Gold in the King Country.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1467, 29 September 1885, Page 2

Gold m the King Country.

THE PROSPECTORS TURNED BACK.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) , Ayckn and, Saturday. . It will he remembered that a gold prospecting association was "recently formed at Alexandria, and Thomas Dunn, and Charles Baker, experienced Thames miners, were employed to go intd the King Country m search of the precious metal. They left three weeks ago, and returned to Alexandria unsuccessful the natives having turned them back, saying that the written permission granted -hv the Government was of no rise. The . Wanganui party, which consists of four . persons, were similarly treated, and are nownt.Kihikihi; The nafivesJaW not absolutely refused permission to pros-p-cty Imt hare stopped the, progress of the pr.ospncfors until the natives have li.id ain'-eting amongst themselv™. One of the Thames party nanvd. Dunn has nrrivi-d m town. He rrpoils that the prospectors proceeded nearly as far as Te Kniti from Alexandria, a distance- of 20 niles, which occupied about * day 1 and a ' half. After camping the party were interviewed Ky some natives, who insisti d upon the return of the pakehas until a meeting was held.'. ; A return to Whatiw.hatihde was agreed upon and carried into effect. No force was used nnd.Dnnn- says that they were very kindly treated by the natives". '- Dunn has had 11 years' expe rience i on tlie ! ; Thames, arid lias been brought up on- a | goldfield, is satisfied that the country through which they travelled is both an alluvial field and a good reefing country. He believes there is alluvial gold m the bed of the Waipa River, although ho did not see any sand, and the other appearances all favoured the idea. He saw quartz, Imt did not observp gold m any of the stone. He is, however, convinced that gold will be got m that district. The party were making towards Rangitoto when they were stopped. The natives told Dunn they had got alluvial gold m quantities which ihey said gave a nice show m a dish. Some "half-castes they said, had gone to the place where the gold was found, hut no Europeans were allowed there yet. The mountain where the gold was found was 20 miles distant and was quite visible from where the* party wore stopped. Dunn hopes to obtain permission from the natives to continue prospecting. Very little was done m the recent trip, for the reason that (hoy had not reached the country whither they were bound when they werestopped. . .