DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 409, 21 November 1868, Page 6

DISCOVERY OF GOLD IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The discovery of a rich gold country to the north of Limpopo River, on the borders of the Transvaal Republic and Portuguese settlements, is confirmed from all quarters. This new field of glistening quartz veined with gold has "been named the Victoria diggings, in honor of her Majesty the Queen. They are immediately situated on the south-eastern face of the Matoppo Hills, in a triangular wedge of land whose base is forty miles, and its two other sides respectively eighty and ninety miles in length, between two minor rivers, the Tati, Thati, or Tr.ua and the Ramaqnaban, that runs into the Shashe, which is one of the chief tributaries of the great RiverLimpopo. The longitude of the part of the diggings being worked ia be-' tweer 29 and 30 deg. East, and the latitude between 20 and 21 deg. South.

The natives of the country are the Bamangwato, a quiet, kindly people, belonging to the Bechuona division of tho African races. The chief to whom the Victorian diggings belong charges each digger £1 as a " claim tax," and has appointed two Englishmen to look after the money. Samples of rich quartz and gold dust continued to come in freely to the merchants and others in the Cape Colony and at Natal. Mr Black, who proceeded to che country as leader of the first parly »f diggers, has written to the Cape Colony that he and his men had been :oined by others, and they were all ligging and washing very successfully. They only wanted a small crushing machine to enable them to send down the first merchantable loads of gold. The gold discovery had caused considerable excitement among the colonists. Digging parties were in course of organization in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Queenslown, Durban, and other places, to proceed to the diggings. Q-reat expectations were also eatertamed of a large influx of immigrants, aud rivalry is springing up between Natal, Port Elizabeth, and Cape Town, as to which commands the best route for diggers to travel by. Natal is the nearest point to the diggings, but it is alleged by its opponents that the route from there is very difficult, and rendered dangerous by crossing the country where the Tsetse fly prevails, whose bite is fatal to cattle. The Port Elizabeth people have published a pamphlet setting forth the excellency of their route, and sent an agent to England by the Cambrian to urge its claims. Cape Town, however, it is argued by its advocates, will be at least as good and convenient a startpoint for the diggings-as any,