TUGELA DIGGINGS

Southland Times, Issue 1114, 26 February 1869, Page 2

TUGELA DIGGINGS

(FEOJT THE TIMES OF NATAL.) We have received the following letter from Mr. F. B. Hill:— "We arrived all safe at the Kafir chiefs, with the waggons, lifter three days' trekking, and found " a g>od road all the way. We did not go through Greytown, but crossed the old drift on the TTmvoti, and after getting to the top of the cutting on the Fort Bu -kingam road, took the first road to the left, which brought us straight to the place, and I think is nearer than by Ghvyfcown. It is the direct road to Philip Bel's farm, which is not far from Somhase's kraal. We commenced a hole on Monday afternoon, and in a couple of days got through the boulders to the bed rock. The boulders were large, but our machinery worked well, and ■we got them out without much trouble. Immediately ou the bed we came on a reef of quartz I lying alongside of the slate. Mr. Deas and Mr. Hill wera present at the time, being just about to I start for their farms, and they took specimens of the qusrtz along with them. I must tell you that we have not seen the slightest indications of gold, although the formation would lead us to suppose that gold may yet be turned up. There are quartz reefs cropping up in many places about here, but ib will be some time before they can be thoroughly examined. We have for the present stopped dicing, as we find it necessary to put up a hut. Mr. Mutton, is busy making a canvas boat, as the Kafirs report large quartz reefs a short way up tiie Buffalo, which joins the Tugela about a quarter of a ,mile above this, but the Tugela his to be crossed to i*each them. Mr. Button and Mr. Bell take a trip in that direction, while I go on with tlie diggings here. We have some specimens of different kiads.of rocks, which will be sent for inspection *"O Tattersall's the first opportunity we have ; but we dont send them as containing gold, as we can see none ourselves. Besides our party an • Stewart's, there is another here under Mr. Lake. They have found nothing yet, but have not got far down. We got all our things carried safely through the bush by the Kaffirs ; it took upwards of eighty, and our large tub 3 are at present left at the Kaffir chief's, as the Kaffirs know the best path, and will save a great amount of rough walking or riding. Tha weather here is generally hot during the day, but a breeze generally springs up towards evening, whan it is nice -and cool. Wa are just sendiog few specimens to the committee at Greytown — some from our reef, some from the bottom of Stewart's hole, and some from the reofs wnich crop up in the neighbournood. "Since writing the abore, we have succeeded in ' finding gold in the small pieces of quartz which we took from your reef. It has been seen by all the good folks of Greytown. Of course, from sucli a small quautity of quartz the quantity of gold is snail, but stili it proves the reef to be gold-bearing." On this subject fi Grreytown correspondent writes ug . — "With regard to the reported gold discoveries iv our locality, some 3lbs. of quartz were cru3lied on Saturday evening, and our hopes raised to the highest pitch by discovering a small quantity of something resembling — but what turned out not to be — gold. Dr. Armstrong has distinctly pronounced it not to be the precious metal."