RICH GOLD DISCOVERY IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1737, 11 January 1888, Page 3

RICH GOLD DISCOVERY IN THE WAIRARAPA.

32 OU NOBS TO THE TON. The report that auriferous stone he* been discovered In the ranges between the sources of the Hutt and Tauherenlkau Rivers has occasioned considerable excitement In some parts of the Wairanpa, and a number of men are now oat prospeotlng the country where the qaattzi Is laid to exist. A few weeks ago a sample of itoae wa* sent down to Sir James Hector, who oaased it to be tested. The rosalt of the analysis was very aatlafaotory, the stone yielding at the rats of S2czs of gold to the ton. Sir James was informed that the quartz had been broken from a large reef tq the Waiohlne Ranges about three weeks ago, by a party who were oat prospeotiag. The men did not attaoh any importance to the discovery, as they felt convinced there was little or no gold In tho stone, and the specimens whioh they brought away were allowed to remßln on a mantelshelf until recently, when one of patty, whioh long since disbanded, took it into his bead to get them tested at the Colonial Mdseum, with the result that they wera found to be rich m the preolous metal. The reef from whioh the stone was broken was not known by the men who brought away the specimens, and all efforts recently made to discover Its whereabouts have proved unavailing, Sir James Hector, feeling muoh interested In the discovery of rich qnartz, paid a vi«it to tho Walrarapa last week m company with Mr Mnokay, Aisistant (jfeolqgUt, and inspected the country whore the lode is said to exist. Mr Maoka.y spent several days m prospecting the Waiohine ranges and has brought back with him a quantify of specimens, whlob tjrlll be tested as sopn as pQaoibje. It is probable that he will gq up again shortly and make another eflort to dlsr cover the lycqle of the aurlfarouo lode. The oonntry whioh he bas prospected recently Is exceedingly rough, and he hae had his garments almost torn to shreds In making h r i way through the bush — 11 Wood villa Examiner/ January 3rd,