THE GILBERT DIGGINGS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 83, 11 September 1869, Page 5

THE GILBERT DIGGINGS.

JFrom the " Gympie Times," July 26th.) ' "Without' comment, we furnish our readers with the following information "in reference to. the Gilbert Goldfields, which has been obtained from private letters and from diggers who have returned from tlie'rush : — " Gilbert Eiver,

- " -. ' ".Saturday; June 27, 1869. IMr,_ C_oleman, . „ ''.My - -dear, .S.ir,— We arrived here on- Tuesday-, after a pretty stiff .^jtoarph of about "280 miles, the road not Joeing ihe hest one could wish for. * The rijsK js a complete-failure, and

in consequence' many are leaving. 1 The -gold- is toojmuch* scattered-; it is to -be fpundanywiiere in small, but nowhere' in large quantities — at any rate not large enough to induce any, but fossickers to remain. I have done no good since I came, except a bit of fosBicking.

" The weather is very hot and dry, but there is little or no sickness ; in fact the, place, is nealthy — as'mjich so as any newly opened country in this part of the world. Dr. Cunningham has come up, so that- there is no fear of anyone "Meting" for want of a doctor.

' •" Advise' anyone who talks' of. coming here to stay in G-ympie, or go anywhere else rather than come here — the most barren-looking place in existence. I don!t thffikil shall remain very long here, for I believe that it is very melancholy in the summer when the rains set in."

Erom another letter lately received we learn that "the goldfield is very extensive indeed, but practically confined to the vicinity of the waterholes ; there is any number of reefs, but only two prospector's claims have been granted. Many of the reefs look well, but are entirely untried. In the large river bed there are. only a few water holes, and no running water at all; the gullies are quite dry. Food is scarce, cartage being £75 per ton [From Townsville or Cardwell ?], and the price is expected to. rise. Bread is 2s. 6d. per two pound loaf. Advise all our friends not to come until the rain sets in, except they want to try the reefs. There is plenty of sickness, but it is brought from the Cape ; the Grilbert is naturally a healthy locality, its elevation above the sea bein^ 1600 feet, and the high land around it being 1000 feet higher. Cradles are £5 each." From a digger lately returned from I the Gilbert to the Gympie, we learn that there is plenty of water, but no gold. He has arrived here with half a pennyweight.

TntAJor. — Since our last issue several persons who left Timaru for the purpose of visiting the reported goldfield at the Orari Gorge have returned, and all agree that there is no likelihood of a payable field being opened in that locality. It seems that Marten ] and party, with M'Meekan, put down a paddock, and at a few feet came upon the rock, where they could not even find the colour of gold. On Eriday there were about thirty men on the ground prospecting, but nearly all of them heave since returned. Marten, Sibley, and Peters, left the locality iv which they were at first camped, and proceeded some miles further up the river, and were to try what they could obtain with a sluice box, but all practical men say there is no chance whatever of their efforts, meeting with success. Dr.' Haas't, we believe, did not visit the ground, but proceeded on to Pudding Hill Marten, we hear, is desirous of withdrawing his claim for the reward for the discovery of a payable field. Thew and Thurgood are still at work at the Opuha. They recently came across a fine vein of quartz, about three feet in thickness, and followed it up for some distance, when it spread out into several small leaders. Forgan and party, who were in the Mackenzie Country, had to leave the ground on account of the heavy fall of snow, which broke down their tent and prevented them from continuing their work. We learn that they propose returning to prospect in about two months. We also learn that two or three persons are about to start for the Waiho gorge to prospect the country in that locality. The colour is plentiful the whole way up the river, and and a very favourable opinion is entertained of the district by diggers. No doubt the coming summer will see prospecting carried on extensively, and th,e problem will most likely be solved whether there is any payable ground in the Timaru district.—" Tunaru Herald."

ConoiiAiTDEL. — The following description of Coromandel, by a correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times," will be interesting in ~ f connectien with the great rush reported to have taken place to that locality. The writer says : — " Should you. ever visit this part of the world, I should advise you to ascend the Coromandel Eanges. It is a nice little walk or crawl up about 2500 feet by a Maori path, with interlaced roots of trees to serve as ladders, and a greasy yellow wet clay for your footing. You pass through a dense forest, with the most beautiful ferns, creepers, and underwood. Birds were chirping and singing all around us, and the whole scene was very picturesque and Oriental. You then emerge from the forest, and climb up a small rock or pinnacle of quartz, and from, this giddy height you have a view such as few have seen. On your left, you have a complete view of the grand Coromandel Harbour and pretty township. The steamer at ;<aichor looks like a walnut shell, From' your feet down, far down, a steep declivity, is a vast forest of trees to the edge of the township. On your, right is the equally beautiful Kennedy Bay and Harbour, with a view far out to sea." The Auckland" Almanacfor the current year, with reference to this place, says: — "Coromandel, situated within the Firth of Thames, is 20 miles S.S.E. of Cape -Colville, and about- 40 miles from Auckland. .Its position is well marked by a remarkable hill, to be seen for'many miles, lying three miles

eastward of the head of the harbour, called Castle Hill. Coromandel was i ! brought prominently into notice a few years since by the discovery of gold, which at the time caused cosiderable excitement, and attracted alargepopulation to the locality. Since then, the diggings have been worked more or less, principally by companies, but at present, owing to the superior attractions of the Thames goldneld, are almost deserted. It is generally believed, however, that comparatively little is known of the auriferous nature of the district."