THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 565, 9 October 1869, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

(from a correspondent.) Siioetla.:n-d, Sept. 26. Business of all kinds is at present overdone. The market is full of all sorts of shares—so much so that it is almost impossible to sell shares that are "any good " without giving them away. Scrip in the Shotover Claim, which a short time ntro was sold at £lO, is now selling at £2, and others have come down ten per cent, in very short time. This state of things must be accounted for by the fact that, a short time since, the Auckland people were all in a condition of fever, and would purchase anything that had the name of diggings, no matter where thty were, and, as a natural consequence, there has been some sad disappointment. The rush to the Coromandel is turning out very well. There is as good ground there as there is on this troldfield. The Puriri district, in which there are some Westport people, is sadly neglected. If this district were half the distauce from Shorthand that it happens to be, people would think a great deal more of it. At present there are some very good claims there the Perseverance, Kohinoor, United States, and others. They are as good as most of the claims in other parts of this goldfields but, as they are some distance from Shortland, they are seldom visited by speculators, unless they are going to take up a lease in some"part of the district. Fancy one man taking up fifteen acres for mining purposes, the ground never having been tried. There is some talk of Ohinemuri being opened shortly. A Government agent has gone up there this week to see the Natives on the subject, and in a few days there is to be a meeting of all Natives who are interested. A patty of Natives are going up on Monday, and I go with them, when I shall let you know by the earliest opportunity how things-are looking up there.

Dr Pollen, who is a candidate for the Superintendency, addressed the electors on Saturday at the theatre, and a more disorderly meeting I never have seen. The crowd assembled would not give any of the speakers a chance to be heard, and at last there began a free fight on the stage, when tables and a lot of " properties " were smashed. Mr Williamson is the favorite " against the field," but the result is uncertain Meanwhile the election is a source, of great excitement.