GOLD PROSPECTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 15

GOLD PROSPECTING.

Captain W. M'Donnell has returned to Wanganui from his prospecting expedition up the Wanganui river. He was largely assisted by Topine's men, and (says the " Wanganui Herald") six canoes accompanied the pakehas from Whakahoro, filled with men, women, and children, all anxious to discover gold. Prospecting seems to have beg.ome a mania with Topine's tribe, all of them suffering acutely JVom " quaitz on the brain." Every party returning from pig hunting now bring in lumps of quartz, pieces abounding in mundic being highly prized. The jbuiney up the Betaruke was exceedingly difficult, consequent on the number of rapids and falls. After going up as far as it was deemed judicious, a little " panning" from the banks produced some light scaly gold that had apparently been washed down the stream from the great dividing range. About half a pennyweight was obtained to bring into town. It was not however so fated that Wanganui eyes should feast on the precious metal, for on the journey down the canoe came to grief in one of the rapids, and broke up "on the rocks, the occupants just succeeding in saving a carbine and a blanket. . However, it is sufficient to know that gold was obtained, and under such circumstances as to prove its existence in quantity somewhere near the source of the stream. Topine informed M'Donnell on parting that almost the whole of the river natives would be down at Putiki in April next, to attend a great meeting that has been convened by Mete Kingi. At that meeting many important matters will be discussed,'and in all probability full permission will be granted to a prospecting party. Capt. M'Donnell has decided to wait till after this meeting before making another attempt.