The Supposed Gold Discovery at Marton.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 1

The Supposed Gold Discovery at Marton.

Wellim.ton', Jan. 10. There appears to be some mystery connected with the alleged recent discovery of gold at Marton. It will be remembered that a Marton settler, while sinking a well, reported that ho had found gold in the wash at the bottom, and a shovelful of the alluvial sand was forwarded to the Public Works Department with an official report from Mr James Blackett, and subsequently handed to Dr. Hector for analysis. Yesterday I had it on good authority that the " gold"' was not gold at aJI, but some othor metal, the nature of which somewhat puzzled the aetute Doctor. At any rate, ho is alleged to have averred that thsro was a total absence of gold in the sample, and that the metal-boaring portion of the sand could not be auriferous, because the metal had not the requisite specific giavity, and remained at the top of the " tk-ator," to use the prospector's term, instead of sinking to the bottom of the di?h. Dr. Hector, however, has forwarded a report which admits the presence of gold, but in such small quantities ac fo bo absolutely unpayable. If the result if the shovelful of wash indicates the proportion ot gold in the alluvial pand in tho well, it would, according to Dr. Hector, give lees than ono pennyweight to the ton. The Doctor points out that the sand has probably been derived from an old raised beach, and as if by way of solace for the disappointing result, he concludes hie report by remarking that it is exceedingly interesting to find a beach deposit in such a position.