WANGAPEKA.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 424, 15 November 1861, Page 2

WANGAPEKA.

To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir—ln consequence of a rumor, raised by some interested individuals, respecting a late prospecting expedition, in which our party engaged, and which, if allowed to pass, may lead to a serious result, I must inform you the fact of the matter is, that instead of our efforts being crowned with success, as has been stated, it was a complete failure; for, notwithstanding several days of hardship and perseverance, we were unable to arrive at anything of importance beyond a little satisfaction, which is poor compensation for loss of time and risk of life, two things which always , attend the unsuccessful prospector. It is true that we found gold; but the mere existence of gold does not constitute a gold-field, and it is my opinion that the present diggings will riot pay, and our only hope is in finding fresh pasture and richer ground : and to accomplish, this end, I should like to see a number of fresh men on the ground, but I wish them to come with a failunderstanding, prepared to prospect for sometime if necessity requires it. False reports have been sent do«vn with the intention of inducing mento come up, and they have had the effect of bringing up some men to Wakefield, some to the Wangapeka Plain, and others even farther, and when they have come to know the real state of affairs they have immediately returned, uselessly incurring loss of time and considerable expense. The diggers here number about forty at present, viz., fifteen on Blue Creek, six on Nuggety Creek, .five on Rolling River, two parties on the Tadmore, and one on the Battan. The severity of the winter has had a tellfng effect upon the health ot many of them. There is one man on Rolling River laying in a most dangerous state; he is suffering from the effects of the cold water, but he is said to be improving a little, and as soon as he is capable of being moved we will carry him to the Wangapeka Plain, and forward him to the Hospital. .... --; .^ ■. Storekeepers pay more attention to getting up a supply of grog than they do to a supply, of provisions, a thing which may be well tmderatood from the fact that we have travelled four or five miles to a store, and to our great grief we have found the brandy bottle full and the flour bag empty.. I have lately joined the Cave Company in the head of Blue Creek. We are doing very well at present; when 1 say very well, I mean that we are able to get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, but that is not the case generally speaking. We have got the largest nugget that has as yet been found upon the Wangapeka; its weight is six pennyweights eight grains. On examining the nugget we readily discovered that it had been joined to another piece, so we came to the conclusion that it was a chip of the old block. Yours, &c, WM. GRANT. Blue Creek, Nov. 1.