71

C.—3

nette, and Larrikins'. These leads tail out in the shape of a fan as they go down the flat; but, should a deep lead be found, it will cover a much larger area of ground than either of the leads of gold-bearing gravel which have yet been worked. There are three claims at the head of Larrikins' all giving good returns. The wash-drift in these is full of large angular boulders, some of which havenot travelled far after they were deposited by glacial action. However, this will be fully referred to again in describing the action taken in connection with fixing the site of the prospectingshaft on this field. The following statement will show the principal claims at work on the field, with the number of men employed in each, the fall or gradient of their sluices, and the number of sluice-heads of water used from the different water-races on the field.

Kumara Water-race.

Prospecting-shaft, Kumara. —ln accordance with the instructions of the Hon. the Minister of Mines, Mr. A. McKay, F.G.S., Assistant Geologist, Mr. S. Gow, Inspector of Mines, and myself, selected a site for a prospecting-shaft in Larrikins' Flat, with the view of testing the deep levels. Previously to so doing, we had to gather all local information as to the direction of the different runs or leads of gold in the flat, and also as to the probable run of deep ground. From all the evidence we could obtain, the blue reef which is seen on the side of the terrace fronting the Teremakau Biver appears to dip gradually towards the Kapitea Hill. In the Long Tunnel Company's tail-race, where it cut through the blue reef it was dipping slightly in the direction mentioned, and from what could be gathered from persons working in it during its construction there was a little rounded wash and pebbles met with on the top of this reef; and the desription of the clean-washed stones and pebbles indicated that a large body of water had at one time passed over this reef, and must have had an outlet towards the ocean. We examined the ground down for some distance along the front of the terrace facing the river, below the township, to see whether an outlet could be discovered, but we failed to find any. We then directed our attention to the country above Dillman's to see if we could trace the direction the stream had come from which had deposited the gold in the flat. From the evidence obtained, and the formation of the country surrounding Kumara, there is little doubt that a large stream of water has passed through the flat, and possibly may have cut a deep channel in the blue reef; but this must have been prior to the moraine deposits, which now cover the country on both sides of the Teremakau Biver, and abut on to the marine gravels found on the Kapitea Hill. These morainic accumulations seem to have been travelling in a northerly direction, and across the ancient river-bed, damming it completely up, and causing the water for some period to pass through Brace's paddock, and into Lake Brunner. The immense barrier that must have been across the present channel of the river at one time is clearly indicated by the remains of the ridge at the head of Larrikins', the high terrace on the Westbrooke side of the river, and also the high land or ridge passing from Dillman's towards the junction of the

Name of Party. IP r—I CO ft a ■s|| 3.SS Name of Party. 4 o3 j£ OH QJ P 5 2 03 55 JVo. 5 Channel — Water from, Kumara Race — Hoist and party Watson and party Morris and party Hughes and party Palmer and party Harvey and party Eodgers and party Ireland and party Pascoe and party Bauke and party Corrigan and party ... 4 5 2 4 6 3 3 4 6 4 3 6 8 5 6 8 5 8 5 8 4 6 12 10 11 12 10 JO 8 12 10 10 10 Private Tail-races — Water from Kumara Race — Davidson and party ... Seater and party Blake and party Henderson and party ... Lee and party E. Andersonand party... Schroeder and party ... Stennard and party ... 6 5 6 6 7 6 4 5 12 6 6 7 7 10 12 14 8 10 10 10 12 10 10 10 No. 3 Channel — Water from Kumara Race — O'Sullivan and party... Harris and party Bothwell and party ... Anderson and party ... Hillier and party Eizzie and party Williams and party ... Carew and party Light and party Thomas and party ... O'Connell and party ... Moynihan and party ... Eochford and party ... McNeil and party 5 6 5 5 4 8 5 5 (5 5 4 4 4 0 8 9 5 0 8 8 9 6 8 !) 8 8 8 8 10 8 10 8 8 8 8 10 10 8 8 « 8 Water from Holmes''s Race — Collins and party Brown and party Payne and party Dinan and party Evenden and party ... Burke and party Bowden and party Johnson and party Ames and party Jones and party 4 5 5 6 ■4 5 6 8 5 3 8 7 7 7 10 10 10 12 9 8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 Water from Private Water-races — Pearn's lease Long Tunnel Goldmining Company ... 6 10 15 to 20 6 7 10 to 15