The Nelson Evening Mai. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 58, 8 March 1877, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mai. THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877.

The telegrams which we published yesterday contained brief statements of what has been doing, and the extent of the gold discoveries, at the Tadmor. Erom those who. have visited the district we learn that the accounts hitherto published, so far from beiug exaggerated, rather err in the direction of over caution, the facts being very much under instead of over stated. The first discovery made was consequent upon the river having altered its course and exposed a quantity oi washdirt, from which good gold was obtained. Thirty feet from tbis spot a sinking was made, and here too there was gold, showing that the lead is at least that number of feet in width. Across the river, too, that is on the left bank, a man named White sunk a hole, and at a very small distance below the surface took out a large quautity of gold. From the locality of the first discovery the flat land extends for a distance of about live miles up the stream, ttie width being in no place over 500 yards, and, in parts, this is heavily timbered. Unfortunately nearly the whole of the land in the valley is private property, belonging principally to Messrs llodgkinson, Fawcctt, and Edmunds. The former of these has acted most liberally towards the miners, charging them only £1 per man for a claim, and, if gold is nofc found, returning their money. Whether the other proprietors will act in au equally generous spirit remains to be seen, but ifc is to be feared that difficulties will arise out of this state of affairs. Our contemporary the Colonist, we observe, suggests as a remedy the bringing into force of (i The I

Resumption of Land for Mining Purposes Act, 1873," but this, we fear, is not applicable, as it only provides for dealing with lands alienated from the Crown after the passing of the Act, the second section being as follows: — " AU lands alienated from the Crown, whether by way of absolute sale or lease, or for nny lesser interest, after the date of the passing of this Act shall be liable to be resumed for mining purposes (except lands alienated expressly for mining purposes) by her Majesty on paying full compensation to the licensee, lessee, or owner of the fee simple thereof for the value other than auriferous or argentiferous of the lands and improvements so resumed; such value in case of disagreement to be ascertained by arbitration upon the terms and conditions hereinafter provided." Nowas the Act was passed iv 1873, and the lands in the district were purchased long before that date, it is clear that it cannot be brought into force in this instance. The difficulty is a serious one. and .will require to be dealt with not only judiciously but expeditiously, as there eau be no doubt that a number of men will be attracted to the spot by the facts already made public. Some of the gold obtained at the new rush has alreadyfound its way into Nelson, and has been disposed of to one of the local Banks at the very satisfactory price of £3 15s per ounce. Several men have started for the field, and ten miner's rights were taken out in town to&iy. _;