GOLD DISCOVERY AT WEST TAIERI.

Dunstan Times, Issue 783, 20 April 1877, Page 3

GOLD DISCOVERY AT WEST TAIERI.

(From the Guardian.) Mr Mouat, of Outram, has kindly given us information of a golden discovery made at Outram yesterday afternoon. The scene of the discovery is within 100 yards of the site of the National Bank, and the gold was found by a lad about 10 years of age, who taking out some earth constituted himself a juvenile miner, washed it at the river, and found a “prospect.” This he showed to his father, who panned out several dishes with excellent results—about Idwt. to the pan. Great excitement prevailed, andnum-rous prospects wore being panned out all day at the river side. Gold has been found in this district before, but not in payable quantities, a lead had been searched for in vain, but it is now thought that it has accidentally been struck. The "find” is on private property. Pegging out yesterday was of course not legal, but to-day the “rush” will commence. We know nothing further of the particulars than those kindly related to us by Mr Mouat. (From the Daily Times.) The following further particulars we extract from the Times of the 17th : A discovery was made at Outram on Thursday last while work was being carried on of repairing the approaches to the West Taieri bridge. While excavations were be* ing made, washdirt containing payable quantities of gold was come across. From a practical miner, who remained on the ground for a couple of days on his way down country, we learn that there are already nearly 100 men on the ground. The stuff which he washed out averaged three or four grains to the dish, and water being only about 100 or 150 yards away, an experienced miner could make 15s or 18s, or even LI per day. Though there is a large number of people on the ground, very little has been done in the way of testing, and, there being nothing to show that the washdirt covers an extensive area, there is no reason why a rush should set in. So far as is known, the area of the wash dirt is limited. The wash dirt is found at a depth from the surface of six or seven feet, and is from 18 inches to 2 feet in thickness. The discovery was made upon the Government reserve. It runs across the spur at an angle

of 44, deviating from north to south. The root has yet to be tried, and in the meantime nothing is known of it. The casing of the reef is about 3 feet, but it is quite possible that it may not be above a few inches, or not a reef at all, but merely a quartz leader. Claims, however, have been taken up along its line, and it is not improbable that other reefs may-exist in the vicinity. At present there is nothing to justify people rushing to the spot.