QUARTZ ON THE BRAIN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 712, 26 August 1869, Page 3

QUARTZ ON THE BRAIN.

The following amusing letter appears in the Lyttelton Times, addressed to the editor.:— Sir, —We have taard a great deal about gold at the Malvern Hills and elsewhere. May I trouble you to insert the following short narrative of my experience in prospecting. About three weeks ago I took the gold fever, and determined to try my luck at one of the localities where gold was then reported to exist. My first preparations were soon made, and having told my wife that I should be absent for a short time, I went to bed full of glorious anticipations of monster nuggets, and inexhaustible lodes of auriferous quartz. 0:i arriving at the Selwyn, [ turned my steps towards the Windwhistle House in the gorge of the Ka kaia, from which point I determined to start for prospect 3. The weather was fine and bracing, and I made the Windwhistie towards evening, resolved on stopping there for the night, and culling what information I could. All I could learn was that one or two small parties had called at the house, and declared that they had found payable gold both alluvial and quartz but would not disclose the spot. However, I fixed upon a certain bush some few miles from the Windwhistle, which, somehow, I though a likely spot. I had the usual digger's outfit —was alone —but well up in practical gold mining. On my route, I observed a good deal of slaty ruck, and occasionally quartz pebbles, which I thought was not a bad indication. 1 got into a small blind gully, on the sides of which I picked up several good-sized pieces of quartz of a dull white appearance, and on breaking the largest piece I could find was glad to perceive several specks of gold in it, but there were no signs of either Qiundic or pyrites. A little up the gully, which took a bend, I came upon a shallow hole, evidently sunk by prospectors, as it was put down in the Cornish fashion, no doubt by experienced miners. It was only about seven feet deep and free from water. [ jumped into it, and, with my large sheath knife, began to examine the strata of clay and gravel, when in poking some hard red clay, (in which I have often found gold], I dislodged a splendid nugget of about four ounces, very flat, and shaped like a spread eagle. Whilst I was intently examining this welcome stranger, I was startled by a voice above me calling out ** Halloa, mate, what the something are you doing in my claim?" 1 looked up and saw a powerful ferocious looking fellow, preparing to let himself downintothehole. He claimed the uug get, and ordered me out. I resisted, and told him the shaft had evidently been deserted, besides which no gold-field had been proclaimed, nor any miner's rights issued. He then, with a tearful oath, jumped down and closed with me. A fearful struggle ensued, in which I was thrown backwards. 1 saw the glitter of a steel blade, and making a tremendous effort, I awoke, and found myself in bed, grasping my wife's hair, who exclaimed, " Goodness me ! has the man gone daft ? This comes of pork chops to supper/ 5 After all it was but a dream.