SUPPOSED GOLD DISCOVERY AT WAHOA. Mr Langstone Strikes a "Patch" : An Exciting Test at Cambridge.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1811, 14 February 1884, Page 2

SUPP OS ED G OLD DISC OVER Y AT WA HOA. Mr Langstone Strikes a " Patch" : An Exciting Test at Cambridge.

Nor a little excitement was created in the immediate \icinity of the Ciitoiion Hotel, Cambi idgt, on Tuesday e\ening List, when it became known that what w.b supposed to bii fin all mini gold patch had been uncaithed on the potato of Messis C.inipbell Bros, at Waitoa. Mr Lingstoue, M.R.C.V.S., well-known m Waikato, it appears, had been paying a piofessional visit to the tib'n o-named estate. Having l)crforinpd his duties, he adjourned to a neighbouiuig cieek on the i)l.ice, foi the pmpo.se of spearing a few eels. He had barely entered on this puisiiit, however, if at all, when, or passing a piece of the bank, which seemed of cement formation, his eve was atti acted by a. slight metallic outcrop, winch he immediately pioceeded to investigate. He soon uneaithed what appealed to him to be a compact nugget of the precious medal, and thus oncomaged he renewed his effoits, and by bieiki lg down a piece of the bank, another nugget of an equally encouiaging appearance re\ealed itself. Mr Limestone became stai tied, and at once gave \ent to his feelings, by announcing to Ins companion (foi he had a companion on the expedition) : " Lor', if this amt an nllnwil flat I'm a well, not a \eteiinaiy surgeon anyhow." The situation was. a no\el and exceedingly startling 0:10, and there b"in^ u<> spectator, it is not lecorded what shape the excitement of the two ne\t assumed— whether they stood erect on their heads, threw their hats sky high, jumped fiautically or weie dumbfoundeied, we have not been able to as-ertiin ; but one thing is cm tain, however, — ha\ing caiefully ura.pp.xl up the metallic jowek like a thief in the night, if «c may be allowed to speak metaphoi ically, Mr Lingstone mae'e a speedy exit fiom Campbelltown, and lost no tune in nia'vi ig liii way to Cambndge, the beaicr of the happy intelligence. Ht>ie was an event, a veutible lcd-letter day for the colony. Mr Lingstone, a member of the Royal College of Veteiinary Surgeons of London, whilst engaged in the aboiiginal ])iu suit of catching eels had stiuck a goklheld, .1 poor man's diggings, where nuggets weie to be had by stooping to lift them ; lieic was an event ii which the name of Langstone would be hei aided foith to the woild with um nailed effulgence ; an event, in short, winch should cause the poitly figme of Laugstone to be sot foith in the illustiated penodicals of the day as " The lucky digger. ' When Mr Langstone ariived at the Criteiion Hotel at Cambridge he revealed his diacoveiy to a few pionnnent gentlemen of the distinct, including the owner of the estate on which the supposed gold had been unearthed. The re\ elation had the desired effect ; the sensation was great — unprecedented. There was the discoveier, and there on the table lay the discoveied sure enough. It was nugget of gold beyond doubt, for all examined it, and with few exceptions all concuncd in tho verdict of "genuine." A bee line was immediately made in the diiection of the premises of the local jeweller, whose veidict was not altogether what it ought to have been ; but than, what do common jewellei 3 know of the*d mitt-jis"' Rome excited mind suggested the chemist, so the pai ty immediately batook themselves to the premises of that functional y. Tests weie applied, but with no more encouraging result. As a last resoit the smith's ft rge of Mi T. Gemmdl was next besieged, and that gentleman submitted the "piecious metal" to a flattening-out process, with a most encourDging result. The party then invested in sundry .small vials of sulphuric acid and nitric acid, and retired to the abovenamed hotel to renew the test. The two vials of the latter acid were placed on the table, a piece of biass was put into one, and a piece of the " precious" into the other. The party dicw their chairs up close, and watched with bated breath the denouement. The acid way fast telling a similar tale jn each case. One gentleman was holding one of the vials, which by-the-bye was tightly corked up, when all at once, Crack ! and the contents, consisting of nitric Sacid and dissolved biass, were distributed in the faces and over the clothes of the eager spectators. We are sorry we cannot conclude this article in the same humourous spirit in which it has been dictated so far. One or two of the gentlemen engaged in the investigation suffered somewhat spverely, and one is now under the doctor's care, the acid having got into his eyes. It is not expected, however, that tho injuries will prove sei ious. Mr Langstone will possibly insist on another test, as we understand he is still of the opinion that some gold was left in the bottle.

The names of sub-registrars of dogs in the Cojnty of Waipa are advertised elsewhere. Air Hadfield advertises a stray horse on his farm atTuhikararaea. A notification re the election of a nati\e assessor for the licensing district of Raglan apkears iv another part of this issue. The election of a licensing committee for the town district of Alexandra will take place on the 20th inst. Nominations must be delivered on orbetore the 23id. You will do well to furnish your house from Garlick and Cranwell's. They have now the most complete Furnishing Warehouse' in Auckland, furniture to suit all classes, good' strcag, and cheap. They have Tapestry Carpets ir om 2s 3d pei yard, Brussels from 3s lid per yard. Linoleum from 3s 9d to ss, Oil Cloths from Is Cd to 4s 6d pen yard, good 12 feet wide Oil Cloths at 3s 6d per yard. Immense assortment of Iron Bedsteads from Infants' Cqts to 6 feet wide half-tester Bedsteads. Double iron Bedf teads from 255. 480 Bedsteads in stock to select from. Beddings of all kinds and sizes' kept in readiness. Dhiine, Sitting, 'TJrawintjrrooiu i'urn'tturo, and an 4 a^a.r^eassd.rtmentofMahches^rJ and t j urni^hlng-^Oop^ss ~tincludrng^ 'i lflttj* 1 or* Cr^tpanatV/BopK Cjita(ogu^t i *mit|fti^ttfafi:- Jf