THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 401, 12 November 1868, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

A Westportiau has a letter from a friend at Shortlaud, to this effect: — " You say that, perchance, you might come to Auckland. Let me tell you that things are very dull on the Thames at the present time. Business on the Thames will be soon over-done —that is to !<ay, in the town of Shortland. I think I told you in some of my previous letters, that the only chance that there is on the Thames, is to take up shares, and to sell out to the Auckland people, but the time has now arrived when you caunot sell. No; you cannot give shares away. Shares for which, three months ago, you could have got a hundred pounds, will not now bring five shillings. The Auckland people have bought shares, aud spent their money, aud have got no returns as yet, nor have they much prospect of getting any ; so that, except at a few claims, work is at a standstill.

" As for West Coast men, they had no business to come here without plenty _of money, a'-id then they could only spend it. If yon know of any of them coming, tell them to pnt the price of their passage-money away, so as to enable them to get back again, as there are hundreds here who would like to return, if they could only get the ' sugar.' " You ask me if there is no chance of Storekeeping. There is no chance at present. The country is not opened yet. Yesterday a steamer left Shortland for an excursion trip up the river Thames. She took two hundred diggers, but the Natives would not allow them to take any tools, for the purpose of prospecting. The country Ohinemuri—is situated sixty miles from Shortland. If there is gold got there, there will be a chance for storekeeping, but not until then. The Auckland people think that there is any amount of gold all over the country, but they really know little about gold or golddiggers. " I hope you will not have to come here, as I do notthiuk you will like the style of business in this couutry, where they cut things very fine The upcountry will do for a few months, but if they get no gold, you know the result. Wages are down to £1 10s a week, and hard to get at that."