THE THAMES GOLDFIELD

Dunstan Times, Issue 322, 26 June 1868, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD

The Auckland Goldfields appear to be increasing in importance, and discoveries of quartz lodes are constantly being made. Alluvial workings are said to have been discovered, as yet the crucial test is wanting ; there are no escort return* -we give the following extracts from Auckland journals, our readers will therefore be able to judge for themselves as to the probabilities of success of the new Goldtield. Mr Commissioner Mackay has lately addressed a report to the Superintendent of Auckland, in which he states that on the 13th instant he proceeded up the Har.itunga. The first three miles were over a flat block of ground, very suitable for a township—the eistern side of the creek having been leased by Mr. Smart while the western side has been reserved for cultivation. The main creek is fed by live rivers of some size, and by others of minor importance. On four of the streams, two on the east, and two oa the west, alluvial gold has been found by Mr. M'Leod while another party of prospectors have found it in another creek. He (Mr. Mackay) is of opinion that gold e\ists in payable quantities and there will be work fur at least three or four hundred men in creek and bank -mining. Mr. M'Leod handed to him four or live ounces of gold, some of which was very much water worn, and three or four other samples of quartz containing gold worth from .£2 15s to £3 10s per ounce. No gold has as yet been found in any reef, excepting the one found by the natives The upper part of the river is described as similar to Collingwood on the West Coast, a: d in this judgment hj«! was borne out by miners from that district. The Rocky River diggings was a payable one, and there the gold was fou d in patches, as has been the ease at Kennedy's B\y as far as they have prospected it :is vet. Undertlio circumstances, Mr Mackay considered himself justified in grantin',' additional claims to the discoverer of the field. There were, when the r>mrnnga left, upwards of one hundred ii e i at work on the grou .d. The Southern Cross publishes the following as the la'est news from the goldfield ; " The news brought by the steanvr Tauranga which arrived from Kennedy's Bay last i i ; ht is simply corroborative of that which we published on !*aturday. We learn that between 300 and 400 people were on the ground, and that thonum ber is rapidly increasing, both by means of land and water. Good gold is teing got from all the creeks; but it appears that no one has as yet attempted reefing. A fortnight's protection has been granted to claimholders." The development of the auriferous wealth of the Thames district has been prosecuted with unabated vigor during the past month, although the wintry weather experienced has somewhat militated against prospectingbeingcarried on for many consecutive days with any degree of comfort. The claims proved to be gold-bearing are now steadily worked; machinery is being extensively erected; and shares in some of the richer claims have changed hands at astonishingly high figures. As an instance of this, we may here mention that a quarter-sleeping share in the Shotover, which was bought eight months ago for 100/. was sold a fewdays ago for 2,250/. New discoveries are being made weekly of auriferous ground, not alone confined to thu auraki district. A rush has taken place to Kennedy's Bay, consequent on the discovery of alluvial gold there; the district has been proclaimed a . goldfield, new townships surveyed, and at, last dates there were about 500 diggers on the spot. We have also to report the discovery of the precious metal at theWadc; and quartz, supposed to con taingoldhisbcen met with at Papakura and the Kaipara. We learn that auriferous quartz has been discovered in the neighbourhood of Rangiriri, specimens of which have been "brought to town by Mr Moorhouse, brother of the late Superintendent of Canterbury. The discovery is said to be of a very promising character. Intelligence has been received in Auckland of a discovery of kerosene at River head by a gum digger, who is working about three miles from Lamb's Mills, and it is supposed that a nice vein will.be topped by sinking in a short time. It is also said that there are indications of gold in the same locality, which will be developed to sufficient extent to test the value in a short time; so that, between gum, oil, and gold, there is a goed prospect (or Riverhcod.