THE AUCKLAND GOLD-FIELD.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 746, 8 June 1853, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND GOLD-FIELD.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sir, —Having just returned from a prospecting visit to the Coromandel Gold Field, and presuming that the result of my observations there would be interesting to some of your readers, I shall feel obliged by your giving insertion to the following remarks. When I and my party left Auckland for the diggings, it was our intention to have given them a more full and satisfactory trial than subsequent occurrences permitted, and I, therefore, wish it to be understood that my remarks do not result from working experience,—they have reference to my personal observation only. The Waiau Creek was the first of the gold diggings in our way, and after examining and trying the banks and bed of the creek for some time, we got a few minute particles of gold from a dishful of stuff procured on the edge of the creek, but I could not discover the slightest trace of the prec'ous metal in the soil on either side, and I do not think that the ground in the vicinity is auriferous. The gold which has been {irocured in the Waiau Creek, is reported to rave been nearly all mixed with quartz, and the absence ot any quartz formation in the locality favours the conclusion that the gold found there was drifted by the force of the water from the higher ground, somewhere nearer the source of the creek; and, from what 1 have heard, and my own observation in the neighbourhood, I am of opinion that if the creek was followed up to the locality of the Castle Hill, where more encouraging indications arc known to exist, a brighter prospect would present itself; but the land in that neighbourhood is as yet in the hands of the natives, and therefore unavailable for any practical purpose. It is my conviction that the land at present in the possession of the Government on the Waiau Creek, does not present the slightest encouragement to gold diggers. It is possible that even rich deposits of gold might be found in certain spots in the bed of the creek, but the difficulty of sinking in the water course, and the chances of making a lucky hit are so much against one that it is more than probable the gold thus obtained would cost more than its value to obtain it. The Wynyard Diggings consist of a few shallow holes dug in a tributary creek at the foot of a secondary range, and I am informed by Mr. Heaphy, our active and efficient Gold Commissioner, that very encouraging results were obtained by those who worked there last summer. The samples of gold which I saw there, were chiefly in quartz, and did not present the worn appearance of stones washed a long distance—the gold was obtained at a depth of four or five feet, in a deposit of decomposed vegetable matter, mixed with iron pyrites and gravel—at a greater depth the result has not been encouraging, and although I am not aware that even a single hole has been fairly bottomed there, yet it is my impression from the peculiar stratification and general appearance of the ground, that sinking to any depth below the deposit in which the gold lias been found, would not. lie remunerative. I believe that the gold procured there was lodged with the surface washings from the range immediately above the creek. The neighbourhood, however, presents encouraging indications, and it is my impression that sinking or tunnelling into the lull above the Wynyard creek, would, if persevered in, be attended with happy results. I cannot,however, recommend these d iggings as bolding out any prospect of speedy returns to the digger. In this instance, as in that of the Waiau, the most promising ground is in the hands of the natives. Gold has also been discovered in several places on the eastern side of the dividing range, and the Messrs. Ring are said to have discovered gold in the direction of the Aroha Mountains on the east of the Thames; there can be no doubt from the results already obtained in different parts, along the dividing range, and the general formation of the country, that an extensive gold field exists there, and when larger tracts of land in the proper direction are available the [best results may be reasonably expected. It is much to be regretted that the native land owners should be so blind to tbeir own interest as to keep locked-up mineral lands, which, if made available for mining purposes,,would create such an increased demand for produce, and would enhance so greatly the value of property in the vicinity of the mines, that it would be far better for the natives even to give away the mineral portion of their property, than to keep it locked up doing no good to themselves nor to others. I may mention here that in a small sample of an earthy substance from the Wynyard diggings, I found traces of silver, and in another sample from the same locality, I detected the presence of copper, which I believe is more plentiful in New Zealand than is generally supposed.—Yours, &c. John P. Winchcomue. Auckland, June 0, 1 853.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander.

Sir, —I must beg space in your columns to give an account of one of the most outrageous assaults I have ever met with at a public meeting. I went down to Onehunga, alone, on Monday afternoon, understanding that there was to be a gathering on that night of Mr. Brown’s party, and not knowing \yhether or not I should see a single supporter of Colonel Wynyard there ; but, thinking it right, if the meeting was to be of a public nature, that some one favorable to the Colonel’s election should be present. The meeting assembled at Mr. Norman’s Inn. The following are the names of some of the persons who were present, —Messrs. Robert Mitchell, John McDougall, John Makepeace, Hugh Carleton, William Harkins, Patk. Digpap, Donald McNaughton, G, Patterson, G. McKinley, D. Crosbic, Sutherland, James Farmer, Walter Brodie, Jos, May, Walter Lee, &c., &c. The Chairman (Mr. P. Dignan), having read the placard which purported to convene a Meeting of “ Mr, Brown’s supporters,” stated that the Meeting was called to select between the two Candidates the one they thought best calculated to serve them in the office of Superintendent, and begged that the' Meeting would support him in keeping order, and give a patient and attentive hearing to the friends of either Candidate. Upon the Chairman resuming his seat, T rose to say that if it was a Meeting of Mr. Brown's supporters only, I, not being one of those, should not be thepe, apd would retire ; but the Chairman said I must have misunderstood him, for he had said that they should be happy to hear both parties, and decide between the two Candidates. I then was proceeding to make some remarks as to the absurdity of calling a meeting of Mr. Brown’s supporters only to discuss the eligibility of the two candidates* when 1 was interrupted by the most

disgraceful disorder and confusion, caused by some of Mr. Brown’s friends, exhibiting more zeal than discretion ; and, shortly after, upon my friend Mr. Lusk rising to order, some observations he made were met by the not very police remark, “ You lie ! you lie !” from Mr. Clarke —Mr. Brown’s brewer. Mr. Norman then rose and very properly expressed his indignation that such language should bo used, and said it ought to be retracted. A cry was then raised by these lovers of liberty and fair discussion , of “Turn them out!” “ Turn them out!” I was seized by the collar by the aforesaid brewer, who, with the assistance of his brother r and Mr. Win. Harkins, from Auckland, pulled me out of the room, tearing my coat from my back ; and I was struck on the face by one of the persons named above, who will, I think, in his sober moments, regret having thus ill-used me. 1 am ready to believe that some of the parties will feel sorry for their unwarrantable conduct on this occasion, which is not at all calculated to prop their feeble cause, and I will readily admit that the Chairman, although wholly unlit to rule that meeting, did his best to preserve order. I have attended and taken part in meetings of some thousands of the operative classes in Liverpool, London, and elsewhere, and had at times half the meeting opposed to me, but still I ha re always seen order maintained, and the meetings conducted with decorum. But what could be expected from such a gathering as the one at Onehunga, when one of Mr. Brown’s representatives in it, Mr. James Farmer, from' whom, at least, some decency might have been expected, followed me into an adjoining room, to which I had repaired after I had been so shamefully treated at the meeting, and in a conversation which he commenced, (for I had no wish to have anything further to do with him or any of the party who ejected me,) his reply to a remark was, “ You lie—you are a liar.” But, Sir, I am glad that the cloven foot has been shewn at Onehunga ; lam quite satisfied that the Pensioners, who are quiet-thinking men, will judge for themselves from which party they are likely to obtain the largest share of true liberty, and which party would govern, if they could, by club-law. Depend upon it this allair must have given them a clear perception of the sort of liberty we might expect from Mr. Brown and his party ware tiiey to be suffered to gain ascendency over the colonists. After I left the meeting, I understand an attempt was made to strike Mr. Lusk, but the stick was wrested from the dastard who attempted to use it against this inoffensive and generally respected gentleman.. Many remarks might be made upon this outrageous conduct, but I content myself with a brief statement of facts, and beg to remain, Sir, yours, &c., Joseph Chispe.