COROMANDEL.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1726, 24 September 1862, Page 3

COROMANDEL.

[ FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Sept. 20th.

It is now nearly a week since I last wrote to you, and during that time some very beautiful auriferous quartz has been brought to light; and, among others, I may mention that on Thursday last, Ingles obtained about five pounds weight of specimens, (something similar to those formerly found in the creek workings). This stone was got from a shaft which was sunk on the creek banks for the purpose of striking a leader which crosses the creek in this claim, and since Thursday this party have obtained several pounds more of very rich stone. I have also heard that this week a very rich find has been made in one of the other leaders crossing the Driving Creek. Yesterday I saw a very pretty piece of quartz thickly studded with gold, the owner of which informed me that it was found in his claim (the Shamrock Company's) on the Driving Creek. And some amateur diggers, who came here more for amusement than anything else, told me that they had been for some time prospecting, and have at length found a quartz vein, containing visible gold. The reef is quite distinct from any yet discovered, though in the same neighbourhood. During the week the " Tasmanian Maid" has made three trips between here and Auckland, on each occasion bringing down a goodly number of visitors and diggers; among the latter are many of the right sort, who seem determined to give the diggings a fair trial, and not run away without even seeing them, as many of late have already done. One man told me that from all he had heard, he did not expect to see anything half so encouraging as he had found it to be. The steamer is already a great favourite with all down here; her accommodations are so excellent, and above all things, she is so punctual in her departures from both Auckland wharf and Coromandel harbour; one day arriving here in the afternoon at about two o'clock, and leaving for Auckland at nine the next morning. I hear that she is likely to be laid up for a few days, to receive new boilers, &c. It is to be hoped that it may be for a short time only, as she has already created a want which no sailing vessel can supply, besides the great advantage of regular postal communication which she affords.

Dr. Pollen paid a flying visit to Coromandel in the " Caroline," gun-boat,—arriving on Sunday morning, , and off again on Monday afternoon. He seemed to be well pleased with all he saw (except the mud, of which there is always a good supply). It was intended to erect a bridge across the Kapanga, a stream opposite to the new Court House; but that idea had to be given up, as the natives would not hear of such a thing, as it would interfere with the navigation of the stream, a cutter being able to go some 50 or 60 feet beyond the spot pitched upon; and as the place where the natives will allow a bridge to be built, is about 300 feet in width, all thoughts of such a thing as a bridge are for the present given up, and a punt is to be placed opposite the Court House for the convenience of foot passengers, there being a ford down lower fit for the passage of drays, &c. But the great event of the week has been the arrival, by the " Bonetta," cutter, of a portion of the mucb-talked-of and long-wished-for quartz crushing machinery, belonging, to Keren's Mining Company; and I hope ere two months are out, to hear the heavy stampers at work crashing the quartz and bringing to light some of the hidden wealth of Coromandel. Yesterday a gentleman arrived by the steamer, to purchase gold from the miners for one of the Auckland Banks. This is a step in the right direction, and will siiow the diggers that they are not altogether forgotten. Since the arrival of Keven's quartz crushing machinery, there has been an increased anxiety on the part of the owners of other claims to get quartz ready for the mill, and there are some parties who have already a pretty considerable quantity of stone collected. If the charge made for crushing is only reasonable, there will he a good dividend for the shareholders from crushing stone from the few claims on the same reef. In Victoria the charge is from ten to thirty shilling per ton; and if Keven's Company will be satisfied with the larger sum, it is more than probable they might bo continuously employed for a time, although very soon the possibility of finding such remunerative employment for their machines would attract the owners of travelling machinery from the other Colonies, and so reduce the price to something more reasonable.