MOKIHINUI RUSH.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1348, 14 January 1884, Page 2

MOKIHINUI RUSH.

9 (Westport Times.) "We learn i rom tlie prospectors that they obtained the gold for six days' work at Larrikin's Creek, (10 miles from the Red- Queen huts), on a creek on the right-hand branch of the Mokihinui river. A man can carry 501 h load from the Red Queen Hill in a day. In coming down this trip the men walked from their ground to the Ngakawau township in a day. The gold under notice was, we ai*e informed, got at the edge of the creek, into which a flat runs, and it is said there is a considerable extent of country uhprospected. When Messrs Carson and party left there were thirty men on the ground, and it is to be expected that the locality will receive a large accession of population. It is stated that by the expenditure of £18 or £14 a track could be cut over which swags could c ca> ried from the Red Queen to the new ground : and we hope the County Chairman will make enquiries on this head. We are in receipt of a letter from a second correspondent at Larrikin's Creek, conveying his impressions of the new field. After describing the journey to the ground, he continues : " I then settled down to visiting the different claims and forming an opinion on same, which on the whole, is favorable. The number and owners of the claims I give you at the time ; of my visit : — Green and party, No. ; 1, at the mouth of Creek ; Jamie i the Nugget and party, No. 2 ; Stewart, j Grant and party, No. 8 ; Wilkie, Toole and party, No. 4; Carson, Trahey, Hansen and Masse, prospectors, No. 5 ; Hooti, Masters and party, No 6 ; ' and O'Brien, Kelly, and party, in the i act of pegging out another claim up ; stream. This rush is on a granite l»elt, < at the rear of a soapstone formation, < and my opinion is the country will c proved to be highly auriie ous but '. patchy. The numerous teiTaces are < conipQßxl of splendid creamy washed i

boulders, showing every indication of gold, and as black sand is found inuuimited quantities, I have everyreason to believe this will prove a vast field. The gold- that has been pro cured by Carson and pai'ty was found runfoing; alongsidie of the Creek on a lo\fr" terrace and about 8 feet abovo low water mark. The terrace reef, dipping inwards,, plainly showing it to> oe au old water course. Gold has also Ween found in small quantities in another claim. At present there is nothing to induce a rush of people to the place, as the country is unapproachable unless by baloon> or other oerial means of transit.. We have only an excuse of a road from the township.: 10 miles 20 chains,. — and for the remainder of the distance you have, to make the best of your way ;. in one- case over a mountain 2500 ft. high. However, I will give you mare definite details in my next." Since the commencement of the' Vlokihiuui excitement and up to noon to day, Mr Kelhng, the Clerk of the Court, issued over 30 miners's rights, and more than that nuit»ber of men iiavH gone to the new diggings. We learn that a little gold has been got in a second claim, but nothing has yet been found to warrant the rush of men who are not prepared for prospecting. The following letter on the subject is from a reliable source : — • In accordance with a promise made to you with reference to the rush, I proceed to send you a few of the particulars of my visit to the locality. From certain rumors which were afloat with reference to the richness of the locality, I was induced, to start across the ranges and judge for myself, and the following is the result of my ob servations. A friend of mine and I started early on Thursday morning for the creek, which is situated a distance of some 2-i miles from the Mokihinui township. The track to the rush leads over the Red Queen lease aud up to the summit of the range, and from thence downward, ever another long spur which leads towards Specimen Creek, after crossing which we sidled round an old track cut some ten years ago, and the blaze marks on which were very dim. However, by dint of a. little bush-craft we managed to follow it as far as the Bight Hand Branch .of the Mokihinui, where wo camped for the night. After trailing this distance and ascending a range some 2000 feet high on one side of the Hed Queen, and descending from that altitude ou the other, we found that we had only progressed on our journey a distance of some 2 miles from the reefs. I would point out, for the information of County Councillors, that all this heavy mountain climbing could be avoided by cutting a bridle ttack from the reefs round the gorge to Specimen Creek. The cost of this work would only amount to some £150 or £200, and would be an inestimable boon tothe miners who are trying to prospect the country under great difficulties ; for instauce, the carrying of 501bs. of flour over a mountain 2000 feet high. After crossing the Bight Hand Branch of the Mokihinui and travelling over some pretty rough beaches we arrived at the Creek which the prospectovg have ' named • the " Larrikin's Creek," and which was the gaol of our ambition and the El Dorado of our hopes. I must say that I have riHVer seen a country which inpressed me more favorably with regard to its auriferous indications. On both sides of the Bight "< and Branch we found ," made" terraces and alluvial formation, and especially was this the case with reference to the creek and terraces in which this gold hag been found. Altogether this country, through the Gorge is certainly the finest district inthe County, whether we look at it from a mining or agricultural point of view. On the western side of the Branch there extends a valley o£ splendid flat country equal in extent to the Inangahua Valley. While the western side is composed of wash terraces and auriftrous creeks, which only invite the prospector's piok to unfold their weaLh. The names of the prospectors are respectively : — Peter Carson, Patrick Trehey, Antonio Masse, arid Thomas Hausen, and theydescrve their suocess, as they have been out in the locality for the past 8 months and have persevered in their endeavors to find payable gold. The Creek in which this gold has been found runs nearly east and west, and is 10 miles in length. The wash is composed of granite boulders and the bottom ore reef is also granite. The propectors' workings which. I visited consist of a tail race, and a paddock taken, out on the side of the creek. The amount of ground actually worked is small in comparison to the gold which has been obtained. I have seen and examined over a pound weight of coarse shooty gold which was obtained in the ground which I mention above. Amongst this gold are two nuggets- of 4 and 8 ounces respectively thus, showing, that the gold is coarse land probably patchy. However, there is no doubt that the gold extends over a, considerable distance of the bed- of tho Creek, and probably will, be fbuud in the terraces also. The district fa; new and untried, and therefore presents a good field for prospecting. There are about 80 men on the rush and the ground is all pegged out in the immediate vicinity of the -prospectors.. In conclusion I would advise parties intending to come here to provide themselves with at least 2 or 3 weeks' supplies, as the river might rise in the journey either up or down and thu& cause a detention which would b» awkward in its results. *• ' Ou the whole I think that this locality will prove the great district of the future, both on account of its auriferous drtpQsris and its rast'exfent-

of agricultural land. Arid I hope that the authorities will bestir themselves in the matter of cutting a track from the reefs at the trifling, expense of a couple of hundred pounds or so, in order that this hitherto unknown land, this terra incognita, may be developed, and explored by the hardy miner, and its hidden resources brought to light and made to contribute to the general welfare of the Buller district.