THE CANTERBURY GOLDFIELD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1003, 24 July 1883, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY GOLDFIELD.

The rumors as to the discovery of gold in the Ellesmere dj-trict have at last been brought to something tangible in two directions. The first of these was by Mr G. F. Smith, of Sbuthbridge, who has made a claim to the Government for the bonus offered by them at the request of a number of citizens conveyed through his Worship the Mayor. Mr Smith’s dis oovery is situated on the Ninety-mile Beach, extending northward to the mouth of the Rakaia. The gold indications in the land are to be very clearly found to the south of the mouth of the river, but the most distinct traces and best results are, as stated, northwards. In addition to this, Mr Smith has also been fortunate enough to discover a second auriferous deposit on the western side of Lake Ellesmere. Yesterday afternoon two Italians, named Nicholas Bass and Dominick Serra, brought to town two pickle bottles filled with highly auriferous sand, which they have discovered on the Ninety-mile Beach. Before making their “ find ” publicly known, they went to the Land Office, and under the Mining Act, secured a lease of ten acres of ground under prospecting license. They left town early this afternoon to peg out the ground allotted to them. There are two other men connected with the party, named respectively James Tool and Francisco Caffira. The wash dirt has been examined by several practical miners, and they are of opinion that it will produce at least 30 dwts to the load. The dirt has been found, it is stated, but a few inches below the surface, and in great quantity. It may be mentioned that one of the discoverers, Dominick Serra, besides being an old digger was one of those engaged in the attempt to regain the gold from the ship General Grant, lost some years ago at the Auckland Islands; in fact, he was the man who volunteered to search the wreck, but was not permitted to do so.— Press.