THE GOLD DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1647, 15 October 1887, Page 3

THE GOLD DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTH ISLAND.

Auckland, Oct. 11. Mr Pond (Government Analyst and Mr Whitaker (Bank of Ne Zealand), are busily engaged upo of samples of Waite stuff, which they are makm for the Waitoa Prospectors’ Ass< ciation, of Auckland. They do n< expect to finish before the end of tl week. Mr Pond is convinced, froi what he saw during his recent visii and from the fact that at varioc times during the last three years h has made analyses of stuff fromdifferen parts of Waikato, that alluvial gold ] to be met with oTertbe entire countr from Waitoa -to Alexandra. Th question to he solved is whether i in payable quantities; and tb latest ascertained facts and ex periments do not tend to raise one hopes. Mr Pond has tested sample] ef stuff sent to him from Tamahere Ngaruawahia, and Alexandra, and 11 each of them he found distinct tracei of gold, the Alexandra sample hemj about the richest. At the same tim< the stuff is so thickly impregnate with mica that the glittering ap uearance presented by these worthiest speis 'ls doubtless responsible foi ■ome of the many rumoured diseoreries that have been made public during the past few weeks. The Star says:—So far, there is nothing to justify the rush to Waitoa, Bdt a great deal'to discourage sanguine expectations and induce extreme caution. Toinvestmoneyonthebarechance of the field turning out well, is risky indeed. To embark everything on the hacard of success would be sheer madness. Our own impression, and it is based upon careful enquiry, besides being fortified by the judgment of experienced miners, that the field will he a failure. It is needless to add that we should only he too glad to- come to the opposite conclusion should facts warrant it. ;; Oct. 13. Mr J, B. Smith, who has been in Auckland for the past day or two, returned to Waitoa by this morning s train. He proceeds to Sydney on Tuesday next, taking with him several tons of the Waitoa deposit, which he intend* to have treated with theJNewherry process. The gives publicity to a statement that Mr Smith has received £14,000 for freehold of 1000 acres from a Christchurch Company, and also 7000 1 shares, a Humber of which ho has disposed of at £2 to £2lss each. It was currently reported in mining circles yesterday morning that assays made by Messrs Pond and Whitaker with sand taken from various localities in the Waikato district had been unsatisfactory. Later. • The Waitoa goldfield is reported a duffer. Mr Smith denies any salting of the deposits. , Oct. I*. At a meeting of the Waitoa Prospecting Association yesterday after* noon Mr Pond, analyst, gave a detailed report of the result of the tests of stun from Smith’s and other properties at Waitoa. All showed traces of gold and silver, but only one had gold in any quantity, and the specs from the latter were examined under the ■miscroscope. Experts declared these were hot wash gold, and all were convinced they looked decidedly suspicious. Mr Pond said it was evident ft was not natural gold. Its character in every way and particular was ■iipilar to filings or borings just as li a sovereign had been turned on a lathe. There could be no doubt about it. The absence of silver was a most significant matter. He would not advise the Association to prospect further. Mr Smith had given every facility for testing his land. Mi B! jB. B. Wills, Waitoa, who owns 24( acres adjoining Mr Smith’s, and was employed .to dig the stuff tested foi the Canterbury Company, has beer interviewed and asserts positively tha po. “salting” took place to hn knowledge. The'Star’s Hamilton corresponden wires as followsClassens and party who have been engaged in surveymi •load* in Mangakawa. country for som time past, returned to Hamilton yes terday. Two of the party hav brbnght down specimens of quart with them, in which gold is plain! visible. They state they got th quartz.- in close proximity to wher they were surveying. Their nam« art Odlam and Davey. Some tin ago the Natives pulled up tht pegs < this patty, and tried to prevent th survey. However, the Natives thougl better of it afterwards, and allowc the survey to he completed.