The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 48, 25 February 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1878.

A year ago this month there occurred that heavy flood iv the Motueka river by which so mauy settlers were ruined, and so large a number of farms devastated and rendered valueless. But the rain which created so much misery in one part of the provincial district was the means of bringing to light hidden treasures iv another. Shortly after the flood rumors reached us of new gold discoveries having been made at the Tadmor, and these soon received confirmation, and for | a week there was a miniature rush in that direction. Miniature, that is, as compared j with other " rushes," where thousands have been ou the move towards the temporary j land of promise, yet at the same time too ,

large for the amount of payable ground that had been found. So, after a time, those who had taken up claims which proved to be what in diggers' parlance are known as " duffers " j cleared out in the course of a very few weeks for more profitable fields, leaving about 50 | men in the little valley of the Tadmor. Quietly, unobtrusively, and without much being heard of their doings except when a Btray newspaper reporter found his way to that isolated part of the country and placed on record his impressions of what he there saw, these men have been steadily at work for the last twelve months, except when occasionally compelled to rest from their labors for a time on account of the extreme coldness of the water in which the nature of their occupation required at least one of each party to stand the whole day long, or by the floods which obliterated all traces of their j previous workings, rendering it necessary I for them to begin their work over over again. That fifty men would remain in that sequestered nook for twelve mouths together with- I out some very good reason for secluding themselves from the rest of the world was not at all likely, but what was the quid pro quo they were receiving it was not very easy to find out. Being anxious to learn what amount of gold had been extracted from the very unattractive looking river bed which found occupation for these half hundred men, we have applied to the v*rious Banks in town, and the courtesy of the several managers enables ua to inform our readers that no less than 1554 ounces have found their way into Notion during the period named. This, at the Kite of £3 16s per ounce, which is, by no .means, an exaggerated value to place apon ii, as the Tadmor gold is of an exceptionally rich quality, is equal to £5904— a nice littlo sum indeed to be taken out of a patch of riverbed that certainly does not extend over a greater distance than Trafalgar-street from the foot of the Church Hill to tho Maitai. Supposing the number of men employed to have been fifty, as we have stated— although we aro inclined to think this is somewhat over the mark— it means that each man's receipts for the year have beeu close npon £120, which, seeing that living need not cost over 13s a week, leaves a handsome amount to credit. That the gold-bearing land in the j district is limited to the very small area in which it has been found ia extremely unlikely, | although, hitherto, all efforts so discover it elsewhere in the neighborhood have failed. ) There is a very general opinion that the j whole range on the left bank of the Tadmor I river contains gold in payable quantities, but, to allow of its being properly worked, water would have to be brought from a considerable distance in order to ensure a supply at such an elevation as would be required. This, of course, could not be done without a large outlay — we have heard it roughly estimated at £5000, If, however, it was ascertained beyound all doubt tbat the gold was there, it wonld be a remunerative speculation to any Company who would raise the funds for the purpose of constructing a race. To the people of Nelson especially, who would benefit in more ways than one by a payable diggings so near to the town, the scheme is one that should possess considerble attractions. We should be glad to hear of some preliminary steps being taken to learn whether or not the gold, which is firmly believed by all practical miners who have seen the country to be in the face of the hill, does or does rot exist. This migfrt be 9s-?ayt»lned at a comparatively small cost.