WANGANUI.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 226, 22 April 1868, Page 3

WANGANUI.

The news from Wanganui has an item of excitement in the alleged discovery of a payable goldfield, in that locality. The Evening Herald, of Saturday last, has the following in ■reference to a rush that has set in there : —The excitement still continues, and parties are flocking out of town. Some of those who went out to look for themselves, have returned for •picks, shovels, tin [dishes, &c. We are begining to have more faith in the existence of a payable gold-field from this fact, some of those who have returned and gone out again being men not likely to run after a shadow, and from their long experience of gold digging, ought to be good authorities. They, as is always the case with diggers who make a first discovery, are very loth to draw a rush, before they have had a good chance of reaping

nio nrsc iruiis. cur special correspondent has gono up, and we are in hourly 'expectation of news ; directly it arrives, we will publish an extra. We would strongly recommend diggers from other places not to rush here till something more definite is known.

Since writing the above, we have been informed by Mr Russell that about 150 men are now in search of the El Dorado at Waitotara, and the exact spot where the first prospects have been obtained is not known, but will be pointed out either to-morrow or the next day to practical diggers capable of judging the ground. It is situated about a quarter of a mile from Capt. Shuttieworth's house, and on his land. It is as well to wait until the result is made known. We may, however, inform our readers that an old practical digger last night showed Mr Eobinson some excellent prospects he alleged he had obtained about two miles from Captain Shuttieworth's house, and so much does Mr Eobinson think of them, that he proceedsjto morrow to judge for himself. Itisnot unlikely that the place where this last discovery is stated to have been made may be a continuation of the ground where the first prospects were obtained. However, notwithstanding the look of probability there is now about the matter, we cannot too strongly urge the necessity of caution, and at least waiting for an authentic report from "Waitotara, for it should be borne in mind that the greatest of the ground—the arrival ol the precious metal—has yet to be rnado.

We have been informed that the people at Waitotara were much incensed against Capt. Shuttleworth for not at once pointing out the ground—he declining to do so until he was quite convinced of the metal found being gold. They have eaten everything he had in the house, and threatened to turn him out of his dwelling, and obstructed the servants in their work.