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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 70

(b) Clay-slate series of Wellington and the West Coast of South Island

(b) Clay-slate series of Wellington and the West Coast of South Island.

Since 1862, gold has been known to exist in the ranges near Cape Terawhiti, and between that date and 1883, occasional discoveries of small quantities have been made. In that year a considerable amount of excitement was caused by the discovery of auriferous reefs, and the country was examined and favourably reported on by experts, but the energies of the adventurers were directed more towards promoting companies than proving the ground, and the result naturally was that the field was abandoned. So far as the writer is aware, nothing has been done recently.

Before considering the great reefing country of the west coast it is necessary to mention the Marlborough gold-field, situated in the northeastern extremity of the South Island, Gold was first discovered in this province in 1860, but though a large amount of alluvial gold has been obtained, quartz-reefing has hung fire. Only two companies were at work in 1890, one a colonial proprietary, and the other with its headquarters in London.