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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 252, 30 July 1872, Page 3

TUHJA GOLDFIELD. STATEMENT OF M. L. NELLY. The following letter lias been published in tlie Independent : —“ Sir, —A short time ago I saw a statement in the New Zealand Mail , and other papers, oil the above golufield, and as I have reason to believe

tiiat I am the only man who found gold at the so-called Tuliua prior to the 17th March, 1865, I beg to give you a statemeut of the circumstances attending its discovery. On the night of the l'2th March, 1865, I was sent out from Alexandra, Waikato, in charge of a party consisting of six men—Privates John Cash, T. Kelly, J. Hutton, G. Cooper, Peter Lynch, and another, whose name I have forgotten—with a native to show me the trajk, which is a good one from Alexandra. I brought a pack-horse within two and a-lialf miles of the place where I found the first indication of gold. I prospected four creeks, and found gold in each one ; but my orders were not to confiue myself to any one place. I found gold in one creek, which I picked up. on the bed, and which was blue slate (in the little pools), there being but little water in the creeks at the time. On the east bank of this last prospected creek, which is at the head of the so-cMled Stony Creek, and about 15 miles or thereabouts from Alexandra, 1 ordered a paddock to be sunk. 1 did this because one of the men (Kelly) told me the place must have beeu salted by the native. I told the native to sit down on the other bank of the creek while 1 washed seven dishfuls of dirt from about seven feet deep, but not from the bottom, as we could not get down owiug to the water, and having nothiug to keep the water out. Out of this paddock 1 got three small pieces of gold, and a piece of quartz about the size of a pea, one side of which was ail gold. 1 then determined to explore the whole range to Kaupea, and sent in for provisions, sending in also what gold I had fouud. But as the Adjutant, Captain Tisdall, was about to proceed to Auckland, i was recalled, as I could not well be spared from camp, being sergeantmajor of the regiment. I then returned, on tne night of the 17th March, 1865, bringing a little more gold with me. This gold I gave to Mr Todd to be forwarded to Mr R. Graham, who I believe was then Superintendent of Auckland. Mr Todd did so iii my presence by a geutlemau going to Auckland. Having heard nothing of the gold for about four mouths, I wrote to the Provincial Government about it, as I thought I was entitled to it for myself and party, as well as to my reward for finding a goldfield. After some urne months I got a letter, saying the Government (Provincial) could do nothing in the matter, as the place was on native land. I believe, however, gold does exist there ; still I would advise the public to be cautious in taking ail for granted, as tlieie is a possibility that the native did put down the gmd where we found it so plentiful on the bottom of the creek, with a slate bottom. But lie could not have put any into the dish when 1 was washing unless, by virtue of Aladdin’s lamp. I have since been told while at Kaugitoto, that there is gold not far from there, and samples have been shown to me. I asked Hohepa to show me the place, but be said the King would kill him if he did. Yet 1 know very well where it is, if his statement be correct. Hohepa is now in Wellington. —I am, &c. M. L. Nelly, late Sergeant-major 2nd W.R—Wellington, 10th July.”

[We have a distinct recollection of th* 1 sending out of the above named party, hut from what we know we do not believe for an instant that they were in the Tuhua district at all.—Ed. T.G.]