THE THAMES DISTRICT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 501, 19 August 1867, Page 2

THE THAMES DISTRICT.

THE IvA.UEUA.NGA GOLD-FIELD. ~FROSI the correspondent of the new zeaLAND HERALD.J August 5. I should have written by the Severn, which left here yesterday, but I had to learn the result of one or two trials made late on Saturday, and I had also to verify a report raised here that a nugget had been found ; the report was not true j and as to the general results, they are still "early the same. Indications of gold are found nearly everywhere alongthe field, but there is not as yet anything such as ia known to diggers as a “ lead.” I have seen about 60 prospects washed out, be the same more or less, three pans only had a “ show,” and the highest was nine specks to the tin dish. This is quite as good as some that I have seen on good fields, and some old diggers agree with me in thinking that there ought to be a lead somewhere—but where, is the thing to find out.

As to what else we are doing here, tho Commissioner marked out the first lines for a town on Saturday. The new town is to be called Shortland Town, Kaueranga, and it is on the flat near the landing-place. I cannot as yet say what the cost of a business license will be, but I presume £5. The miner’s rights are to be issued on Wednesday. The weather having been rainy, the most that has been done or that could be done by any one, has been to got shelter, putting up tents and whares. Most of the men have got their food and clothes under cover, and I am sanguinethat by the end of this week something may he done. As I have said before, the “color” is found everywhere, the lead must be somewhere. I would not advise to send more goods here yet. We have pigs, potatoes, flour, tea, and sugar, but there is no beef or mutton, salt or fresh, that I know of. The Resident Magistrate has notified that all vessels must laud their cargoes as quickly as may be, to load the same, and to haul into the stream. I hear to-day that one or two small craft coming down were told to make the Miranda Redoubt ; that would bo some twenty miles out of the way ; the channel is now staked, vessels must keep the first stakes on the left hand, and the last two on right hand ; otherwise they will get stuck on the mud fiats. About three quarter flood ia the best time to come in.

A torero of natives that was to havecome off to-day was not yet commenced j but a meeting of diggers is talked of, toast the Commissioner to extend the time allowed for prospecting. August 6. I wrote yesterday by the Blue Bell. To what I then said there is little to add. Mr Mackay and the natives had a torero yesterday about the Waitotahi creek—tho one in dispute with the natives themselves, but not with the Government. Mr Mackay found two parties of men prospecting; the ground, and he gave them ten minutes to paek and be off. The whole question, except so far as relates to about 100 or 000 acres, will be settled to-day, and the Commissioner will run along tbo disputed boundary, the remainder being, open to the diggers. A report is current that three pennyweights to a tin dish was found yesterday* but like a good many other reports* it is not true, in all these cases I believe what I see.

The Enterprise Eo. 2, came in last night about 11 o’clock. She adds 60 to our number, but not many diggers, and of lookers-ou and shepherds we hare a full market. Provisions are plentiful; demand not brisk yet. A butcher and a stock of beef and mutton came with the steamer. A!! hands are hard at work, and you may expect to hear of a “ bottom” as soon as it can reach you after this. There is no post office here. Letters to care'of Herald agent will be delivered free until some arrangement is made. Every practical miner that I know is satisfied with our prospects so far. I send by a safe hand, samples of tho gold here, and I have requested the bearer to place them at tho service of the public as they are contributed by the prospectors for the public press. P.S.—I open my despatch to say that the report as to three pennyweights is true. The party is one of four, two of whom were turned off yesterday. They are miners, so this is very goo<i.

August 8. I esc bj jour issue of Tuesday that gome ■one who is or professes to be, better ac■quainted with mining than I am, has given jou a very glowing account of what we are supposed to be doing here. The acoouut is a very flattering one, but unfortunately not true colsur ds rose statements may do for captains of coasting craft, but as there is always a small likelihood of being “ lynched ” when a person makes this sort of statement, I should say it would be better to give the name of the person who makes the statement. All the parties really consisting of diggers are hard at work. It was expected -that a “bottom” would Lave been struck last night, but there ia now no likelihood .that there will be any bottom before the end of the week. The country is as likely looking as any 1 have ever seen, and in most of its characteristics, bears a strong resemblance to the country from the foot of Mount Alexander to Bendigo. I have examined the country as far now as Tauranga Point, and am more than ever satisfied that there is here one of the most singular freaks of nature should the field prove not to be a payable one. Still I think some caution, should be used; you are sending us down people who could not make “ tucker ” at diggings if you put them down at Eaglebank. For the lust day or two one of the parties working on the Karaka Creek have put on a. “night shift,” that is, they are working night and day. Oue of them is al2 year old Bendigo man and I thing he knows a thing or two about mining. I may also say that another friend of mine has found a reef, and that he has secured his claim to it, by taking out a miner’s right. The prospecting party have got their race turned and some of their boxes ready. Smallman’s party are going down in the . flat, on the south side of the Karaka. The work is very heavy from the nature of the ground,. Boulders, it may be antediluvian ones, are found all the way down. One of these large atones, met in driving yesterday, took six men to lift it. How •will some amature diggers like that? Those working in the shafts are more or less wet all day ; they are sleeping on the ground covered by fern or manga manga, and they cook for themselves.

I have already tuld you that our town is to be called “ Shortlaad Town,” but it would appear that some people wish to call it “New London,” no doubt ignorant of the fact that Kopu, four miles higher up, is called New Loudon. It is suggested that it might be called Shortknd Crescent quite as well as Shortland Town, for we have to-day hawkers, merchants, stationers, and all the representatives of all the business in Auckland.

So far as I can learn, the town frontages are to be charged a business license of £S payable to the G-ovornaient, and a ground rent of 6s per foot of frontage. This is thought to be a somewhat heavy charge, but nothing is yet asked until it is seen what gold there is to be bad. I hope that care will be taken to publish only such statements as may be well authenticated, cither in praise or depreciation of this place. Until the shafts now being put down are bottomed no one can possibly tell what is to be the result, but you may depend upon knowing that result as soou as auj ono.

August 9. I send you tins by the Henry. There is little to add since I wrote by the Enterprise No. 2, the whole of the men are still at work, but there is no real bottom struck yet. I know that many think they have struck a bottom, but those who are ■well acquainted with mining do not think so.

I have just returned from the creek. The government prospecting party are taking what appears to me to be the right course. They are taking the stuff from top to bottom, and are all through the sluice.

We had a fire last night. A cook house built after the most primitive order of architecture, style not ascertained, but the material was tea-tree poles, upright, with tea*tree laid horizontally. As we had hclf a gale of wind at the time, there would have been some danger to the store adjoining, that of Messrs Lewis Brothers, but fortunately the wind was away from the store. It may also be placed upon record that we had a fire bell, as the bell at Mr Messenger’s butchering establishment was rung with great vigor, and to the entire satisfaction °f all the spetators during the conflagration. The Severn still lies on the mud flats. The Catherine and Sydney are just coming in. Last night was terrible stormy and rainy, but no damage was done beyond wet blankets. I have just been shown a specimen of reef gold by Messrs Henry Keesiag,J junr., Wadham, and Chas. Kobinson.' Mr Keesing will show the sample. The party working at the Waiotabi Creek made a second attempt to open claim their to-day, and have been turned back by the police.

August 10, noon, There is nothing new to report; no shaft has yet been bottomed. I have seen several prospects, taken from bluish tenacious clay, this morning. This clay lies at 70 feet and is under a layer of boulders that has been met vrith for the last three days, underlying strata is thought to be boulders again. I heard a report of a Tery good prospect last, night, but on going up the creek to see a dish washed out, I do not find anything to warrant me in saying more than I have already said: the gold is everywhere, but the quantity