GOLD DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 597, 1 April 1878, Page 2

GOLD DISCOVERY IN MARLBOROUGH.

(rEK PRESS AGENCY.) Havjsi.ock, March 30, There is considerable excitement in the Wakamarina district, on account of the reported new alluvial lind on that goldfield. The new terrace was opened by Darkie Arthur, while halting on the eastern river bank, about six miles from Canvastown and one mile south of Mountain Camp Creek. A drive made showed an inch of wash-dirt, and one ounce three pennyweights to the sett was obtained. He could not bottom on account of the water. The tail race is now being deepened, and the ground'on the terrace has been pegged out for three quarters of a mile. Two claims, one sdu'th and the other north of Darkie Arthur's, are on similar wash-dirt, and are presumably payable, but the inflow of the water is very great. Leahy and party, to the south, are making a tail race, and Mullany and party, to the north, are working night and day to keep the water down, and bottom with difficulty. This is the case with all olaims to the north and towards Mountain Camp Creek. There is a large hard reef between the terrace and the river, which must be tunnelled to get the water off. Another difficulty is the want of water for sluicing, as the rights to the present head races Ave now vested, and at the outside are only sufficient for three claims. Any additional available head of water must; be brought from a distance of five miles at least, over a difficult run of country. There arc about twenty strange diggers on the ground, and a few are now in Havelock, but there is nothing to justify a rush at present. Unfounded rumors in Pictou and the Wairau as to the. rush have caused this. The whole district is patchy, and until something more definite occurs diggers should not believe reports emanating from a distance. A correspondent says:—"l have spent two days in going over the ground, and although good payable gold may be found, the area is limited, It is reported in Canvastown tonight that Lloyd, a "Wellington prospector, found quartz reef and struck gold, but the report lacks confirmation, and nothing can be believed heard off the ground. Two olaims on Darkies' Terrace arc psnning.off this afternoon., and I will send the result when obtained. The present sinking is about 47 ft from the surface, and although there is a good fall for tail races to the river, yet the clistance varies from three to five hundred feet, and, consequently, it is no poor man's diggings." ___^_________