A NEW GOLD FIELD.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 23, 8 June 1867, Page 2

A NEW GOLD FIELD.

Report 3 as to the discovery of gold in the Province of Hawke’s Bay have been published in the Wellington papers which we now learn from the “ Hawke’s Bay Herald” have some foundation. In the event of a payable gold field being discovered in that Province, of which there appears little doubt the whole of the townships in the Wairarapa, lying as they do on the overland route from Wellington, must participate in the advantages which will accrue. It will be seen from the following extract from a letter of Colonel Whitmore‘that a prospecting party had returned with the report that indications of gold had been found in almost all the creeks they explored, and that it was their intention to return in the full expectation that they would succeed iu their object. Two of the party were professional diggers. They penetrated the ranges about the gorge of the Mohaka, and thence made a sweep behind the Ruabine to the sources of the Kangitikei. Colonel Whitmore intends to send the specimens to Dr, Hector which he says are undoubtedly of the most promising description. lie says:— They desceibe the country as most promising, but state they have not yet anywhere found payable gold. Small specks have, however, been found in almost all the creeks—which they have shown me. They have found a slate country intersected by quartz veins, apparently auriferous, and they have brought a few specimens, which are now in my possession. They mean to return immediately to the place where they were forced to abandon the search, and take provisions for four to six weeks. If they cu hit the rivers lower down, they hope to find gold in their beds, and thus to save the time they have hitherto occupied in examining so many creeks. Their chief difficulty is the transport of supplies, as, hitherto, they have been unable to take a pack-horse through the ranges, and have lived very much on wild pigs, &c. If the direct track to Taupo by Takatutu was opened, pack-horses could easily be taken.