THE PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 241, 18 March 1875, Page 4

THE PROVINCES.

AUCKLAND.

We take the following items from our files, which are up to March 12th ; On Tuesday evening, Mr Porter, junior clerk in the Australasian Bank, went out in his Rob Roy canoe for the purpose of having a cruise. It was perceived that as soon as he lost the shelter of the Grahamstown Wharf he had no command of the craft, the wind being easterly, with heavy puffs. Assistance was sent to bring the voyager in shore, but the people who went after him returned, not being able to see either the canoe or Mr Porter. Watermen then went in search, but failed to find him. A third party also made a fruitless search. The wind at times during the night blew a smart gale, Several vessels have arrived since the search without any tidings of the unfortunate gentleman. Mr Porter is the son of Mr Porter, surveyor, of Wellington, and has been but a short time here. The same journal next day says : _ The melancholy fate of young Porter is still occupying the thoughts of his friends (says our Thames correspondent). Several parties have been out in search, but have returned fruitless ; there is scarcely any hope of his turning up. Probably owing to the strong wind blowing at the time, the unfortunate gentleman was thrown out of his canoe craft and drowned. Surmises are afloat as to the whereabouts of the boat and occupant, but it is feared all is known that is likely to be brought to light as to his fate —blown out in the gulf and lost. Information has been received that his Honor Sir George Arney will return to Auckland about the 18th inst. We understand that his retirement will not be before he has disposed of one or two cases in his court, which are now nearly ripe for judgment. One of these is the bankruptcy of George Thorne, jun, and the others are proceedings in Chambers. Rumor fixes his retirement about the 31st of the present month. His Honor has on several occasions expressed his anxiety that no arrears of business should be bequeathed to his successor. Since the building of the culvert from the Stanley street ditch to the low-water mark, outside the railway embankment in Mechanics’ Bay, there has been considerable improvement in the sanitary state of the neighborhood. There is also another condition of the locality which has contributed to this desirable result. The filling in of the entire space between the embankment and the land has been completed, with the exception of two or three yards. There is now a perfectly level footway from Me«hanics’ Bay to Queen street wharf. Mr Severn, says the Thames Advertiser, has finished the analysis of the stone found by Mr Blake, at Ohinemuri, and we are sorry to say that the result is, that it contains no trace of gold or silver. This stone, it will be remembered, was chipped off a boulder on the hill, somewhere near the prospectors’ claim, and on being brought to Mackaytown created a sensation among those who were admitted into the secret. Nobody seems to have doubted that the metal which shone so plentiful through it was gold, and enterprising prospectors at once collared young Blake and took him off to point out the place. Curiously enough, he was not able to do this : he had only a faint idea of the locality, and the eager miners, who were as fierce as hounds on a hot scent, chipped and smashed away at all the boulders over a hill side. If Blake had led them to the place at once, the matter would have been so far settled ; but as it was, they were tantalised, and wearied in the search. The search will probably be continued till this paper gets up to Ohinemuri. We need not go over the history of the stone here, nor again harrow the feelings of those who declared that it was gold, without a doubt. Yesterday Mr Severn finished his test, and furnished a certificate, as follows “ I have made a very careful analysis of the stone handed to me by Mr Wright, and which was found by young Blake. The only melals contained in it are sulphide of iron and antimony. I may mention that no trace whatever was found of cither gold or silver.” Several people here will be more cautious how they pronounce again on specimens; and yesterday the habitues of the Corner were so shy that any man going up to a group, and taking a piece of quartz out of his pocket, put the whole to flight.

The correspondent of the New Zealand Herald , writing on the 11th, says:—One of the principal subjects attracting attention here is the great exodus that has taken place since Friday last, the departures being considerably in excess of arrivals. To-day, I think, has seen a greater clearing out than ever; the road from Mackaytown to Paeroa was lined with men, whom I know to be really good men, with the others—well, their room is preferable to their company. Scores of men came here to try their luck, with scarcely a shilling in their pocket, and because they could not find gold without delving for it, or unable to sell untried ground, as at the Thames in the early days, they condemn the field, and say it is a duffer.” Ten good men in forty-eight hours would do more work than what has teen done, take the field through, and it in presumption on the part of any man to pronounce the field a “ duffer.” At the same time there is no disguising the fact that the prospects, so far, are not as brilliant as what the public were led to expect, but on the contrary, the prospectors’ show of gold up to the present is far from satisfactory. From what I can gather there is something in the background, and should the prospectors enlighten us more, then we may expiect a reaction to take place, and it is hoped a of men will arrive than those who have latterly departed, Whether the prospectors give us anything further or not, I have every reason to believe—nay, am confident that with time and money some fine payable reefs will be developed. The question of whether the prospectors can shew us better or richer gold than that already produced will shortly be decided, for the Warden has already intimated that those who claim to be entitled to the reserve are to appear at the Court on Friday, at 10 a.m., when evidence will be taken as to who were the discoverers of gold, and whether or not they are entitled to the reserve. I had a stiff turn round the district to-day, and was glad to notice that there were fully twelve different parties of men who have set in to work. Certainly there were three parties to No 1 south; hut off the line there were a great many who had commenced to drive in various localities, and are prepared to spend .a few months. Many of these are welt known Thames men. Tom Baird, J, B. Hannah, Neil Brown, Catran, Hutchinson, (Jorjjep, and many others who are thoroughly

acquainted with reefing, and liking the look of the spurs, they set in as thorough reefers, intending to drive through the spur, in order to find and prove the reefs that may be found in the course of their present workings. Several of the spurs in the locality of the reserve find favor with many men, and steps are being taken to prospect them. Other districts besides that of the reserve are receiving attention, that south of the river, also ©n the Tauranga side of the Gorge, where Clarkson and party discovered a nice reef in the bed of the river, and are now preparing to test it on terra firma. As intimated on Saturday last, a great rush had set in to the Waitekuri district, several hundred men * having gone there, but I am sorry to say that the greater portion of these returned to-day. Many went out on the strength that McLean and Dan Leahy had a fair show in different parts of the locality. The former of these had pegged out ten men’s ground, and it was intended to sluice a rubbly reef, the casing of which gave fair prospects in the dish. A good strong company was formed to bring in water, &c, but when several of the shareholders and Leahy visited it the idea was scouted, and the men that were employed have now been set at liberty. It is said that the stuff would pay if put through a machine, but as I have not seen it I cannot give any opinion. The men having ceased work, however, is the cause of many others coming in to Mackaytown. Around Dan Leahy, several claims have been pegged out, and they say they intend to give the reef a fair trial. Dan’s reef is a large one, from the cap of which they get very nice prospects ; so much so that C. F. Mitchell applied to-day on their behalf for a prospecting claim. He admits he has not anything very brilliant, but inasmuch as little or no work has been done, its value is unknown. The Thames Advertiser pigeon express of March 11th reports:— Mackeytown, Thursday, 2 p.m.

A largely-attended meeting of natives was held to-day at Paketawairahi to meet Mr Mackay, for the purpose of completing the signatures to the schedule of the deed, and to receive £SOO bonus, to be paid to the natives. Of course, Mr Mackay’s absence rendered the meeting useless. Mr Wilkinson explained that Mr Mackay was absent on Government business. The notice calling the meeting had been posted by Mr George Gage, Mackay’s orderly, and one of the natives said he had no right to post the notice, and if he did so again, and deceived them, they would treat him as the Europeans were about to treat the prospectors, that is, slit his ears for him. They all dispersed quietly. In Mackaytown everything is quiet. A considerable number of new faces are apparent. There are many arrivals from the West Coast, and several parties have come overland from Tauranga and Napier. McLean and his mates returned this morning from Waitekauri. They are quite satisfied that it would be useless to commence sluicing the stuff in their claim, that it will be necessary to puddle or crush it, and their object in returning is to consult those interested with them as to the best method. McLean’s party appear satisfied that their stuff will pay if properly treated. It is of a similar nature to that of Grove’s bank, on block 27, Shortland—the broken cap of a reef. A feeling of intense interest is felt here regarding the result of the impending law proceedings to decide the ownership of the prospectors’ reserve. A great number are hanging on under the impression that when the case is settled the prospectors will be able to show better prospects than they have yet seen here, and I am afraid if they do not there will be a considerable exodus. But, so far as I can learn, the prospectors are sanguine that they have payable gold. Michael Brett and Punch’s party have taken up the five men’s ground which was cut out of the reserve. They registered yesterday under the name of “Fear Not,” and they have started tunnelling to intersect the prospectors’ reef. Of course there will be law proceedings in regard to this piece of ground; but it is evident the party in possession deem their claim good, for they have gone systematically to work. The evening pigeon express from Ohinemuri, 4.20 p.m., states that in respect to the mode of procedure in the fhquiry respecting the prospectors’ claim, it will not be conducted in the usual way. Each claimant will have to send in the nature of his claim in a sealed envelope to the Warden, and thus each claimant will be bound to a certain statement, over which others will not have any advantage. The only news from the hills this afternoon is that one or two leaders have been uncovered in claims in the neighborhood of the prospectors where work is going on, A deputation of publicans waited on the Warden, asking to have the license fee reduced to £2O, payable quarterly, until such time as the field promises to be payable, but he informed them he had no power to comply with their request. The prevalent feeling is that the prospectors’ claim should be awarded to the party who first found payable gold, and not to whoever first found gold. Two lawyers are already at Mackaytown. Matters at Paeroa are very quiet; a few buildings going up, but storekeeping and liquor trade appear to be overdone.