THE WAITOA GOLDFIELD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2386, 25 October 1887, Page 2

THE WAITOA GOLDFIELD.

Theuf. is very little fresh intelligence with regard to Waitna. There is nothing more for ns to do at present than to wait the results of the course of action being taken by the Christchurch Goldmining Company. Mr J. B. Smith, who was in Hamilton at the sitting of the Piako County Council on Saturday, states that the representatives of the Christchurch Company will take measures to satisfy themselves of the genuine ness of the ground without regard to the opinions or reports of Auckland people. The subject was the topic of conversation amongst the gentlemen attending the Tiako Council, and the conclusion arrived at was that bona tide gold existed in the deposits, and that some deep-laid scheme was at the bottom of the alleged “saltings,” which time would bring to light. Mr Pond, in yesterday’s Herald, replica to the remarks made by the Lyttelton Times on his first assay, on the strength of which the Christchurch Company was formed. He states that the parcel sent to him to be tested on that occasion was only about two ounces of sandy matter forwarded in an envelope, and blames the promoters for entering upon so large an undertaking upon the result of so small a quantity of debris. Mr Pond concludes his letter by saying:— “ It is a matter of deep regret to both Mr Whitaker, who has been associated with me throughout this examination, and myself, that we should have felt any necessity to call attention to this extensive and cruel fraud, which must cause much suffering to many who are in no way implicated, and tend to depreciate genuine gold discoveries. J. A. Pond. ’ We sincerely hope the insinuations and reflections which are being made will be satisfactorily set at lest in the interest of all concerned, even should the Waitna bo proved a failure. Great injury has already been done to the district by the damaging reports on the truth of the finds. Dixon and party, the West Coast miners previously mentioned, returned from the Waitoa yesterday. They inform us that they have given the locality a thorough prospecting, having sunk several shafts, but in none of them did they find payable gold, nothing more than a trace of the metal. They say Mr Smith would not permit them to go on his land, but they sank a shaft to the depth of 26 feet mi the road adjoining his property, with no result. Mr Gould gave them every encouragement, however. The party found the traces of gold in the soft puinieemis sands, but nothing in the drift. If payable gold existed in the strata they came across, they say it would he a splendid field to work. They had with them the necessary appliances and treated the stuff thoroughly, first roasting it, then crushing it and putting it through the mercury. They have come to the conclusion the stuff has been “salted ’ to yield the fine results that were obtained from Mr J. B. Smith’s land. Having come from such a long distance to give the placea trial, they feel the disappointment vary much, Te Akoiia, Monday. There is no startling news to report concerning the gold finds at Waitoa, hut returns continue to be received showing that the precious metals exist in other places than those heretofore unde mention of. A short time ago Mr K. W. Hanmer, of Manawarn (between Shaftesbury and Waitoa), sent three samples of sand fiom shafts sunk on his properly to be tested by G. Fraser and Sons, of Auckland. The returns now to hand are as follows Sample marked lx 2 li assayed : Gold, 2dwts, ; silver, loz. fj.lwts. 12grs. ; value per ton, 13s. Sample marked xn : Gold, Ddwts. lOgrs. ; silver, loz. Sdwts. Igrs. : value tier ton, £2 17s Bd. Sample marked lx 311 : Gold, Ddwts. IDgis. ; silver, (idwts. 13grs. ; value per ton, £2 2s U.jd. Two of the parcels were taken from one hole. The other, marked xH, was from a place about three chains distant. Nothing reliable is yet known regarding the five tons of stuff scut from Mr J, 15. Smith’s property last week to be treated at the Thames. Mr A. Anderson, who had the parcel in charge, lias returned tn Te Aruba, hut is reticent respecting the yield. AL'OKt.AVii, Monday, 10 p.m. Messrs Fraser and Son completed the tests of a parcel from C. Gould's property, its value is at orate of 3s 4d per ton. A test of 3owt from Strange’s property was also finished, the produce of bullion being at the rate of 13s per ton. A private telegram received from theThamos to-day, states that, a tons of Waitoa stuff treated at Brown’s reduction Works Thames, for Mr Anderson of Christchurch, yielded a total return of 5 dwta of gold.