The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1883. Wellington Gold.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1004, 20 November 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas, et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1883. Wellington Gold.

It is only a few short months ago, although the time certainly seems longer, since the people in this part of the colony were in a fever of excitement concerning the supposed discovery of the existence ot valuable mineral deposits in Canterbury. First of all we were to be made rich' by means of the development of diamond mines in the wilds of Alford Forest, and when that hope was cruelly dashed to the ground, and what were thought to be precious stones were proved mere valueless crystals, there were still many who clung to the belief that gold existed in the ranges. Copper and tin were also confidently predicted as a source of future wealth, and for all we know there may still be some sanguine prospectors working on the hills in the belief that their investigations will be crowned with success. So far, however, as the general public is concerned it may be said that they have made up their minds by this time that if the Ashburton district is to become rich, it will be by slower means than by the discovery of valuable minerals, and the disappointment has been borne with becoming magnanimity. Almost simultaneously with the miningmaniahere there sprang up a similar excitement in Wellington, and very glowing were the reports issued as to the wealth of the goldfields in that province. The inhabitants of the match-box city indulged in visions of a time when they would trot depend for their existence upon what could be picked up during the three or four months of the year that Parliament was sitting. The Terawhiti mines were to work wonders, and all that was required was money, and the prospects were so good (upon paper) that there was no difficulty in obtaining the needful. Companies sprang up like mushrooms, and shares were subscribed for with avidity by all classes. It was, indeed, noticed at the time that among the lists of shareholders appearing in the Gazette , there were very few names of miners; merchants, tradesmen and professional persons forming the bulk of the speculators. Still, there seemed to be no reason to doubt the bona fides of the undertakings, and when the first crushing was made and the result was shown to be favorable, hopes naturally ran high. But at last a bombshell was thrown into the camp, in the shape of a letter from a gentleman rejoicing in thename of Mr“LoNG-DRiVE” Walker, in which it was stated clearly that the gold exhibited as having been taken from the Makara reef, really came from the Thames. It was not likely that such an assertion would be allowed t© pass unchallenged, and after an angry correspondence, in which actions for libel were threatened, the truly English determination was come to to submit the matter to the “ ordeal by wager.” A Mr Isen bet Mr Walker a certain sum that he could not substantiate his statement, and the decision was left in the hands of two newspaper proprietors, assisted by a like number of mining experts. Every precaution was taken in carrying out the investigation, and the result of Dr Hector’s analysis proves conclusively that Mr Walker was right, and that the gold shown as a specimen from the Makara reef did really come from the Thames—-in plain mining phraseology, the claim had been deliberately “ salted.” This is the story of what can only be termed a most discreditable transaction, and the Wellington speculators who have been so decidedly gulled are now calling out with loud acclaim, “Whom shall we hang?” In the early days of the colony those who had been taken in would have made short work of such an offender, who would have been tried and punished by Lynch We go to work differently now, but it is to be hoped in the interest of the public that the person or persons who tried to work this little game will be brought to justice. Looking at the careful comparative analysis of the two metals made by Dr Hector, there appears to be no other conclusion to come to than that Thames gold has been substituted for what was obtained from the Makara reef, and there could be but one reason for such an action, namely, an intention to deceive the shareholders as to the value of their property. Had not Mr Walker come forward and exposed the whole thing, a very pretty little sum would have passed into the pockets of certain people, and it is lucky that the nefarious transaction was exposed before greater harm had resulted. As it is, Wellington will have to follow our example, and accept the undubitable fact that she is not to grow rich suddenly, but in the meantime the affair should not be allowed to rest where it is, and we trust a way will be found to punish those who have been guilty of this “ salting ” business.