Gold-bearing quartz at Kanawhanawhana.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1281, 14 September 1880, Page 3

Gold-bearing quartz at Kanawhanawhana.

Mr George Goodwin, well known at Ngaruawahia, has struck a reef of excellent quartz at Kanawaanawhana, some 12 miles from Alexandra and 8 from Whatawhata. The reef as it shows in a bluff running north and south, is small, but such as an experienced miner would readily follow up, being of a very likely quality. Bpeoksofgold heve bjjen discovered in some of it, and Jfr Goodwin is

very sanguine of yet finding payable gold. A parcel has been sent for trial to the Thames. No such quartz has been found at Ngaruawahia, though a great deal was made of what appeared to be some show of gold. ) A Thames miner of much experience was expected from Alexandra a few days ago to pronounce judgment on the " find," and to direct operations in the event of his belief in the existence there of gold. Mr Goodwin hit upon this quartz reef whilst in search of piles for Te Rore bridge, and though working at it for some months past, the settlers in the immediate neighbourhood were not aware of the find, until a few days ago. Now, however, it is an established fact, bo far at least as the quartz is concerned ; and folks who have seen speoimens, kits full of them will be astonished if payable gold be not discovered at Kanawhanawhana. Some people may cry " Blow" winds, "and crack your oheeks," but we will not believe it. Well, this account is simply a relation of facts as thoy have come under the writer's notice and each individual may use his own discretion as to his belief in/the existence or non-existence of gold in the reef in question. If a gold-held turn out here, there will be no lack of water. Two large streams junction in the settlement, constituting thereby a "meeting of the waters" which a poet would love to contemplate. Several smaller streams junction up and down the valley with these individually, and with their united Waters below their confluence, and on to the Waipa river some 4 miles lower dbwn. The country, too, is wooded, and just now the whole valley, once a Maori settlement, is under a magnificent sheen of p- ach-blossoma. The soil along the Kanawhanawhana is certainly very rich alluvial, the grass in the settlers' paddocks showing a luxuriance seldom to be met with m the Waikato. The place in question is situated about two miles inland from the Waipa river, and between the ranges. Bush-clad hills, fern bluffs, verdant fields, winding 1 streams, peachgroves in delightful bloom, and a few settlers' residences go to make up a picture for Kanawhanawhana, which could not be easily surpassed in New Zealand. But the roads are bad, very bad, sadly in need of being hewn into shape, following their up-hill and down-hill rugged course like all primitive tracks. Level grouud enougn is just at hand to secure the formation of good roads, and doubtless a short time more will see an easy way along the Kanawhanawhana creek.