GOLD DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 833, 5 April 1878, Page 3

GOLD DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

[By TKLKORArn ] (From the Dunedin Morning Herald.) Havelock, March 30th. There is considerable excitement in Wakamarina district on account of a reported new alluvial find on the goldfield. A new terrace was opened by Darkie Arthur while hatting on the Eastern River bank, about six miles from Canvastown, and one mile south of Mountain Camp Creek. A drive was made into the wash tirt, and loz. 3dwts. to the set obtained. He could not bottom on account of the water, and the tail-race is now being deepened. Ground on the terrace is pegged out for three quarter! of a mile. Two claims, one to the south and the other to the north of Darkie Arthur are on a similar washdirt, and presumably payable, but the inflow of water is very great. Leahy and party, to the south, are making a tail-race, and Mullaney and party, to the north, are working night and day to keep the water down, and bottom. The difficulty with all the claims to the north and towards Mountain Camp Creek is a largo hard reef between the terrace and river, which must be tunnelled to got the water off. Another difficulty is the want of water for sluicing, as the rights to the present head races are now vested, and at the outside are only sufficient for three claims. Any addition to the available bead of water must he brought from a distance of five miles at least, over a difficult run of country. About twenty strange diggers arc on the ground, and a few are now in Havelock, but there is nothing to justify a rush at present Unfounded rumours in Picton and the Wairau as to the rush have caused this. The whole district is patchy, and u itil something more definite occurs diggers should not believe reports emanating from a distance. I have spent two days in going over the ground, and although good payable gold may he found, the area is limited. It is reported in Canvastown to-night tbit Hoy ], the Wellington prospector, found a quartz reef, and struck, but the report lacks confirmation, and nothing can be believed that is beard off the ground. Two claims on Darkio's Terrace are panning off this afternoon, and I will send the result when obtained. On the ground, the present sinking is about 47ft from the surface, an I although (here is a good fall for tail races to the river, yet the distance varies from 300 ft to 500 ft, and consequently it is no poor man's diggings.