elevation, looking east, the party observed what appeared to be the source of three rivei'3—the Waiohine, Tauherenikau, and probably tho Hutt, or elsoa river running to the West Coast. Travejling.along they came to a trig, station, and, the weather being clear, the party had a glorious view of the Wairarapa Valley and surrounding country, and discovered the upper valley of the Tauherenikau river, shut in by mountains, having a gorge entrance at each end north and south. They then descended the leading ridge, towards its junction 1 with another ridge trending towards tho valley aboye mentioned. During this part of the journey so precipitous was tho route at times that swags had to bo lowered by viues and the party themselves in like manner. They here got on an old survey track, and passed what appeared to bo an old.encampment, and continued dn-vn a lower ridge running into the Tauherenikau valley. One of tliß party hero discerned a white beast, a most welcome sight (as they had been living upon biscuits for three days), Descending into the valley, two of the party going into tho bush which skirted the stream, saw and shot two large hulls, and whilst in the act of cutting the throats of the animals, another bull was seen approachin" very close to them, which was likewise shot, Three of the parly thoii had a look around to see if anything better than bullbeef could be got, and down the valley quantities of largo blue birds were also seen ; some wero shot/ Wild sheep wore likewise seen. In prospecting good color and plenty of pyrites were seen everywhere in this valley. A peculiar kind of soft rock also abounds, of a dirty brown color, full of red spots, which,.when broken off, appear like red veins.' This brown and red subslanco, when pulverised; readily blends with oil and forms a paint, Probably this is chrome, and may indicate tho existence of coppnr. A seam was seen, very much resembling plumbago, about six inches thick, having a bluish black appearance, very glossy to look at, and when rubbed beliveon tho fingers producing a polish, liko black lead. After much time and labor, and finding no good signs of gold, the camp was struck, tin dishes, a pick, and the bull-hides turned insido out upon polos, were, left behind, and on the tenth day the party started down stream for home. They came across a mob of ycuns wild cattle in good condition, but not wanting previsions did not molest them. Presently n sheep (merino) was seen with wool upon its back fully a foot long. This tl|ey did not molest, Pursuing their way, one of the party was lagging behind, who saw a bull rushing full tilt at his mates ahead. There was but ono bullet left among them in the ammunition, and luckily this loiterer was its possessor. Hastily loading his gun, he faced the bull, now within a few yards of whoro he stood, and to make sure, aimed for the brute's chest and fired; tho bull reared, came to a full stop, and turnod tail and Ued tho way he had como. All this occurred in less time than it ha 3 taken to write, After this a bull was encountered which had been wounded previously, whilst, the parly wore birdshooting, and having no more bullets to put the poor beast out of its misery they attacked it with tomahawks, stones, &c, and killed it. Just after this incident, two of the parlies made tracks ovor the ranges for homo, the remainder staying to exploto the' valley more thoroughly. Whilst doing so on the following day they wero charged by another bull, which they wounded in tho' eyo with small shot, which fortunately had tho effect of driving it away. They camped.for the night in a place where ono of tlie pirty had been three weeks previously, and were agreeably surprised to find a tin of butter which had been left behind still in good preservation. This valley is described by the oxplorers as romantic mid beautiful. From north to south-that is from gorge to garge—following the river, it took four hours to traverse, supposed to bo eight miles long, and an average width of one milo. From the lower end of the valley they mounted tho left-hond ridgo (eastward), and travelled overlooking the mouth of the gorge of the Tauherenikau, opening into tho Wairarapa Valley descending into the plain about 6 p,m, last Thursday—from here to Greyt.own being about seven hours' good walk with a light swag—the party arriving safely in Greytown late the same night.