TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 14 November 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA.

(From the Otago Colonist October 25.) The escort last week brought down 15,185 ounces, leaving behind 900 ounces, which it could not convey. Some 700 ounces of the quantity were collected by the commissioner at Waitahuna during a visit of a few hours which he paid there. All accounts agree in confirming the permanent nature of the gold discoveries and their progressive increase. The hills on the sides of Gabriel’s, Munroe’s, and WetheruU’s gullies are yielding very satisfactory results, and fresh claims are constantly striking. The sinking in some of them was as deep as 30 feet, but this is exceptional. Not lung approaching to a defined quartz reef can be found in Gabriel’s, but in some of the claims thin quartz veins are to be observed, and gold is generally found in the adjacent slate. One claim in which there were several fine veins of quartz taken up by a well known run-holder was left by him and the party who took possession after him netted 121bs, weight out of it. Instances of unusual success are still constantly coming to light as the successful parties leave the scene of their labour with the results they have obtained. Thus we are told of one party who after washing up found themselves the possessors of 701bs. weight of the precious metal. One man went up to Tuapeka penniless—a subscription was made for him with which he set to work. He marked oft* a claim from a party who held too much ground and with four mates got 171bs. weight of gold from it.

Rushes are of daily occurrence. One was made to the Flat this side of Gabriel’s but the ground was too wet to work. A discovery has been made which though nothing as yet, is like to lead to something. A party prospecting to the West of Gabriel’s, on the main branch of the Tuapeka river has come upon gold in several places. At the spot four or five miles from Gabriel’s, a small nugget of 1 dwt. 23 grains with fragments of quartz attached to it was found in about 5 feet sinking. Several fine narrow veins of quartz are to be found in the neighbourhood. This part of the country should be well prospected. W aitahuna and the Woolshed are progressing well. On the latter many parties are reported to be getting “ good gold.” The population is increasing. The gold discoveries at Waitahuna extend over a large area. A new gully running parallel to the Waitahuna, has Just been discovered, and numbers are flocking to it. It is premature to express an opinion of its capabilities, but it is thought very - promising. Reports are rife, both at Tuapeka and Waitahuna that Mr. Reid has discovered a rich gold field in the Umbrella or Blue Ranges amongst which he is prospecting. The Government has no news of the kind, therefore the report must be simply an anticipation of what is likely to be the result of Mr. Reid’s researches. The locality is described as very “likely looking.” Mr. A. C. Strode, the late Commissioner at Tuapeka, received quite an ovation on the occasion of his taking his departure. It is very much to his credit that notwithstanding all the conflicting interests with which he has had to deal, and the many difliculties with which he has had to contend, he has made himself so much liked and esteemed. An address was presented to him, and a triumphal arch erected. The day of his departure was almost observed as a holiday, and several vollies were fired in his honor.

A remarkably fine specimen of gold in quartz lias been brought to town. It is a cube, measuring about 7 inches on each side. One side is covered with gold, which is also in crevices half an inch deep. The quantity of gold it is estimated to contain is above a pound weight. The locality tin which this fine specimen was found is a secret. It is satisfactory to find that our gold mining is likely to take the form of quartz crushing and we may now feel more assured of the permanence of the yield of gold than we have hitherto done. — Otago Witness, October 26.

BUSHRANGING EXTRAORDINARY Sixteen Men Stuck Up. A case of Bushranging occurred on Friday last, a short distance from Dunedin, which has certainly had no parallel before in New Zealand. Mingled with the ordinary ruffianism of such proceedings, there was a systematic business mode of conducting it, and yet withal, a certain halo of romance thrown over it, that but for the serious nature of such offences, one could scarcely fail to be amused at it. Six men, masked and disguised, throughout the whole of one day “stuck up” such of the passers by as they thought seemed to have money on them, and carried them to an enclosure in the bush close by, where they tied them up separately. Sixteen victims were thus in all collected and certainly they must have presented a lu--t dicrous appearance. The spot was on the West Taeiri road, near Fulton’s Station. Some of the gang were stationed on a neighboring height that commanded a view of the road for several miles, a kind of flagstaff was employed, and signals made to the confederates below. As each person came up, pistols were presented, and under their persuasive influence, the victim quietly marched to the enclosure and submitted to the tying up process. The first was brought in at nine o’clock in the morning, the last about dusk. During the day the stickers-up were very friendly and communicative. Stickingup, they said, was a very easy and remunerative pursuit. Four of their number were stationed on the other road. They meant next to have a “ shy” at the escort, which would prove an easy matter, as there were only six men with it. They hoped Air. Brannigan would be one of the number. They tried also a little badinage, told their guests of prisoners never to travel again without revolvers, and added, that at last, they would have something to write home to their friends about. They also distributed grog. The amount taken in all must have been considerable. Amongst the various items were £lB5 in money, a horse, and several watches. They took their departure as soon as it was dark, two on horseback, and the remainder on foot. They promised to send and release the prisoners at 10 o’clock, and threatened dire vengeance if they did not await their return. As soon as they were gone one of the captives managed to liberate himself and comrade?, and information was given to the near-

est Magistrate, Mr. Fulton,

Every exertion has since been made by Mr. Commissioner Brannigan, and the force under him, to trace out the offenders. It is much to ‘be feared that they took their departure by the City of Hobart , which left early the day after the affair The identity of some of the party is suspected. Several other depradations have taken place in the neighborhood. —Otago Colonist, Oct. 25. Shameful Outeage.—A most atrocious outrage was attempted on Tuesday last, on a young lady named Henderson, from which she was most fortunately rescued by the timely presence of Mr. Sub-Inspector Moreton. This gentleman riding along the road by the Ocean Beach, passed a rough ill looking person whose appearance struck him as being very unprepossessing. Shortly afterwards he met Miss Henderson walking by herself, and rode on a short distance, when it struck him that her position was very unprotected in case the man whom he had previously passed should attempt to insult her. lie waited a few minutes to see whether the man would come up, and on finding that he did not make his appearance he turned his horse’s head back. Scarcely had he proceeded a hundred yards when loud screams met his ear, in a moment he galloped up to the spot and found the young lady struggling in the grasp of the ruffian, whose suspicious appearance he had before remarked. Mr. Morton immediately dealt him a blow on the head with his riding whip, and covering him with pistol, sent Miss Henderson to the nearest farm house to summon assistance. A farmer of the name of Saunders soon arrived, and the man was secured and taken to the station. The case was heard on Wednesday, and remanded for the evidence of the young lady, who beyond the fright and alarm sustained no injury. The offender is a Spaniard. — lbid, Oct. 25. New Comers. —The following paragraph from the first letter of the special correspondent of the Argns forcibly describes the ideas and notions of a large number of the new arrivals :—“ Every now and again a small knot of new arrivals may be seen crowding round some returned Tuapeka miner who [is spinning yarns about awful bad roads high prices and small yields ; and already have they who in the morning were loudly bragging of prospective digging exploits, begun to ask whether it is likely that the Victorian Government will send ships to bring them back. Truth however, compels me to say that almost every one of the returned miners of whom I have spoken did not exactly seem the right sort of men to get along at a new gold-field. The complaints were all the same, and their burden was that the yield of gold was sometimes tolerably good, sometimes very bad, and every now and again pretty rich. The tremendous expense of every article of food and tools was their great rock ahead ; and while they could not clear their expenses they are unwilling to spend the little money they had brought with them ;so they have returned’to town to dishearten the fresh comers and get a passage to Melbourne as best they can. ” — lbid, Oct. 25.