A TRIP TO THE MARUIA.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 28 May 1880, Page 2

A TRIP TO THE MARUIA.

(Fbom otra own Coebs pondent.) Having promised to famish you with a short account of a prospecting visit to the Maruia country, I now, after five weeks absence in that region, do so. We started from Reefton about five weeks ago with a horse load of 150 lbs of tucker, tent, and all the necessary raining tools. It took us three days to reach the June tion of the Maruia and Alfred rivers, which is distant about 38 miles, and is a very fair track for 33 miles ol the dis« tance, but the remaining five miles leading to the old diggings ia id a wretched condition. It would only require the outlay of a few pounds to make the route in fair order, and it is to be hoped that the County Council will see the importance of the construction of the work, with that exception, the road to the Maruia diggings cannot be eomplaned of. A pack horse with 200 lbs of provisions, tent, and a* few tools would take three good days to reach the junction of the | livers {Maruia and Alfred.) Our tent being pitched we remained there for the night, and in the morning started out prospecting up the left»hand branch of the Alfred river. About a mile up this branch, there is a party*bringing in a head' race to work the terrraces, being of opinion that when completed, they will knock out fair wages. The river is of a s'atey formation, with stoppings from 2 to 6 feet. About three miles up the river we sunk about a dozen boles, varying from 6 to 12 feet, but only bottomed four through there being too much water in the ground. The prospects obtained were not encouraging. The liver being flooded we tried several terraces, but the best prospects obtained were about fifteen colours to the dish. To work the terraces to advantage races would have to be constructed a mile or two in length, and there is no doubt that payable wages could be earned. Having prospected about the branch with little success we gave it up, and resolved to cross over to the right-hand or main branch of the Alfred, where a number of men are work* ing. The terraces are being worked fora disf ance of about three miles up the the river. Frank Kiernan and party Bre construe ing a head-race to work their claim. Butler and party are also eon strncting a water<raoe. and the last claim, which is about three miles up, is held by Gilehrist and party. It is generally believed up there that they have payable prospects. They are now engaged bringing in a race about 70 chains long, and when completed they say they will have three years payable work before them. Having followed the river down for some distance, and roughly prospected as we went, without finding anything of a sufficiently encouraging nature, although we cou'd obtain a color almost anywhere, we fetraced our 'steps, and "followed the river up for about six miles. Wejfeu* deavored to sink in several likely spots, but were invariably driven out by the water before reaching the bottom. Our supplies were now running low and as we could sea bad weather setting in, we determined to throw up the sponge and return to Reefton. until the winter is over. We were on the whole very favor* ably impressed with the appearance of the country, and are confident that sooner or later Jt w'll carry a large mining population. It is, howeyer, useless to at» tempt prospecting at this time of the year, as the country is full of water, and sinking is next to impossible. We found numerous traces of prospecting done from five to ten years ago, but it appeared to be much like our own work — scratching a hole here and there without any sys« tern, and very little labor, so the cojuntry can not be said to have been prospected at H The Maruia river is about the size of the Inangahua at Reefton, and runs very rapidly in placfs. No snow fell during our stay, and we could see no traces of it, except on the mountain tops. Hens and kiwis exist in thousands and are easily killed. In my nest I will furnish you with a more general description of the country for the information of your readers.