THE AFRICAN GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1062, 25 November 1868, Page 3

THE AFRICAN GOLDFIELDS.

The London ' Times ' has the following in reference to the goldfields in Africa : — The confirmation of the gold discoveries in South Africa appears from the Natal advices to have been received from Bources to which credit is attached by all parties in the colony. Until now nothing had been heard of the exploring expedition of sixty or seventy men which had started for the district in March last, but a communication from a missionary had iust arrived to the effect that on the 10th May they were all successfully at work, gnd that they were "so dazzled by the., unparalleled richness of the gold veins* in: the surface quartz, tT&t instead of attending to any alluvial deposits', they confined themselves to hammering:'' and blasting at the reef, following the dip of the veins, which grow richer and richer the farther they advance." The veins, it is added, "are sometimes more than an inch broad, and some of the small flat pieces of quartz obtained contain at a rough valuation, from £1 to £3 of gold in a pure foim." Numerous other parties were now making arrangements to start for the spot, and although the distance from the Natal frontier is about 800 miles, there appear to be few difficulties in the way. The natives are not numerous, and the dominant chief is said to be very friendly to the English. "Water and pasturage abound, provisions are cheap, and the climate is healthy." Po rt D'Frban, Natal, seems to be considered the best point for arrival from Europe, and a large German immigration, attracted probably by the fact of Mr Mauch, the discoverer, being a Prussian, is said 'to be in preparation. The matter is 'of such extraordinary importance to the people of Natal, and naturally creates ' so much excitement there, that until positive details and specimens shall have been received everything with regard to ■ it from' thai; quarter must be treated with reserve. The capacity and climate of the colony are such, especially when the benefiit it is likely to derive from the possession, apparently, of abundance of coal is taken into account, that there can be little doubt the rise ofD'Urban would be «yen more rapid than that of Melbourne if any adequate markets were opened up for its productions.