THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Juke 1, 1864. 



520 GOLD DISCOVERIES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



Lake right across to the Molyneux, is closed to mining operations, except 

 in the most sheltered spots. The heavy rains and sudden alternations 

 of temperature cause immense hardships, which in some cases have 

 resulted in great loss of life. But in spite of all these drawbacks, this 

 region is yet the most favourite resort of the skilled miners, and under 

 ordinary circumstances gold mining iu this district is as profitable as it 

 is on any known gold field in the world. During the last year further 

 evidence of the richness of the Nelson West coast diggings was afforded, 

 hut the lack of encouragement which the miners have sustained at the 

 hands of the local authorities has hindered, and will continue to hinder, 

 the development of the country. Judging from occasional cases of suc- 

 cess, the Lyell and Buller River diggings are much of the same character 

 as those on the Shotover and Arrow rivers in Otago, but the utter want 

 of roads, the scarcity of provisions, and other causes, have interposed ■ 

 almost insurmountable obstacles in the way of miners. Gold in small 

 quantity has been found at Teremakau, on the west coast of Canter- 

 bury, but it is questionable whether a payable gold field exists there. 

 Still it is possible a belt of auriferous country may be found north of 

 the Awaroia River, and above the Hawea and Wanaka Lakes. 



There has been much speculation as to the auriferous chai'acter or 

 otherwise of the west coast of Otago, and numerous parties of adven- 

 turous miners have explored the country for gold. But the results of 

 many expeditions discourage the idea of finding any gold field on the 

 west coast of Otago. In addition to the testimony of the several parties 

 of prospectors who have examined the country almost the entire length 

 of the coast, we have the expressed opinion of Dr. Hector, the Provincial 

 Geologist of Otago, that the physical structure of the western seaboard 

 of Otago forbids the expectation of important auriferous deposits. At 

 present, the known gold-bearing area of the middle island commences 

 to the eastward of a line drawn from the mouth of the Matura River, 

 through the Wakatipu Lake to Martin's Bay, thence across the foot of 

 the Haniea and Wanaka Lakes to the Waitaki River ; there is a small 

 strip of country on the Teramakau River that is gold-bearing, and 

 there is then a break until we get to the Buller, and it is supposed 

 that nearly the whole of the streams on the coastline from Cape 

 Foul wind to the Motueka are auriferous. But the ruggedness of 

 the country is much against its development. Auriferous signs are 

 reported to exist in Queen Charlotte's Sound, but no authenticated 

 account has been given. The known auriferous area of the North 

 Island is confined to the Coromandel district, but there is every reason 

 to believe that the whole of the peninsula is auriferous, and that rich 

 alluvial diggings will be found in the valley of the Thames and on the 

 Waikato. Gold is said to have been seen near Raglan, and also in the 

 Hawke's Bay Province. Probably, when the North Island becomes 

 more open to the researches of Europeans, gold fields will be found in 

 places where their presence is not now suspected. 



