COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2862, 17 April 1878, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

AWAKDS FOll PHOSPECTING.

A prospector named Mr Huntiy, who has for the past three years been prospecting in the Writekauri district, waited on the Cocnty Council this afternoon with a parcel of some 8 or 10 ounces of splendid looking gold which he obtained by w-'suic-j in a creek on a line with the Diamond Gully Creek. The gold was worth £3 2s 6d per ounc3.

Cr Mitchell, who introduced Mr Huntly to the Council, said that he {Mr Huntly) wished to make a statement to the Councillors re the gold he had discovered, and he believed, wished to ask for some assistance in prospecting a reef near where the loose'gold had been discovered, and which he had prospected ior a distance of 30 miles.

Mr Huntly said that he wished to put in a tunnel ncav where ho had got the gold, but aa the ground waa very hard, and he was single handed, be wanted to know if tho County could Rive some assistance. The reef would be cut in 10U feut of driving. That he was perfectly confident of; and from gold discovered in boulders in the vicinity, and the gold he had, he beleived it would be payable. ■ ■• : The Chairman (Mr Brodie) said that of course they were desirous of assisting prospectors, but at present they were only gathering information as to what they should do for tUe promotion of prospecting, and had not yet decided in any definite plan. The Council could not Rive any assistance unless they had sonic guarantee that it would be used for the purposs specified. Alter some farther conversation it was resolved to provide a fortnight's tucker for the men (as Mr Huntly expected to get a mate), and alto to give him an order to get powder and fuse from Mr Shaw, Foreman of Works at Ohinemuri.

The Chairman recommended Huntly to see the Warden and inform him of his discovery, and if anything came of it he would have the prior claim to one of the Government awards, and also be per* mitted to take up a prospecting area. Mr Huntly, after thanking the Council and promising to act on the suggestion, withdrew.