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Southland Times, Issue 711, 19 August 1867, Page 5

T The " Grey River Argus" notices a remarkable curiosity in. the way of gold discoveries, It is simply a stick, or branch, or rootlet (apparently of red pine), of about 18 ; inches in length, and perhaps six inches in circumference, much contorted and water-worn, in which are imbedded a number of nuggets and specks of gold, besides a good-sized pebble or two, which are also thickly incrusted with a kind of scaly coating of the precious metal. There is one little nugget, particularly, so placed and of such a size and shape, as to remind one exactly of the breast-pin in ; a very quiet old gentleman's cravati Under every little knob or crevice in the wood, where there is a slight cavity for the gold to lodge, there gold is to be seen. It is much indurated, as though it had been subjected to heavy pressure, and Bhows no appearance whatever, of an approach towards petrefaction. It was brought down to the Warden's office at Cobden, from Blackball, where it was found by a man who was burning drift-wood. After having burnt a ! considerable quantity his attention was attracted by a glittering appearance in a piece he was I chopping, and he was induced to wash the ashes ■ of i the wood he had previously been ;burning. when he had succeeded in washing out 2 dwts j He then picked out the piece which we are describing as a specimen, and found it so remarkable as to think it well worth preserving. Its appearance would suggest the theory of its having lain in the bottom of a stream, over which the gold was flowing, and which has been forced, into the interstices of the wood while it was in" a comparativly soft condition, and that it has since become hardened by the pressure of the : deposits that have been formed above it. This curious piece of auriferous timber might worthily claim for itself the title of ono of Planohe's prettiest extravaganzas, •" The Golden Branch," The "Grey River Argua" states that the manufacture of ornaments from greenstone has become quite a department of- the jewellers' trade there, &4 some -very wtigtio prod,u.o&o,oa hay© te«Jy beta trtiUtri*