June 27, 1865 – I
wrote to Mr Mackay, Civil Commissioner, that the prospect obtained was so good
that we should feel obliged if he would forward to us a copy of the mining
regulations and the bylaws relating to gold.
June 28 - Commenced sinking a shaft in the flat about
150ft from the left bank of the Karaka Creek, came upon a wash, panned it off; found a small prospect
getting better the deeper we went.
June 29 – At a depth of 14ft the specks were coarser, but
few. Heavy boulders and water.
July 1 – Eight ft of water in the hole, all hands baling, in two hours time had the
water out, and got 2ft further down, when the bottom was found at 16ft,
washed 2 or 3 buckets of stuff, same prospect as yesterday; water gaining so fast
and boulders so heavy, impossible to drive – dip inclining towards creek.
July 3 – Finished the sluice box and carried it to the
creek, tried the banks in several places; found fine scaly gold in all at about
2ft from the surface,
July 4 – commenced paddocking about 10ft in from the creek;
piled up all the rubble to be put through rhe sluice box, occasionally panning
off a dish which more or less showed the presence of scaly quartz gold.
July 5 – Found the sluice box to answer well, saving the
fine gold, of which there is a good deal about here. The chief found a quartz specimen in the box
well charged with gold – appropriated it of course. At the close of the day calculated that there
might have been 1 & a half dwt to the load.
One of the party who went over to the Waiotahi Creek close to was told
if he put a pick in the ground his shirt would be taken off his back. The gold, which is very fine, cannot be separated
from the heavy iron sand.
July 6 - All day
cutting a race extending about 60ft along hre creek and 15ft in from the edge of
the bank, with the intention of trying the bed.
July 7 – Dammed the current of the creek. Plenty of stiff clay on the flat, opened the
race head.
July 8 – In the bed of the creek found a prospect that was
payable, put about three quarters of a load through the sluice box, which
showed up better than any sample yet found, and will assuredly pay. The gold is of a description different from that
usually seen here, it appears to weight well, and is evidently the tail end of
a heavier deposit. A few specks mixed
with quartz were got, indicating the presence of a gold bearing quartz reef in the
vicinity. During the afternoon several
natives with motives of curiosity were anxious to render assistance.
July 10 - Tikapa, the chief who had befriended us for some
months back, informed us that three large canoes had entered the river with
about 60 to 70 Hauhaus, who intended landing and remaining at the settlement
some days. Deemed it prudent not to
work.
July 11 – Found that the creek had penetrated through the
dam – all day repairing.
July 12 – My companions have left for Auckland; will remain
some time longer and see what can be done.
I am quite satisfied that, had we prosecuted the search in
this quarter and been permitted to try the Waiotahi Creek, the endeavours of
the party to obtain a more satisfactory result would have met with complete
success. The Ohinemuri steam, which runs
in to the Thames at about 30 miles up the river, has been reported to me by the
natives, as it is also well known to the few Europeans who have settled in that
locality, to produce gold of an alluvial and more water-worn character than
that found in the Kauaeranga country. At
present Te Hira, the principal chief is unwilling to receive Europeans whose
object is gold prospecting – Walter
Williamson.
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