GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR WELLINGTON. Wellington, January 4.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 236, 7 January 1888, Page 4

GOLD DISCOVERY NEAR WELLINGTON. Wellington, January 4.

A report that auriferous stone has been disco vei*ed in the ranges between the sources of the Hufct and Tauherenikau rivers has occasioned considerable excitement in some parts of the Wairarapa, and a number of men- are now out prospecting the country where the quartz is said to exist. Sir James Hector states that a sample of stone was sent down to him to be tested. The i-esnlt of the analysis was very satisfactory. The stone yielded 32ozs gold to the ton. Sir James was informed that the quartz had been broken from a large reef on the Waibine ranges about three weeks ago by a party who were prospecting. The men did not attach any importance to the discovery, as they felt convinced there was littlo or no gold in the stone, and the specimens which they brought away were aliowed to remain on a mantelshelf until recently, when one of the party, which was long since disbanded, took it into his head to get them tested at the Colonial Museum, with the result that they were found to be rich in the precious metal. The reef from which the stone was broken was not maiked by the man who bi ought away the sped* mens, and all efforts recently made to discover its whereabouts have proved unavail ing. Sir James Hector, feeling much in terested in the discovery of rich quartz so close to this city, paid a visit to the Wairarapa last week in company with Mr Mackay, geologist, and inspected- the country where the lode is said to exist. Sir James returned towards the end of the, week, but Mr Mackay dill not come back to Wellington until yesfcerdaj'." Mr Mackay spent several days in prospecting the Waiohine ranges, and has brought back with him a quantity of specimens, which will be tested as soon as possible. It is probable that he will go up again shortly and make another' effort to discover the locale of the auriferous lode. The , country which he, has prospected recently is ; exceedingly, rough, and he has had his almos j fc j torn to shreds in making his" way through the bush. Sir James HfeCTOR and Mr Skey are now en^ gaged analysing samples' of the stone.and tailings from the Owen Creek mine/NelBon,~with a view* of, if possible, ascertaining the cause* of the late disappomling result o£ a cnisKirig of 350 tons of stone. I'hey have discovered the preseppe. in,,th& sjtone .of a large f prdp^rW «ffect.of ' 4>4 > llbuvihg •'*' the :inercupy • and prfr^ venting its taking up the ( gqld f tjk is.esti-, mated that afc^east one bujice to tne ton was lost in this manner, but iheittns aye beins de-^ vise4f^overcome fche?difficulty« andireco^er* the g^ld gpi&thg t#ilin£g*>j ' /fixjn- <ia;~;