ALLEGED GOLD DISCOVERIES IN TARANAKI.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 82, 26 January 1876, Page 3

ALLEGED GOLD DISCOVERIES IN TARANAKI.

A hope is indulged in, one that we sincerely trust may be fully realised, as to some exceedingly rich quart/, teels existing in the ’laraiiaki province, and, as may be v«ny naturally supposed, the idea lias occasioned intense e.\i ilemenl, mure especially in New I’lymoutb and its neighbourhood. It arose tliroiie,h man named Cas y, fakinw away with him, from this province, a hag lull "I specimens, which he had crushed at the Thames, ami they yielded the astonishing return ol’ fiUoz of gold from no ihs of quartz. The question is simply where were they got. The Taranaki “Herald” (if Wednesday last supplies the following additional inlorimition on the subject—“ Tim circumstance is also remembered hy others; ami Air Bailey, of the. Post-office, recollects a man goingoff about the same time with a carpel-hag which contained something very heavy, it was remarked to the man that “ it looked as if it had gold there, he took so much care of it,” to which a reply ■was made to the ctlect that it contained something its good. We learn also that a man answering to the description given by (Sergeant Duffin, having missed the steamer, took up his abode at Air APOnsker’s hotel, and suddenly left one f morning to go by tbe steamer. He brought two horses with him, ami one was placed in a paddock near the Alissiou Station. This man returned from Auckland by the steamer on Thursday last, and immediately left for Palea. Sergeant Duffin has telegraphed to Patea to make inquiries respecting the man Casey, and will probably receive an answer to-day.

Nothing but the gold will go_ down to-day. "immediately on the arrival of the steamer from Auckland this morningknowing hands were wailing on the lieaeli for the boat with passengers. Pour likely-looking men were spoiled and watched until it was satisfactorily settled that Casey was not of them. A passenger from Cral amstowu, who was there on the result ol the crushing being made known, lias told friends in town that miners at the Thames have perfect confidence in the truth ol the statements made by Mr Casey, and that he is wellknown on the Thames as a reliable and trustworthy man. No one was more astonished than Casey at the result of the crashing. The quartz was expected to yield about 20 ounces to the ton. The manager at the Reduction Vv orks at Shortland where the specimens were crushed,|expectrd about the same result, .o*l was astounded at the actual result. The Thames “ Star” of the 13th, says—“ From f>Blbs. epiavlz reduced at Air C. F. Quint’s Reduction Works, Shortland, the astonishing return ot fit) ounces gold has been obtained. r l he locality from whence it was obtained is not known, beyond the Let that it is said to have been brought Iroiu J aranaki, hv a former resident ol the ’Thames, ■who, with two mates, has made tracks back with all speed, to secure the.

ground.” Tho “ Thames Advertiser,” of the 13th instant, says—“ It was rumoured in town yesterday, that during' the week a parcel of specimens, which it was alleged, had been brought from some portion of Taranaki, had been crushed at one of the Thames test batteries, for an extraordinary rich yield ; and upon enquiring into the facts we find that there is some truth in it. The stud, some 581bs, in all, was, we understand, crushed at Mr Quint’s reduction works, in Willoughby-street, and yielded a little over GO o/.s. gold. The man who brought it was a former resilient on the Thames, and he seemed to be as much surprised as anyone at the extraordinary yield obtained. He, of course, wished the matter kept quiet until he could return and secure the ground, where ho says he obtained this rich stone, and he has, wo believe, left the district, accompanied by two mates. The a Hair leaked out, however, and was a common topic of conversation last evening.” Since the publication of tho above paragraphs, Auckland papers have been remarkably quiet about the Taranaki gold find. The police, who were set moving, failed to discover anything likely to show that the specimens were not honestly come by. The fact of tho wonderful falling off in Thames gold returns may account for so little being said in the papers. The last monthly return of gold amounted to only 2,300 ounces. Great distress and dissatisfaction exists at the Thames. Judging from tho following Jotter which was published in the “ Thames Advertiser, a general exodus might result on it being satisfactorily proved that a goldfield" was likely to he opened in this province. The letter reads : — 11 Supposed new goldfield.—Sir, —During the silting of the Commission of Inquiry into tho Government Land Purchases, 1 noticed a statement by Mr TV. Buckland that he had hatuled over to the Government a block ot land he had purchased, without any remuneration, his object in doing so beiiig that, from personal examination, he felt confident that it would eventually he a goldfield. Could wc not get Sir G. Grey to tell us whete this gbld field is; add, il payable; get him tO usb his influence to have,it thrown open at once? Our population is. dwindling away ; many are very harct up; those that can do it are fnigrating •, and it your statement the yield front the yield from the Taranaki stofie is correct there will soon a rush to that place. My opinion is Ttm'kbntrl’w void field is not so far

(i IT, anil If onened illicit be (I ! ‘ m i *' Mi.< d!' kee] i! ii j; our . toilers and ocm with years of colonial < xperienee near ns.— 1 am, A"., Knqulßl-'i:. Shut-Hand, Jan. 14, 1370.” Tlii! editor says in a foot: note—“ Perhaps it. would have been wiser, and certainly more courteous, to have asked Mr \V. T. Buekland to name the question, and (hen to have applied to his Honor the Superintendent to assist us in gelline- the block thrown open to the public.'’ Mr Casey' is known to a number of pers'oiisin town, and is generally credited with being thoroughly honest, steadyeoiji'j', ; rnl reliable. (tii Monday week Casey ’s said to have arrivid bv steamer from Auckland. Jle 1: ad left liis horse in charge ol Mr Yates, fruiterer, ami oil calling for it made enquiries as to where a few strong butchers’ baskets might he purchased. Mr Yates was under the impression that Casey intruded going into the butchery business, but from what lias transpired since, and on account of the hurry' shown to get away, it is thought not unlikely that the baskets, being suitable, were required tor quartz baul-

Another gentleman, who has just returned from the Thames, corroborates a report communicated to Air It. Hughes this morning, that Thames miners are in great excitement over the find, and thoroughly believe in the reliability ol Casey. The quartz is said to have been altogether different to any to be obtained on the Thames diggings. Sergea nt Duflin has taken steps to have Casey interviewed, and has telegraphed to the Police (Sergeant at llawera, to search for Casey and ascertain from him personally if the report is correct. The following additional items we take from the “ Herald,” of Saturday last, :—■ “ We mentioned in our last issue that Constable Dullin had telegraphed tu Hawera respecting Cornelius Casey, 1o ascertain if he was (lie man who had taken the quartz to (1 rahamstown, and on Thursday last a reply was received from Sergeant Dolan, and countersigned by Sub-Inspector Cupel, as follows: “ Have seen Cornelius Casey. lie is a settler at Ketemarae, He declines giving any information as to whereabouts lie got the quartz ho took to Auckland.” Tins sets the matter at rest so far as the man is concerned, and as it is reported that Casey is coming to New Plymouth shortly, more information will then, no doubt, be obtained from him. The matter lias now readied a climax, and until he reveals where he got the quartz from, or lodges Ids claim, lie will he most uncomfortably watched ; so the best course for him (o pursue is to at once make a dean breast of it, and there is no one, we feel sure, who would begrudge tbe granting him of a large claim to work on. Everyone who knows Casey speaks of him as being a very straightforward man, and a passenger from Crahamstown, who was there on the result of the crushing being made known, lias told persons in New Plymouth that mirieis at the Thames have perfect confidence in the truth of the statements made by Mr Casey, and that he is well-known on the Thames as a reliable and trustworthy man. No one was more astonished than Casey at the result of the crushing. The quartz was expected to yield about 20 ounces to tiro ton. The manager at the Reduction Works at Shortland whore the specimens were crushed, expected about the same result and was astounded at the actual result. Thus far the matter rests, bat we think it would not be out of place for the Provincial authorities to send for Mr Casey, and ascertain from him the fact of the matter, and whereabouts he obtained the quartz, guaranteeing to him of course that his claim to a fair share of the ground should bo granted to him for his use.”