MELBOURNE GOLD FIND.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18238, 24 November 1924, Page 10

MELBOURNE GOLD FIND.

DISCOVERY IN THE CITY. (from our owh correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 13; .In a quiet street in Fitzroy, \vi thinfive''imitates' tram ride of the Melbourne General Post Office, a gold rush has occurred.

The find was mad© by a man who was digging a drain in'tile Txickvard ch Mr S. T. 'Go-on, a Chinese herbalist. Property owners caught tho fever and claims were soon pegged out. But it is not likely there will be any serious mining, for the overburden, of the wealth in bricks in mortar, and streets and lanes and roads will prohibit mining there. It is believed that a. gold reef runs north along Nicholson street from Princess street. Mr Goon's.property lies at the intersection, of -Nicholson. street and Princess street. The labourer was working in .an excavation, and hia pick struck some metal that glittered like gold in the sunlight. The piece.of metal was as large as a man's two fists, and it' seemed to be impregnated with pure gold. He reported the discovery to Mr. Goon, and it is said ■ that a further exploration- disclosed many similar pieces of metal in ■ft northerly direction; The story of the.iliscoyery.leaked, out when seme adjoining property owners were' shown pieces of the metal. The discovery did not create much interest, however, until Mr Goon was asked to "name his own price 1 ' for the property. He-refused to ■ quote a , price. When questioned he disclosed 'the laist offer he was. mad© for the property,- and the man who,interviewed him' said*calmly: "Well, double that." No business • resulted. Several interviews followed, and the owner was given to understand that he could obtain more than three, times the last offer for the property if he did not persist in being granted an interest in the gold mining operations. Still no business resulted, and the. owner wa9 told that a financially strong company had been formed to prospect the area. Oh Friday Mr P. C.-Heber, the manager, gave notice on behalf of Mr Goon of an application for a mining; lease. The mine situate in Nicholson street, Fitzroy, will be known as Batman's Hill gold mine, and will have an area of about 100 ft square. The estimated expenditure on the property is £SOO. A neighbouring mine will be known as the Eastern Hill gold mine, «nd it has an area of 31ft x 110 ft. Both leases are required for a term of about 15 years. A few small flakes have been " pronounced by the State geologist to be alluvial gold. The gold so for secured is stated to -be worth about £4O.