COROMANDEL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 288, 17 April 1862, Page 3

COROMANDEL.

Gheat Success of the Diggers.— We have reason to believe that the question— ‘ Is there a paying gold-field in the province of Auckland?’ has at length been solved. The influx of diggers from Otago, led to the North by private intelligence from their friends in Coromandel, has been marked for the past eight or ten days. There are now between 2CO and 300 men on- the, spot, many of whom landed from the vessels direct, without coming to Auckland, others proceeded thence from this city. The success of the prospectors is a great fact. We will merely transcribe extracts from letters we have seen, and report the oral testimony of gentlemen who inspected the operations of the -diggers in Coromandel, and leave the public to judge of the matter for themselves. Mr. Beeson wi’ites go a mercantile firm in this city on the 31st March:—There was a find of 20 ounces of gold On Friday last at one place, and 7 ounces at another. These places are four miles apart, with every prospect of a good field being opened in a week or two. “ One nugget weighed 9‘ounces-15 dwt.” -•••' Writing on the 28th March from Coromandel, a gentleman for whose veracity we will vouch, states “ The diggers are coming here from Otago direct; 100 have lanced, and 150 are on the way, while more are to follow. These men bring money, but no provisions nor tools.

“ Gold is being found in two ]>laces, five miles apart, and I believe the whole of the men are going to work at once with a good heart. “ I have seen the specimens of gold and quartz lodged with Mr. Turton, the Resident Magistrate, by two parties who thus put in their claim for the reward. One specimen weighs lbs,, the other 6 ounces. “ All the Victorian diggers want is supplies to last three weeks, and they are satisfied that they will do for the future. Their experience leads them to this conclusion.”

A gentleman wlioAvas one of a party recently in Coromandel, stated to us that the party of 'miners'hinder the'leading of Laurence Murphy, consisting in all of six men, have struck upon a promising quartz leader, in a drive in the centre spur at Kapanga, near the spot Avhere Mr. Coolahair arid party made 1 £205 worth of gold in 1854. There are three spurs converging at this point, and Murphy’s party have driven sixty-four yards into the contraband largest spur, making provision for drainage. The men are most sanguine of a rich find from the heavy quartz of the leader. Below, and at some distance from this party, in the gully, another party of men are Avorking—Germans—and they showed our informant and his friend seA r eral pounds av eight of black auriferous sand, largely intermixed Avith gold.. The richness of this sand can only be appreciated by those avlio have seen it. These men are in high spirits, and are daily accumulating the precious earth.

Near the residence of Mr. Preece, a party of four men are engaged on the hill side, and have sunk a shaft a considerable depth. They also displayed specimens of quartz of considerable value and left the impression on the minds of the, gen tie men to Avhom they exhibited a pretty considerable pile, that they had more behind Avhich they did not deem it prudent to exhibit. The diggings are ! now extending toAvards Cape Colville, and the nearer they approach this point, the richer the finds become. There are Avorking parties all over the country, except on the prohibited land; and the diggers, appear unwilling to satisfy the curiosity .of, visitors. They also, no doubt, fear to excite the cupidity of the natives. But from what Ave have recorded aboA r e, and from statements equally trust Ayorbhy confirming this, which Ave have heard elsewhere, we believe the time has passed for reticence. The existence of large gold deposits has been established on European land; there are hundreds- —perhaps thousands, on their way from Otago to Auckland; and it is for'the • government'''to be equal co cue emergency. The diggers need Avant for n thing in Coromandel. They will find

men in Auckland -who shall do their utmost to make their early trials as light as possible; and above all they will enjoy a delicious climate, have wood, water, food* and clothing in abundance. We should mention that Mr. Heron has sub-let the ground for a store to one of the recent arrivals; and we have no doubt" stores will spring up rapidly. The North. —lt is premature to state anything in regard to the North; but we may indicate the state of affairs by apprising the public that claims for the reward have been registered by parties in the North of this province. We ai*o not, behind the official curtain, and do not pretend to know more than our neighbours; but we venture to predict that a "" short time will manifest to the colony that the true El Dorado of New Zealand is the Province of Auckland. —Southern Cross, April 4.