GOLD CIRCULAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 458, 25 March 1857, Page 6

GOLD CIRCULAR.

Nelson, 26th- February, 1857. The existence of gold in such quantity in at least one district in this, province as to warrant us in stating that a remunerative gold-field exists, has this week become a certainty. The problem yet remains to be solved, whether such an extent of country as to employ with profit a large population contains the precious metal, but we may say on the authority of. the statements of many respectable explorers, as well as (though with respect to a lesser extent of country) from personal examination, that for many miles westward of the great dividing range, which, commencing in the Aorere Valley, extends through the island, and as far inland as has been explored, that the country wears precisely the same aspect as, the gully iv which gold is now worked profitably. On the 24th. instant about thirty men were at work oh the diggings; all, with theexception of the party which discovered the gully now worked, having commenced operations within four days. On that day, (24th), a member of this firm purchased on the spot, 17 ozs. 5 dwts ; but as a large proportion of the diggers, labour"ing under the strange delusion that a general knowledge of their success would, by causing an increase to their numbers, work prejudiciially to their interests, refused to sell or give information, we can only estimate that as much more gold as we obtained remained in the hands of the finders. On the 11th instant, Messrs. Pell and Co. sold by auction 6 ozs. 3 dwts. 16 grs., which under all the circumstances may be considered as giving fair promise of a large export of gold in the future of the settlement. Nicholson & Ridings.

(From the "Examiner." March 18.) The intelligence from the diggings at Massacre Bay received since Qur last is of a highly satisfactory character, for we hear from various sources that not only has gold been found over a considerable tract of country, but in greatly

increased quantities.. For fuller particulars, we. refer our .readers to the Gold Circular of: Messrs. Nicholson and Eidings, and to the letter of Mr;. Lightband, both annexed. r, , GOLD CIBCULAB. Nelson, March 14th, 1857. From the date of our last Circular - (26th ultimo) to the 10th instant, the produce of the Aorere Gold-field is stated to be, at a moderate estimate, 150 ounces, of which over 50 ounces have reached Nelson. The number of Diggers on that date, was about one hundred and fifty, . one-third of whom had very recently arrived. The average yield per man, therefore, gives good wages,l and we have not heard of a Gold field where success is more evenly, distributed. The race week, the principal holiday of the year, being now past, the number of people employed will be largely added to within a few days. . From a gully on this side the great dividing range, and within a short distance of Motueka (a small settlement within eighteen miles by water of the town), eighteen pennyweights of gold have this week been received. This sam- , pie is rounder than any other we have yet seen. It was in the neighbourhood of- the place where this sample was found that, during the last winter, the first indications of the existence of gold in the province were met with. From the Takaka Valley, which is also on the east side of the range, a few grains of gold have been brought into the town; and a party has gone to prospect that country more fully. We have, in these facts, an evidence that the washings from both sides of the range, on the west at the | Aorere, and on the east at the Takaka and Motueka, contain gold ; and this, taken in connection with the highly auriferous appearance of the mountains, leads to the reasonable, presumption that the whole range will be found gold producing. It may be taken as a very favourable indication, that the nearer to the high mountains the diggers proceed the larger become the particles of nold. Some men have sold to our Correspondent at the Aorere an ounce taken from the gully about two miles nearer to the range, about which he writes that " It is quite a different character of gold; it is a much larger grain, and darker in colour." , Nicholson and Ridings. Mr. Lightband's letter, dated from the diggings March 11th, contains the following paragraphs : —

"I have been much surprised ftiat some amongst us should be so shortsighted as to. think we should give no information whatever. I can only say for my part, that I have been benefited already by those diggers who have come here.; and had. it not been, for their perseverance I should still have been at work on the side of the gully, instead of getting on the lead, which is right in the centre of it, and so-have lost a claim which I value at £100 sterling. In four days last week, I, a man whom I employ by the week, and my mate Johnßiley, the young lad, accumulated four ounces and a-half of gold j and I think it is likely I shall improve upon that in the coming week,

There are at present upwards of 150 diggers at work, most of them doing well, and all working peaceably under the regulations. Like all other diggings, some go away dissatisfied, and think the gold is confined to one gully. Only fancy, out of a thousand gullies, all having much the same features and appearance, that this gully should be the only one." In the above extracts from the ' Examiner' will be found all the authentic information as to the rise, progress, and present success of the gold fields of Nelson. It is stated, we observe, that the Government does not intend, for the present, to issue licenses to the diggers.

The following paragraphs are of general interest:- — „ '; / .:.:'..■..''■"'" ■'' The Dun Mountain Copkeb Mine.—-By late advices from England, we learn that the company formed in London for working the Dun Mountain Mine is taking measures to forthwith commence their works, and a large remittance of money from England for the purpose is expected by the next mail. We are glad, that the company has at length bestirred itself, as it is a pity that a mine" of such great promise should be suffered to lie idle, both for the sake of the'shareholders, and the Province of Nelson generally. It is but a few. days since that, in company with six other gentlemen, we paid a visit to the lower lode, and the samples we saw-

broken'off the lode.were the richest we had ever seen. , If the wcrka are judiciously undertaken, we cannot doubt the success of the undertaking. Local- Steam Sebvice. We hope that something is at length about to be done in th&. way of providing us with a small -steamer, for the local service of our province. The Trustees of the Trust F.unds have agreed to advance: on loan, without interest, for five years, the sum of £4000, to a company consisting of twelve gentlemen, who agree to procure a small steam vessel, and run her between the port of Nelson and the outlying ports of the province. A gentleman, who is a member of the newly-formed company, will proceed at once to the Australian colonies, via Auckland, in search of a suitable vessel for our coast; and if one can be obtained there, we' may expect to see her arrive in Nelson within three months at furthest from this time.

Eichmond Faie.—There was a good supply of cattle at Richmond Pair on the 4th instant, but sales were dull. Fair cows sold for about £10 each; heifers, £8. There were ■ a few tolerably fat cattle, for which £11 to £12 was given. Working bullocks sold at-about £28 to £30 a-pair. There were some good cart mares for sale, but ther6 appeared to be no demand for them at the prices asked.