THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1348, 22 September 1886, Page 3

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

An alliterative old proverb has it that “ far fowls have fine feathers,” which is another way of saying, vrith a tiuihfulness for which we have the voucher of everyday experience, that “ distance lends enchantment to the view.” The converse is generally equally true, viz., that that which is near to the hand is less thought of than that which is far to seek, while the intimate relations hip between absolute familarity and contempt is also part of the world’s prover bial philosophy. And no better illustrations of these truisms need be sought than are to be found in connection with the search for gold, which brought its thousands to New Zealand from thousands of miles away, and has recently drawn large numbers of men from New Zealand and elsewhere to the arid regions of North Australia, albeit, so far as this colony is concerned, there seems to be good reason to believe that the precious metal, which is to mankind as the loadstone is to iron, is to be found in larger quantities in the country which the diggers are leaving behind them than in that which they seek. No doubt there is gold in Kimberley, but so far there are no authenticated accounts of any large finds, while on all hands it is admitted that very little can be done for want of water during the greater part of the year. And as the present is the dry season much suffering and disappointment is the lot of the greater part of those who, a few weeks ago, rushed to the reputed El Dorado with so much sanguine anticipation ; indeed actual privation has been the lot of many. Yet almost at the very time that the rush to Kimberley set in news came to hand of discoveries on the West Coast of Otago which promised better results to mining enterprise than any which have been actually obtrined in that far away region, and the Minister of Mines very properly and wisely responded promptly to an application for aid in prospecting the region about Big Bay. Legendary lore has been unearthed of wonderous finds in that region by a ship’s crew some few years ago, and more authentic and reliable information of recent date induces confidence that, whether the legend referred to be fact or fiction, there is gold to be had for the seeking over a considerable area of country. It is fortunate that this is the case, as together with the discouraging news to hand from Kimberley, it will effectually stop the exodus of our miners which had begun to set in, and that at a time when New Zealand Sin specially ill afford drafts upon her population. The expedition to Big Bay sailed from the Bluff on Saturday, a large crowd assembling at the Invercargill station to see the party take the train for the port of embarkation. Altogether nearly one hundred and fifty miners left for the scene of operations, among them being thirty members of the Southland West Coast Prospecting Association, fully equipped for their enterprise. The party took with them, we are told, 13 truckloads of stores and too’s, and hence they setm fully provided against all contingencies. The good wishes of the colony go with them, and tidings of their success will be looked for with great interest. It is heartily to be hoped that this strong band of prospectors will succeed in opening up for us a new goldfield, which shall revive the tradition ot the good old times of Gabriel’s, and if so instead of seeing our miners hieing away in crowds to Northern Australia, we may look for a complete turn of the tide, and a large influx of miners to the shores of New Zetland.

Pr*»ecnte the Swindler*!! If when you call for American Hop Bitters ( see green twig of Hops on the white label and Dr Soule’s n me blown in each bottle) the vendor hands out anything but American Hop Bitters, refuse it and shun that vendor as you would a viper; and if he has taken your money for anything else indict him for the fraud, and sue him for damages for the swindle, and we will reward you liberally for the conviction “I Haro Battered. With every diaense imaginable for the sst three years. Our Druggist, T. J. Andera n, fCoommemfing Hop Bitters ” to mo, I used two b ttlos ! Am entire’y cur-d and heartily rec'.mmend Hop Bitters to every one J D. Wilder, Buckner Mo, Counterfeiting- Prove* Superiority “ Although counterfeiting is one of the greatest crimes sgainst ihe business of any country and in many cages—- “ Destructive of health and life ! " “ It proves beyond a doubt the ” “ Superiority ” Of the article counterfeited ; As no inferior article is counterfeited Proof of this is f mud in the great number in “Australia, England, France, “ Germany, India, Belgium, Canada and the U.S.— Of counterfoita of the great remedy, “ Hop Bitters,” Whose name and merits are so wellknown the world over that it is a “ Shining mark and favorite prey “For counterfeiters ! ! ! " Beware of all that dors not have a green cluster of hops on the white label, ProMxuts die Swindler* ! If when you call for American Hop Bitters (see green twig "/Hops on the white label and Dr Soule's name blown in the bott’e), the vendor hands out anything but American Hop Bitters refuse it and shun the vendor as you would a viper; and if he has taken your money for anything else indict him for the fraud and sue him for damages for the swindle, and we will pay you liberally for the conviction.