THE LYELL- REUBEN WAITE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 175, 24 July 1872, Page 2

THE LYELL- REUBEN WAITE.

To tke Editor ov tue Nelson Evenino Mail Sir, — I see that more magnificent specimens of gold have been found in that oldest and best goldfield now included in the Nelson South-west Goldfields. Everything relating to that district therefore must have especial interest. I consequently beg the favor of your inserting the following extract from a most interesting "Narrative ofthe Discovery of the West Co«st Goldfields, by Reuben Waite, published in 18G9, by C. Elliott, Nelson : — " Soon after November, 1862 jicn years ago}, a Maori, named t?imon, oiscovered the Lyeli Creek, which was a very rich diggings, and turned up some of the finest nuggets found in New Zealand. There is a large niinuka flat on the right baok of the Lyeli. and I believe that if this was properly tried — which it never has been up to this time — it would turn out a good goldfield. I have had many opportunities of seeing it, having been across it several times, and I am of opinion that the gold found in the Lyeli has come. from this flat. It is a made terrace, with gravel a little below the top surface, similar to Waite's aud is of c on siderable extent " (p. 9.) Perhaps there is not a man in the Province who has done more to make the "West Coast Goldfields known than Iteuben Waite. His liberality to the prospecting and hard-up miner is proverbial, and it is well known that he has been the means of saving several lives— from the time of Hammett, the survivor of Hewitt's Canterbury p trty, down to the present time I can testify to his energetic and humane conduct in the ca?e of Hammett, as one of my sons, with others, found and brought Hammett as far as they could, and then went on to Waite's, who sent out another party, who brought the poor fellow to Waite's house, where he had the best of treatment till he was able to get back to Christchurch. Things have not gone well with Reuben of late ; but if ever man deserved well of the Government of tbe country, that man is Keuben Waite. Yours, &c, E. Tucker.

Waite,