COROMANDEL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 41, 10 April 1862, Page 2

COROMANDEL.

GREAT SUCCESS OF THE DIGGERS,

We have reason to believe that the question—“ Is there a paying gold-field in the province of Auckland ?” has at length been solved. The influx of diggers from Otago, led to the North by private intelligence from their friends in Coromandel, has been marked for the past eight or ten days. There are now between 200 and 300 men on the spot, many of whom landed from the vessels direct, without coming to Auckland, others proceeded thence from this city. The success of the prospectors is a great fact. We will merely transcribe extracts from letters we have seen, and report the oral testimony of gentlemen who inspected the operations of the diggers in Coromandel, and leave the public to judge of the matter for themselves. Mr. Beeson writes to a mercantile firm in this city on the 31st March ; —There was a find of 20 ounces of gold on Friday last at one place, and 7 ounces at another. These places are four miles apart, with every prosof good field being opened in a week or two. “ One nugget weighed 9 ounces 15 dwt.” In relation to the facts detailed in this letter, we may add that since perusing it we have talked with gentlemen who saw the gold referred to, and they say that the weight of the weight of the nugget was 9 ounces 18 dwt. —about 7 ounces pure gold and the balance quartz. Writing on the 28th March from Coromandel, a gentleman for whose veracity we will unhesitatingly vouch, states : “ The diggers are coming here from Otago direct; 100 have landed, and 150 are on their way, while more are to follow. These men bring money, but no provisions nor tools. “ Gold is being found in two places, five miles apart, and I believe the whole of the men ai’e going to work at once with a good

heart. “ I have seen the specimens of gold and quartz lodged with Mr. Turton, the Resident Magistrate, by two parties who thus put in their claim for the reward. One specimen weights the other 6 ounces. “ All the Victorian diggers want is supplies to last three weeks, and they are satisfied that they will do for the future. Their experience leads them to this conclusion. A gentleman who was one of a party recently in Coromandel, stated to us that the party of miner’s under the leading of Laurence Murphy, Jas. Jones, Robt. Wynnn, John Fleming, Wm. Alcock, and Thomas Nash—have struck upon a promising quartz leader, in a drive in the centre spur at Kapanga, near to the spot where Mr. Coolahan and party made <£2os worth of gold in 1854. There are three spurs converging at this point, and Murphy’s party have driven sixty-four yards into the central and largest spur, making provision for drainage. The men are most sanguine of a rich find from the heavy quartz of the leader. Below, and at some distance from this party, in the gully, another party of men are working,—Germans,—and they showed our * informant and his friend several pounds weight of black auriferous sand, largely intermixed with gold. The richness of this sand can only be appreciated by those who have seen it. These men are in high spirits and are daily accumulating the precious earth.

Near the residence of Mr. Preece, a party of four men are engaged on the hill side and sunk a shaft a considerable depth. They also displayed specimens of quartz of considerable value, and left the impression on the minds of the gentlemen to whom they exhibited a pretty considerable pile, that they had more behind which they did not deem in prudent to exhibit.

The diggings are now extending towards Cape Colville, and the nearer they approach this point, the richer the finds become. There are working parties all over the country, except on the prohibited land; and the diggers appear unwilling to satisfy the curiosity of visitors. They also, no doubt, fear to excite the cupidity of the natives. But from what we have recorded above, and from statements equally trustworthy confirming this, which we have heard elsewhere, we believe the time has passed for reticence. The existence of large gold deposits has been established on European land; there are hundreds—perhaps thousands, on their way from Otago to Auckland ; and it is for the government to be equal to the emergency. The diggers need want for nothing in Coromandel. They will find men in Auckland who shall do their utmost to make their early trials as light as possible ; and above all they will enjoy a delicious climate, have wood, water, food and clothing in abundance.

We should mention that Mr. Heron lias sub-let the ground for a store to one of the recent arrivals ; and we have no doubt but stores will spring up rapidly.