WAIKATO GOLD DISCOVERY.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 968, 7 May 1872, Page 3

WAIKATO GOLD DISCOVERY.

The following are the latest particulars to hand referring to what has ken already termed the "Auckland Southern Goldfield " It is an alluvial field, and the whole district is clay slate formation The specimen nuggets in the possession of the Maori Bewi, have been obtained from gravel beds in the Tuhua district. Gold has been found at different times in that district for several years, but the natives were too suspicious of the pakeha to make the fact known. Twenty years ago gold was picked up in the bottom of some of the creeks falling into the Kawhia harbor. A fact well known to many of the old settlers. The district where the gold is found, embraces a large area of ground all round Tuhua as a centre. Northward are large grassy plains, embracing tens of thousand of acres bearing every appearance of being dried-up lakes of former ages, everywhere having a gravelly or shingly bottom. These plains are believed to -be also within the gold-bearing area, because they are to the south of Kawhia harbor, where gold has been and found, north of Tuhua and Taringamutu. The nearest and most convenient port to the goldfield will probably be Mokau; distant from Taringamutu some 50 miles ; but the intermediate country is broken and difficult for traffic. The nearest constabulary port is at Tokano in the Taupo district, distant about forty miles. The Provincial Government has a large area of land, probably 30,000 acre* closely adjoining this district, running down towards the mouth of the Mokau, which divides on the West Coast the provinces of Auckland and Taranaki. Speculators are already busy pressing the natives to sell or lease their lands in the neighbourhood where the gold has been found, but the natives are generally indisposed to thus alienate their lands. The Auckland people are already pressing urgently on the Government to open up the field for European prospectors. > (Jkr remainder of news see forth page.)