GOLD DISCOVERIES.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 540, 7 August 1869, Page 3

GOLD DISCOVERIES.

The mail-man who arrived in Wanganui last week from New Plymouth reports the discovery of a rich quartz reef on the Kaitaki Ranges, about mid-way between the town of New Plymouth and Patea. The following letter from the Superintendent of Police in the Western District, was received in Sydney on July 2, by the Government, in regard to a recent gold discovery at Trunkey Creek : —"I beg to report the discovery of a rich gold-field at Trunkey Creek, about thirty-eight miles from Bathurst and sixteen miles from Carcoar. Mr Johnston, Gold Commissioner, informed me that there is nothing to equal it in the Western district. The field consists of rich quartz reefs, and the country has been marked off for a distance of six miles —the whole auriferous. Eresh reefs are being discovered daily. I have no doubt a large population will collect, and a permanent township be formed." A nugget was brought into tho Union Bank, Roekhampton, on July 15th, from Mount WheeJer, Cawarral; it was found one foot from the surface, and contains 258 ounces lldwts. pure gold. This splendid nugget was "discovered by a boy named Cadden, working with his father. Another nugget was found just under ground, in an adjoining claim, by a lad named Luckman, weighing ISO ounces, and also placed in the Bank. We hear again that the rumoured gold discoveries in Tasmania have turned out to be truer than was anticipated, and that the quartz obtained at the Waterhouse Reefs is rich in the precious metal. A ton of stone is said to have yielded 29ozs. of gold, which sold readily at £2 19s. the ounce. It seems to be tho opinion of experienced miners that the stone should average from Sozs. to 4ozs. to the ton. The Barque Bayonaiz has arrived at Sydney from California. She brought news to the effect that a great goldfield was reported to have been found at Nevada, and that the people were leaving San Erancisco in hundreds for the new rush. The Otacjo Daily Times, of the 20th, says : —Captain Harold, of the schooner Margaret, which arrived yesterday from Stewart's Island, informs us that the gold-fields on the Island are progressing favorably. On Mason's Beach and Ragged Ranges, the poorest of the miners are making wages. Provisions are easily got to the scene of operations from Invercargill, and a plentiful supply of good fish can be caught in close proximity to the mines. The gold on Mason's Beach is very fine, while in the ranges gold in quartz predominates. The great drawback on the Island is want of roads or proper tracks.