Correspondence.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3000, 5 February 1881, Page 3

Correspondence.

PROSPECTING.

|_To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir, —Mr H. B. Thompson's letter in your issue of last evening is so filled with wit, humor, scathing sarcasm, and scientific attainments, that I am almost at a loss to know how to reply to him, and for his information may state that I gained my " mineralogical " knowledge (as be is pleased to call it) firstly in Victoria from tbe year 1854 to 1861, during which time I can safely say that I visited nearly the whole of the then existing diggings, and reported upou the same for the leading journal in Victoria, at the same time reading tbe works of the most eminent geologists, and studying tbe gold-producing rocks as I moved from place to place. Such ia the manner in which I gained my information, and also under similar circumstances visiting the whole of the Otago diggings, Wakamarina, and the West Coast. I trust this may prove satisfactory to the engineer. Touching fctonev Creek, in August, 1879,1 wrote a description of the country between Napier and Taupo, which appeared in the columns of your morning contemporary (speaking from memory here.) I said that " Stoney Creek was the only place that bore any resemblance to a gold-bearing country." This I reiterated in your columns soon after gold was supposed to have been found at the Mohaka, at the same time and in the same communication Baying that I was not desirous of throwing cold water upon the efforts of the prospectors, but my opinion was that if ever a payable goldfteld was discovered in Hawke's Bay it must be looked for in the Ruahine ranges. I may say that Mr Thompson isevidently laboring uuder a mistake when he thinks

I am desirous to assume the name of prospector ; such is really not the case, and were havo I either by word or pen allowed any one to think so. But while not assuming the role of prospector, when in Dunedin in 1863 I published a pamphlet in opposition to a theory enunciated by Dr Hector, who was then Provincial Government Geologist of Otago, and who, in his published reports, stated that gold in payable quantities would not be found on tbe West Coast. In opposition to which after chartering the Courier schooner, Captain Sullivan owner, and going round the West Coast, X wrote at tbe commencement of tbe pamphlet before spoken of "the

whole of the West Coast will be changed from a barren wilderness to a busy hive of moving enterprize." Again m the same year I wrote to the Superintendent of Nelson pointing out the existence of auriferous rocks in

Pelorous Sound, and in reply was somewhat snubbed by Mr J. C. Richmond, who was then Provincial Secretary, and who said, " the Pelorous has been inhabited for a number of years, is easy of access, and if gold had existed there I have no doubt it would have been found long before this. However, as there are a number of diggers stopping in Nelson, your letter shall be given publicity to." That letter was published in the Nelson Examiner, the result shortly after being the discovery of the Wakamarina gold field by Harry Kline and party. These are historical facts, and only now mentioned to shew Mr Thompson tbat, altho' not a bona fide digger, I have at least done a little towards developing the metaliforous resources of the country; but possibly Mr H. B. Thompson may have done more, but, if so, where? Touching Messrs Allen and Hunter, I may say that I was the first person who described the specimens through the medium of your journal that were in the possession of Mr Allen; they consisted of crystalized limesfone, fragmentory meteoric stones, and two pieces of quartz, thickly impregnated with gold, thus clearly indicating that I had no wish to frustrate the operations of the prospectors ; and, as to my being " galled," as suggested by my Mr Thompson, permit me to inform him that, were I ciesirioua of going out prospecting, the necessary funds would be supplied forthwith. But, as lam going to leave New Zealand for the old country within a short period, I have not the remotest intention of visiting the Ruahine, but shall at all times be glad to hear of the success of the prospectors. And my only reason for writing tbe letter, which has been a source of pain, was to point out the necessity of men having some knowledge of the rocks before they went prospecting If it has offended Mr Thompson, I regret it; still I cannot help it, for every word is essentially true. Mr Thompson asks me a question, " why is gold not likely to be found about the Mohaka or Scinde Island P" Will he permit me, Irishman-like, to answer it by asking him another, " Has he ever heard of, has he ever read of, or has he ever seen, gold that was found in a limestone foundation ?" And if he has never heard, read, or seen such, does he think that nature is going out of its ordinary course just to accommodate a handful of people in Hawke's Bay, as to Mr Thompson being longer in the colony, to me it matters little, for I have met many who, thro' leaghthof years in the colonies, have become living petrifications animated fossils and, again the, venerable descendants of Captain Cook's porcine family have been in New Zealand loDger than either of us, yet if a train of gold was placed round Mr Pig's neck, Mr Pig would remain a pig still, and so it is unfortunately with some cf the human family.

I have now done with Mr Thompson, and must turn my attention to C.H.S., and state at once that I saw the original letter, and that it was written at Petane by a gentleman named Harker,and brought to Mr Smith yesterday morning, which he copied and forwarded to you for insertion. Mr Harker a short time back was working in the direction of the Ruahine ranges, and when be came to Napier expressed his determination to go prospecting with Mr Allen in fact his excitement was at red-heat, but it subsequently died out, and all his enthusiasm completely evaporated, with the exception of taking three shares in the company, and instructing Mr Smith to buy up the other shares. Now, if he was genuine, why did he not go either with the party or advance the money, instead of allowing it to come before the public P Or does be intend to start share-broking on a small scale ? If so, permit me to tell him that his " little game " is played out. —I am, &c,

Samuel Symms,

February 4, 1881