WAITOA GOLDFIELDS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2385, 22 October 1887, Page 2

WAITOA GOLDFIELDS.

According to the Herald, public feeling in Auckland is much exercised over the confusing and contradictory reports respecting the genuineness of the Waitoa gold finds. The matter has -assumed a serious aspect ; whereas there can be very little doubt of the existence of auriferous deposits over a large extent of country in the Thames Valley, it is also a severe blow to the credit of Auckland such a heinous crime as tampering with the bona fide endeavours to develope a promising discovery should have been perpetrated by “salting” the beat samples forwarded for assay. It will inflict a lasting inquiry to the good name of the colony in the eyes of the outside world, and no efforts should bo spared to sheet home the crime to the guilty parties. As we said before the evidence is in favour of the good faith of the finds, hnf, to use the expression of an Auckland gentleman with whom we were speaking yesterday, “an enemy has done this tiling,” referring to the alleged “ salting.” Mr Durward, a shareholder in the Christchurch company, at present on the spot, intends putting some seven tons of washdirt to the test. He believes in the existence of the gold, though lie [eels there has been something wrong lately. With reference to Mr Gould’s letter in our last issue his “investigations” prove nothing, except that he, not being a mining expert cnuld not give a correct judgment of the values of his own samples. Mr Durward says at Ballarat stuff is profitably worth that only returns 2dwt to the ton. Now, independent tests have shown that the Waitoa stuff gives from 8s to 34s of gold per ton. Mr Gould’s first test of his own stuff showed gold to the value of 24s per ton. How does that gentleman explain, that without escaping a suspicion of the salting trick ? The result of the tests of three parcels of stntt' taken from Mr E. H. Hanmer’s land at Shaftesbury, has proved very encouraging. One sample gave a return equal to £2 Ids per ton. A gentleman in Auckland makes the proposal that the Christchurch company should offer a reward ol £IOOO for the discovery of how the “ filings” came into the samples. -MR POX I) AND THE CHRISTCHURCH COM--I‘AXV. The Christchurch papers, after publishing recent telegrams from Auckland, give the following, which they state is a copy of Mr Bond’s report on January 22nd, upon which the Christchurch promoters acted “January 22nd, 1887. Messrs Fraser Bros., xVuckland. Gentlemen, —I duly received from you on the 10th inst., a sample of powdered ore or sand for assay. Herewith I forward the resultßullion, 220z 7dwt 12gr per ton, containing gold, 17oz. flldwt Bgr per ton. I need hardly add that in the event of there being any large extent of this material, it will prove a very valuable find, the value of the sample, according to the above assay, being £72 15s (id per ton. estimating the gold at £4 and silver at 4s per oz. The gold is in tine water-worn grains, intermingled with magnetic, and titanic iron throughout the quartz and pumiceous drift. Care will be required in saving the gold, owing to the fine particles in which some of it is divided. —I have, etc., J. A. Bond, Colonial Analyst.” Through the courtesy of His Worship the Mayor we insert the following letter from Major Jackson, which bears out an opinion we have before expressed as to the Crown having the preemptive rigid to all precious metals in private lands. Wellington, October Ist, 1887. O. J. W. Barton, Esq., Hamilton. You will have heard from Mr Whyte that we arranged with the Government, to assay free of cost, any samples that might be sent to the School of Mines at the Thames. When any samples are of sufficient value to warrant it, (iovernment will give facilities for having it tested in larger quantities. There is a difference of opinion re right of owners of property to the gold therein. I understand that whilst the Government cannot take lands for Gold Mining purposes that have, been acquired before 1873, still many lawyers are of opinion that the owners themselves cannot remove the gold, as all gold is the property of the Crown. If this is so, it will no doubt materially assist towards arrangements being made with the owners of the property containing gold deposits. I have heard it stated by competent authority (at least what should be competent) that the Christchurch syndicate cannot legally remove gold from Smith’s land. I believe, however, that Vogel promised he would remove any objection.—Yours truly, W.m. Jackson.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Will you kindly allow me to furnish your valuable paper with a few lines in reference to onr would be Waitoa goldfield. I am very glad to see that yon are in favour of giving it a fair trial before running it down to the public. It is my firm, straightforward opinion, that there is gold in Waitoa in payable quantities if honest, and experienced men were allowed to go and prospect for the same. I think it would be wise for onr Auckland papers to encourage men to go and look for that precious metal which all men more or less are so anxious to find. There would he nothing lost and perhaps a good deal gained if four of five hundred of us who have got little or nothing to do were to take onr swags and shovels and rush the field, we would very soon let these interested men see if there was any gold there or not. If there is plenty of filings, then I have no doubt it would help to cover expenses.—Yours truly, Charles Hamilton. Hamilton East.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— ln your issue of the 20th inst, and also in previous issues, I see correspondence making mention of my Eureka Gold Saving machine. It is only fair to the public and myself that an explanation be given why the machine has never yet been publicly worked by me, and that is that Mr J. B. Smith of Waitoa entered into arrangements with me in consideration of half my rights in the patent. I received a certain number of paid up shares in the Waitoa Gold Mining Company, he, undertaking on his part to erect a large machine,and have it worked; until this has been done, I cannot, according to the terms of our agreement, move in the matter. When I was at Waitoa about two weeks ago, Mr Reuben Parr wished me to erect and work a small machine on his property, and I went so far as to wait upon Mr Smith in company with Mr Parr to obtain his consent, but which was unavailing, as Mr Smith prefers to work the machine,himself. According to the terms of our agreement Mr Smith has throughout acted so thoroughly straightforward with me in the business that I would not for any consideration do otherwise with him, by interfering" with his privileges. Notwithstanding that I observe by the public press, that he is almost directly charged with salting the Waihou sands, my faith in his honesty is still intact,—l am etc., .Tajiks Si.ndex. TO THE EDITOIt. Sin,—ln your able article of the ISth inst., you very properly called into ipiestion the conclusions arrived at by the Waitoa Prospecting Association as to the supposed salting of the pnmaccons sand, and also drew attention to the result of assay Xo. (I, bore Xo. 5. which gave Ildwts lOgrs oi gold, and loz ISdwts of silver. As

this iV'iilt is far in and would also hy highly payahl**, 1 should like to ask the nio-in-rs of the \Nait -.i Prospecting if tin- cue unstances attending tin: l.oriny <-f Xo. .» hole were similar in every respect to those attending the other hoi.* Iml.*s. and it any person not connected with th«; Association was present, or had any chance of int.o ferine or tampering with lhe>‘jitl in any way? We must of course consider that the members of the Waitoa Prospecting Association an: above suspicion, but a little !a\ily on their part have given some mterestod personal) opjjortunity to “assist nature. If any such “assistance could have been given, the Waitoa Prospecting Association should at once publish the facts, ;e, if then: was no such chance, I consider with you that the Association, hy its own letnrns lias proved the field payable.—Yours faithfully, Kn«ii:irkk. Auckland, 20tli October, The Find at Patetere. It appears that Mr (lalhraith, assayer in Auckland, and in ft Mr Puru's tested the stone from Paloteie, and found the following result:—(lold, iMwU U.4grs ; silver, 2dwts ; worth 12s.