Gold in Ireland.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 6

Gold in Ireland.

A ccKior-% chapter ot Irish hi&boiy is re*ened Lo in some correspondence published on the question of gold in Ireland. In the closing years of the la&fc century there was an outbreak of gold fever in County Wioklow, o win or to the disco\ cry of a nugget weighing 220z. picked up in the Ball invalley sbieara, near Croghankinsella. Believing the nugget to be copper, it was used for some time by its finder as a weight, but on its true characfcei becoming known large crowds, chiefly composed of women, commenced a search for gold. It) is stated that in six weeks the above named stieam, four miles only in length, yielded not less than 2,6660z., obfained by the rude&b possible method ot seaich. Then, ib appears, the Government stepped in, and on the pica that the peasants wore assembling for treasonable purposes, .sent the Kildare Militia to the valley with the treble object of dispersing- the natives, of winning the gold, and, as their engineer's instructions stated, of 'removing every temptation for the assembly of mobs by covering up the auriferous gravel until the depth ot covering had become sufficiently thick to pieclude the hope of gain from individual trials, conducted without order or regularity. Mr Arthur Gore Ryder, who narrates this &iory, states that the militia obtained and carried away rather more than £6,000 worth of drift gold. Since then ' individual trials' have resulted in the discovery of at least .£30,000 worth, including nuggets weighing from 240z. (found by a girfon a stepping-stone in J847) clown to a t'e«v grains. But no systematic effort has ever been made to work the famous Ballinvalley stream. The district-, in the opinion of some skilled experts, is rich in the precious ore, and this fact has apparently been known to the peasantry for nearly a hundred years. But since the celebrated calling out of the Kildare Militia, gold hunting has been associated with treason, and treason with ti'ansportabion.

A distinguished journalist announces in bis columns the following request : — ' Sir, I should feel much honoured by having your autograph for my album. If you deem the request unwarranted pn my part, pray pardon me. Buf, at the same time, send the refusal in your own handwriting, and with your own signature, that I may know that your refusal is authentic.'