RUMOURS OF GOLD.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 618, 17 March 1852, Page 2

RUMOURS OF GOLD.

Bu just and fear not • Let all tlie onds U>oii anns't at, be thy Counti'y's, Thy God's, and Tiuth's.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1852.

It is confessedly an ungracious office to be tlio bearer of bad news, and a similar unpleasantness attaches to the task of casting* doubt upon hopes which have been craned up to a high pitch of expectation. It has been our lot to encounter a portion of this unpleasantness in the performance of what we felt to be our duty to the public in relation to the rumours of gold discoveries ■which have lately engaged so much attention, and been made the foundation of so many air-built castles. While we never ventured rashly to deny that there is Gold in New Zealand, or even dogmatically to assort that the precious metal has not actually been found by some parties, wo felt bound to maintain that no evidence of the discovery sufficient to satisfy a calm and close inquirer, had yet been brought forward. Even when, a few days since, the fact was before us that gold had undoubtedly been produced, which gold it was alleged had been obtained from specimens taken from New Zealand soil, we were not beguiled into an abandonment of this caution. We said on Wednesday last, that gold had actually been produced, but we guarded the inference to be drawn from this fact by adding that further evidence was necessary before we could absolutely arrive at the conclusion that this gold had been a natural deposit in our soil. For that evidence we waited, most willing to be convinced; but, as our local readers are now well aware, not only was the required proof not forthcoming, but the investigation of the matter has conducted to a conclusion totally destructive of the hopes excited by that particular circumstance. We brieiiy stated in our last number the return of the steamer Governor Wynyard with the Gold Reward Committee, and intimated the failure of the expedition, so far as finding the object of their pursuit was concerned. The particulars which have since transpired in conversation (for the Committee have not judged it necessary to publish any authenticated report formally) only confirm their announcement. After leaving Auckland they called at Kawau, and there secured the valuable addition to their company of Mr. Beeger, a gentleman amply qualified to form a scientific judgment on geological subjects. They then proceeded to the Hen and Chickens Group of Islands, where—(not at Wangarei as they had previously been led to suppose) —Mr. Merrick now stated that he had found the stuff from which it was alleged that Mr. Winch had extracted gold. A considerable quantity of earth was taken from the identical spot pointed out by Mr. Merrick as that in which he had dug, and from the adjoining localities; and this was tested in the Mining Company's Laboratory at Kawau by Mr. Beeger, —who, however, was already convinced, from the appearance of the specimens and the general geological character of the Island Group, that the trial would prove unavailing. This was fully demonstrated by the scientific investigation which, to set the matter beyond doubt, he patiently conducted. No gold whatever was obtained. It is, we apprehend, the inevitable conclusion from all these facts that there has been some imposture in this case, —unless indeed we adopt the almost or altogether incredible alternative that the very small portions of earth "hieh passed first into the hands of Marsh, the policeman, and afterwards into the crucible of Mr. Winch, the watchmaker, happened to contain gold, as a natural deposit, and to contain it in a rich abundance equalling if not surpassing proportionately the yield even i\[, the Oali-

fornian diggings — • while the very large quantities taken "by the Committee from identically the same situation, happened to contain not a particle of gold at all. "NY c cannot tell, and <io not wish to indicate any conjecture, astclhe particular quarter to •which the fault of this gross and scandalous fraud upon the public should be attributed ; but if tic author could be clearly ascertained, no <xposure, no amount of public obloquy, would be more than a just retribution for conduct calculated in various ways to wore so much injury to the district. One practical lesson to be learned from the failure h this instance is, caution in receiving- new reports of a similar character. Let then all have a due share of attention : let "Vtaiihcki or any other place which there is any reason, however remote, to suppose may prove auriferous, be tried and tested : but let as be careful to weigh evidence, — not resting contented with less than satisfactory proof of the two conditions we have ou a former occasion named, viz. that the product said to be Gold really is Hold: and that it is beyond doubt obtained from the ]S 7 cw Zealand soil.