GOLD IN THE KING COUNTRY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2408, 24 September 1886, Page 2

GOLD IN THE KING COUNTRY.

The Te Awamutu correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes bb follows : Prospecting in the King Country has now for the first time afforded conclusive proof of the existence of gold in the interior. One of the party has shown several pieces of gold-bearing stone and also loose gold, which he states was got in the Pungapunga creek and other places. The discovery has beon made since the prospectors severed their connection with the Wanganui Prospecting Association. There is no doubt about the gold which haa boen shown to and handled by Mr Bridgeman, storekeeper of this place, and several other gentlemen. It has been noticed that Barry and tho Wanganui men have been hand and glovo since the latter loft prospecting for the association, but when spoken to Batty was very reticent. It is believed now that the opening of a goldfieldiu the interior of the king country, which had come to

be looked upon as a-'chimera, is. really only a matter of time, id paying gold has now been found in mbre;!than pn'e'i'Jrtace, besides the 'PangapungV. Creek referred to. Great suspioioiifof the. 6o)ia fiat intention of the. Go/eminent to bring about the finding of gold in recent prospecting adventur«B;!'hndertakeh' under their auspices was expressed at the time; and this has since been strengthened, it is said, by the Wanganui men b discovery of an official letter, thacontents of which leaked out when the to whom it was written was in a state of liquor. The Wanganui party is now waiting on tho other side of the river, and Barry is said . to be stopping at tho back of Kihikihi., *"