THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1872.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 162, 16 April 1872, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1872.

Bv telegram received last night from Alexandra, news lias been received confirmatory of reports previously to hand of the discovery of gold of an alluvial character on the Taringamutu river, in the southern part of the Province of Auckland. The native chief liewi is reported to have just returned from Tuahua, and that he confirms the report, and that many of the natives aro favourable to the field being thrown open to European enterprise. It is further stated that the decision on this point is to be left to His Majesty Tawhiao, who has not yet stated the course he will be graciously pleased to take. For some years jiast reports of the existence of gold of an alluvial character in this part of the province have from time to time reached Auckland, and have been received with more or less credit. In view of the “ native difficulties,” however, little or nothing has been done to test the value of the alleged discovery. To us it lias always appeared a singular thing, with such a rich matrix in quartz,that there should be no alluvial gold. Some geologists, we believe have stated that it is impossible for an alluvial goldfield to exist in New Zealand, the country being of too recent formation, but with all respect for science, wc think this opinion is not infallible. We shall not be at all surprised if a rich alluvial deposit equal to anything yet found in Australia comes to light before many years, perhaps months, have passed over our heads. If it had not been for

that great stumbling block to European progress, the “ native difficulty,” which it is to be feared is in many cases fostered and encouraged by selfish pakehas and land sharks for their own selfish ends, we believe long before this time that’a large immigration of enterprising and experienced miners would have been attracted from Australia and the old country, and would have set tho question at rest most satisfactorily by proving the existence of payable alluvial gold in the province. The Government never has given that attention to the goldfields which their importance demands, but has turned its attention more to the landed and squatting interests, which serve to enrich a few, but never tend to the speedy settlement

of a country. There would be no occasion for a paid Government agent to be limiting over northern Europe in order to induce immigration if it were a fact patent to the world that there were rich alluvial diggings here. This certainly has not been proved at present, but sufficient has been shown to warrant the Government in taking such steps as may seem to them most likely to induce the natives to open their lands to the gold prospector. It is stated that very many of the King natives are already favourable to the movement, and consideringliow the Thames and Coromandel natives have been enriched by throwing their lands open to the digger, and how peaceably they live side by side with pakeha neighbours, it will be a most extraordinary thing if all the natives throughout the country do not see the advantage before long of coming to fair and equitable terms as to leasing their lands for goldmining purposes. The establishing of an alluvial goldfield in tho Province would almost change the face of the country, and we may be sure that if gold of this nature exists at all it is not in the Southern part alone. Those who have visited the flats in the region of Kennedy’s Bay, Ohinemuri, and various localities in our immediate neighbourhood, and are also acquainted with the sister Colony of Victoria, have been struck with the similarity in the features of the two countries. So long back as 1852, we remember this to have been spoken of in Melbourne, and to have been commented on by the Press and the public. At various subsequent times, the same sort of reports have cropped up again, and have never been contradicted, although, on the other hand, they have not realised their early promise. We believe the day has now arrived when, if possible, an arrangement should be made with the natives of the Southern Waikato to open up their lands to the gold-miner. It must not be forgotten that New Zealand is borrowing millions of money at the present time—is. in fact, living chiefly on borrowed money, and therefore that it is the imperative duty of the authorities to endeavour to develop the resources of the country in every possible way before the day of reckoning shall have arrived, for there will be a heavy account to settle. At this time, a favourable opportunity seems to present itself for negotiations with theMaories, with a view to test thoroughly the question is there or is there not payable gold of an alluvial character, or otherwise, in the locality indicated.

We see that the Highway Board hare got all their ladders finished and fixed in different places about the town. This is a step in the right direction,and in case of necessity will, no doubt, prove of the utmost assistance in saving perhaps the lives of some persons. We would recommend persons living in town to learn the position of the ladders, so that wheu wanted they would know exactly where to rush for them. We would call the attention of those who are to take part in the forthcoming performance of Bob Boy to the fact that a full rehearsal will take place this evening at the Mechanics’ Institute, at 7 p.m. sharp, when they are all particularly requested to be present. We perceive by advertisement that a dinner is to be given to the Volunteers, who have so worthily represented our district at the Colonial Rifle Competition at Christchurch. upon their return, which will most probably take place about the end of the week. We are glad to see this, as it shows that the Volunfet rr of the Thames appreciate, as a body, the honours gained by some of their members contending in friendly rivalry against the other provinces of the colony. We would call the attention of the authorities to the state of the ground about the stand-pipe and water-trough at the corner of Albert and Brown-streets. It was. when erected, surrounded with a foundation of stones, but it seems to us that the ground would be greatly improved by being a little more raised than it is at present, ns it is in a continual state of puddle, aud is gradually getting worse and worse. We see by yesterday’s Auckland papers that the case of the Flagship Golden Anchor G.M.C. versus Collet was called on in the Supreme Court, and there being no appearance of defendant, bail was ordered to be forfeited. We have yet to learn the fate of the petition, which has been very numerously signed, praying the authorities to remit such forfeiture. We very much doubt whether the Court will think fit to do so.

I Now that Dixon’s No. 1 Company have I ceased to work their ground from their | upper levels, the wire tramway which runs up the gully will bo rendered useless from | the top, at least, down as far as the the Sons of Freedom hopper. The latter company is the only one at present in a position to use j the line, and there does not seem to us any probability of any others ever doing so. Would it not be worth while for at least a i portion of the line to be moved to some place where it would be of use to some one or other. We throw this out as a hint to the authorities. There was a meeting of the Kamvaerauga District Board last evening, of which a report will be found in another column. We notice that the contractors for the : culvert in Ccchrane-strect are making good progress with their work, which they have completed to within about a chain and a I half of the end. The culvert will prove of I great convenience to the neighbourhood, as | it has a good fall, and will not be liable to | get choked. We sec that it is the intention I of the Highway Board to continue it up as I far as Pollen-street. At the Warden’s Court yesterday the I’ukehinau case dragged its slow length i along during the greater part of the day. and I will be further heard on Wednesday next. | We leam from Auckland that the wife of j Cyms Ilalcy is about to proceed to England I by the ship Caduceus, which will sail about I the end of the present month. | Publicans are reminded that to-day is the day appointed for the renewal of old and jx application for new licenses, at the Court1. house, at 12 o’clock noon. We understand | that the petition against the granting of new | licenses, and in favour of the cancelling of ■; many now existing, has been very mimeI rously signed. | The s.s. St. Ivilda arrived in the Manukan at 10 o’clock last night. She left Wanganui i on Thursday last., and experienced roucli t weather till arrival. She had on hoard n number of cattle (of which 30 died on the

passage) anil sheep. On Saturday morning at 7.30 a solemn requiem mass was celebrated iu st. Patrick’s Cathedral for the soul of the late Right Rev. Dr Pompallier, ex-Bishop of Auckland. In the absence of his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr Croke, Father Walter McDonald, was celebrant : Father Francis, deacon ; and Father Nonas, sub-deacon. There were also present in the sanctuary Fathers Fvues and Mahoney. We understand that” Bishop I’ompallier was consecrated at Rome on the 30th June, IS3G, and shortly afterwards left, for New Zealand.— Cross. It is stated that Abel Goldsworthy had the sum of £345 in his possession at the time he so suddenly died. We have heen furnished by Mr W. L. Reps with the following acknowledgment of ihe money collected some time ago in Auckland in aid of the sufferers by the late Fran coPrussian war:—“The French Relief Fund in aid of Paris and the suffering districts throughout France.—Mansion-house. E C., 7tli February, 1872. Sir, —I am directed by the Lord Mayor and the Committee to acknowledge with thanks the receipt cf £B3 in aid of the above fund, being collection in New Zealand. —I am, sir, your obedient servant, Joseph Gibbs, honorary secretary.— W. L. Rees, Esq., honorary secretary French Relief Fund, Auckland.” — D. S. Cross. An inquest was held on Friday morning at the Lunatic Asylum on the body of Patrick Mclnlev, who had been an inmate since the year 18G8. The deceased had been suffering from paralysis for some time previous, and his death resulted from natural causes. Mclnlev has a wife and four children at Blenheim.