WAITOA GOLDFIELD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2383, 18 October 1887, Page 2

WAITOA GOLDFIELD.

MORE SATISFACTORY RESULTS. fliv TEI.KOHAPII. —OWX CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aiioha, Monday. Notwithstanding the damaging reports published regarding the Waitoa gold discovery, reports of further trials m dilferent places, ami said to yield fair returns, continue to ho received. On Mr Chudleigh’s land, adjacent to Mr .1. B. Smith’s, tests have been made from seven different shafts, the lowest being a little over 20s per ton. On the Lurkworthy estate north of Smith's auriferous stuff has also been got. Brightinau and party, who some time since acquired the right to prospect a portion of the property, recently sent some stuff to be tested at Auckland. Three samples were tried by Fraser and Bonn, and a copy of tbe assay note, which can bo seen here, shows tho quality to be almost uniform, the yield per ton being : Gold, £1 14s Sd; silver, Is 7d. The paresis were taken from three different shafts four hundred yards apart, and over two miles distant from Smith’s workings. It is also averred by this party (the members of which have bad experience in mining) that an occasional colour can he obtained by dish prospecting. They seem satisfied regarding the genuiness of the returns from tho samples tested in Auckland, and are now making preparations to give their ground a fair trial in a practical and economical manner. Mr Smith was in Te Aroha and seems as much perplexed as anyone by tho conflicting accounts about his piopcrty. He is most desirous that the fullest investigation should be made without delay. Accompanied by Mr Anderson, a large shareholder in the Christchurch company, ho returned to Waitoa. Further trials will bo made under that gentleman’s supervision, and these, it is believed will prove conclusively whether gold in the quantities represented does or does not exist on the property. It may be mentioned that people here have not yet jumped to the conclusion so hastily arrived at elsewhere—that tho whole affair has been a fiasco.

Treatment of Mr Gould’s Stuff.

[BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT. j Aiuiklan;.', Last Night. Fraser and Son ha\e received a parcel of seven tons from Mr Gould’s property at Waitoa, for treatment at their works, and report that traces of gold have been obtained. Parcels have also been received fromjMes.srs Strange’s and Parr’s property. The treatment nf a parcel brought down by Mr Durward on behalf of the party who are in treaty for the balance of Mr Smith’s property is not yet completed. We have been sfiown two private letters received yesterday from Waitoa, which speaks in most indignant terms of the attempt of the Auckland people to deny the goldfields, winch is set down to jealousy of the pick having been secured by a Canterbury syndicate. One letter states that both Messrs Pond and Witheford deserve tar and feathering, and instances aro given where private tests made by individual settlers have given returns quite equal to those obtained from Mr Smith’s ground. One correspondent ridicules the Auckland Association for thinking it possible to test auriferous wash dirt with a “cheese taster.”

The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr C, J. W. Barton, received a telegram from Major Jackson M.H.R., on Saturday, to say that ho had interviewed the Government on the question nf the Waitoa gold-finds, and that they were willing to treat samples for assay at the Thames School of Mines, free of cost, and in the event nf the field proving payable to take steps to secure the rights of the public. His Worship has telegraphed in reply that no confidence is placed in the recent report of the Auckland Prospecting Association, which is looked upon witli suspicion, and that nothing hut a thorough test of tho whole ground by Government experts will satisfy the public mind on the matter.

A party of experienced West Coast diggers passed through Hamilton on Saturday on their way to Waitoa to prospect the ground on behalf of a largo number of men who are ready to “ rush ” the field if their report is favourable. Wo showed the leader of the party, a miner of 111 years’ ■standing, the samples in our office, and he at once recognised the specimen of the top stratum as “ drift,” iu which- there is always payable gold. The two others from the lower strata of pumaceous sand ho could not express an opinion upon. The party take their own appliances and quicksilver, and declare if there is gold to be found they will secure it. The result of their prospecting is awaited with interest. We are informed that six tons of stuff from Mr Gould’s land was sent by train on Saturday to be tested by Messrs Fraser and Son, of Auckland. Former assays nf the same deposits have yielded good results. There can be no fear of any swindle in connection with this. Should the bona tides of the Waitoa field bo established, and the falsity of the report of tho Auckland Prospecting Association bo proved, we would suggest, on the score of public morality, and in accordance with the code of honour amongst miners, that they and the landowners should rigidly refuse to have any further transactions with the association or any member thereof. In a word, they should he “ boycotted.”