PORT PHILLIP. [From the Melbourne Argus.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 376, 10 March 1849, Page 2

PORT PHILLIP. [From the Melbourne Argus.]

Important Discovert. — Port Phillip a Gold Field. — We hasten to apprise our readers of the important discovery of an extensive gold field in this province, yielding the virgin metal in such quantities as, to all appearance, will completely throw California into the shade. The particulars of the discovery, as detailed by one of the parties, are as follows : — A shepherd called some weeks since upou Mr. Brentani, of Collins- street, with a specimen of a metal which he had found in his wanderings, and which immediately struck Mr. Brentani as being fine gold. He applied for a more accurate assay to Mr. Duchene, also of this town, who at once pro* nounced it a fine specimen of " the root of evil." Mr. Duchene proceded with the shepherd to the spot, in the neighbourhood of the Pyrenees, and found indications of the metal in very great abundance, and extending over a great space. He returned to Melbourne, with ore sufficient to yield £100 worth of pure. gold, and, accompanied by Messrs. Brentani and Forester, was making a second

trip to the spot, when, through some misunderstanding, they separated, 'and Mr. Duchene returned to Melbourne on Monday evening. He describes the gold as being very abundant, and the quality as better^than any he has hitherto seen worked ; the quantity contained in the mine visited by them was incalculable ; indeed, he says there is a tract of territory at least five miles in extent which furnishes everywhere abundant indications of the existence of gold. Mr. Duchene picked up one piece of the metal weighing 2lbs. 30z., which contained upwards of 90 per cent, of virgin gold ; in fact, it presented the appearance of a lump of molten gold, interspersed with a few quartz pebbles. We have seen it as picked out of the earth, and Mr. Duchene has kindly left a specimen at the Argus office, ■ for the inspection of the publiq. It is,'therefore, indubitable that gold has been discovered, and in large quantities. The Sydney cry of " Off to California" seems likely to be changedin Melbourne to " Hey for Bunin-, yong, and the bonny Pyrenees." — Jan. 31.

The Gold Discoveey. — We have little further to say with respect to the Port Phillip gold field, the discovery of which we announced in our Extraordinary of Wednesday eveuing. The particulars with which we then presented our readers were substantially correct, and further enquiries strengthen the conviction that we then expressed, to the effect that a very rich and ample supply of the most sought after of metals had been discovered. One slight error we fell into, in stating that the large mass of gold shown us by Mr. Duchene had been found by that gentleman, whereas it formed a portion of that first shown by the shepherd to Mr. Brentani, and which was divided between him and Mr. Duchene. On proceeding with the shepherd to the spot he pointed out, strong indications of gold presented themselves on all sides, but the parties returned to make further arrangements for availing themselves of the discovery, and were not in the first instance provided with tools to open the rich coffers of Mother Earth. The shepherd, named Thomas Hood, proceeded to Sydney by the Shamrock, and it is believed that he look a very large quantity of his newly found prize with him. Some doubts are expressed as to whether he has shown the correct locale of Jiis discovery to the parties who accompanied- him up the country, but not the slightest question can exist- as to the most interesting fact that Port Phillip possesses within herself a gold field/ which |is ,more, likely to, cause immigration from California than the reverse. It was reported in town yesterday that a party of mounted police had already started to protect the golden district, but we believe that the absence of Mr. La Trobe at Portland has prevented anything from being hitherto done : however, from the excitement prevailing, as abundantly exemplified by the myriads of seekers for information who called at our office in the course of yesterday, we think measures ought to be immediately adopted to prevent encroachment. — Feb. 2.

Vice-Regal Visit. — Private letters received from Sydney by last mail confirm the report recently in circulation of his Excellency Sir Charles Fitzßoy's intention to honour this province with a visit before the assembling' of the Legislative Council. It is announced, on good authority, that his Excellency comes to Port Philip in H.M.S. Havannah, immediately on her return from New -Zealand, which is shortly expected. — Argus.