Untitled

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 233, 26 March 1866, Page 2

It is far from our desire to delude the public upon the question of Goldfields. The Southland prospects, as a mining district, have been so frequently placed prominently forward, and the results of the infantine enterprises which have been entered upon, have hitherto been so far from satisfactory, that with that sadness arising from " hope deferred," all accounts of the prespects of the Goldfield in Southland is talked of by the inhabitants of the Province with a complacent, but incredulous smile, and ridiculed by the Press of the neighboring Provinces. Even under these circumstances we should fail in our duty to the public if we neglected to express an opinion upon all the discoveries which, from time to time are made. The evidence that is before us, leads to the conclusion that Southland is auriferous — that perseverance will prove that we have diggings of no mean value. The Eiverton district is \ positively highly auriferous — that it is equal to. the other diggings in Otago, has yet to be determined ; but that there is a large area of country of a payable character, is now an established fact. The information received, proves that the Paihi workings are remunerative and extensive. We have communications, official and private, which prove undoubtedly that even with the most primitive appliances and industry, from fifteen shillings to a pound per man per day can be obtained, I with the chance of a great deal more. Longwood is also paying those well who j have steadily worked. It is within our knowledge that a party who now seek the privilege of a " prospecting claim" have brought to town, nearly a hundred ounces of gold, of a very light, and flour-like character, obtained in the vicinity of the Paihi • and have also seen a specimen of gold from Longwood — heavy gold — one nugget of which weighed twelve dwts. A number of smallparccls have been sold, both at Eiverton and Invercargill. The Government have been cautious yet energetic in their investigations-regarding the credibility of the statements made during the last few weeks. The Commissioner of Police (T. K. "Weldon, Esq.) whose long experience in the mining districts qualified him to give an opinion, states that there is a •Goldfield, the extent of which Ke cannot determine. Mr. Dawson, also an experienced man, who by direction of the Chief Surveyor, has visited tbe Paihi with, ay#w Qf marking <?£ ft Urn $ SQafl*. a}sQ

reports that those on the ground are doing well — making fair wages with the prospect of a " find " and that the gullies in every direction are more or less aurifeTous. His Honor the Superintendent and the Government have shown great promptitude in endeavoring to obtain facts and act upon the information obtained. A survey party start again this week for the purpose of making the road from Invercargill to the diggings. Ithasnot yet been deemed desirable to proclaim it a goldfield. It is to be regretted that this question was not brought forward during the late session, inasmuch as should the diggings equal present expectation it is more than probable that the question of mining on private property, and other similar matters, may give rise to much contention and litigation. Still, as the Council will meet again in a few months, and the Government is composed of men liberal in their views, there is but little fear that the mining interest will suffer from the delay.