THE RECENT GOLD DISCOVERIES IN MARLBOROUGH.
The Marlborough Express of the 13'h inst. publishes the following communication in reference to recent gold discoveries :—During the past few days a small quantity of gold has been shown about Picton, causing some excitement, since it was alleged that the grid had been obtained from quartz reefs said to exist in Blackwood’s Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound, the prospectors having been equipped and despatched from this district, by a party of gentlemen, to test the, gold-bearing character of- the country round Golden Point. No sooner had the locality of the supposed new ; find been ascertained, than another party was sent from Pioton to peg off new claims, and report ou the prospects of the new Eldorado. On their arrival at Blackwood’s Bay, tile locality of the reefs were quickly ascertained. But* alas ! instead of the “ two massive, well-defined reefs,” as reported, nothing was to be seen but a couple of bauds of miserable looking “country quartz,” traversing the hills at the same pitch, and parallel with the rock strata. This was quite sufficient for any practical quartz-miner, since gold-bearing quartz invariably cuts the rockstrata trausvesely. But in no wise daunted, party No. 2 had resolved to prove, the veracity of party No. 1. For three long weary days they toiled and moiled at the new Eldorado, without ever sighting a single color. Returning disgusted with the prospect, a new surprise awaited them at the foot of the hill. Secreted iu a cosy nook, and partly below high-water mark, was discovered what was at first supposed to be the reef found by party No. 1, but it did not take long to dispel the illusion. One of the party happened to be acquainted with the vagaries of a gentleman residing in the classic waters of Endeavor Inlet. Some three or four years since, litigation was proceeding between this gentleman and the proprietors of the Ravenscliff mine as to the ownership of Golden Point. Pending a decision in the Warden’s Court, this eccentric individual, to “make hay while the sun shone,” employed his leisure in procuring several tons of rich gold bearing quartz from Golden Point, and secreting it iu the neighborhood. Two of these “ plants” have already been sprung in Blackwood’s Bay, the first of them by party No, 1, in which a number of our townsfolk are interested. They may now judge for themselves as to whence the quartz and gold exhibited about town were procured, and also as to the present value of their £lO shares. We cannot but sympathise with the enterprising landlord, who is said to have deposited the sum of £2O with the Government for a lease of the Blackwood’s Bay claim in order to secure to himself the lion’s share in this delightful “mare’s nest.” A sample of the Golden Point quartz, containing gold taken from the plant at Blackwood’s Bay, and a specimen of country quartz from tho same place, will be forwarded to the Express office at Blenheim by first opportunity.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5320, 15 April 1878, Page 3
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504THE RECENT GOLD DISCOVERIES IN MARLBOROUGH. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5320, 15 April 1878, Page 3
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