TRACES OF GOLD

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 12

TRACES OF GOLD

Excitement at Hastings DISCOVERY IN RIVER Grains Found in Ngaruroro RELIEF WORKERS’ FIND Dominion Special Service. - Hastings, August 4. The rumoured discovery of alluvial gold in the bed of the Ngaruroro River, has given rise to some excitement in Hastings, and the rumour, combined with the apparently dependable details so far ascertainable, make it appear that there may be gold deposits in the large area of mountainous country through which the Ngaruroro River flows. The river has its source in the country near Taihape, and enters ,the sea at Clive, half-way between Hastings and Napier. Whether the find is likely to be a payable one or not is of course a different proposition, but it is felt that the mere fact that gold has been found is an indication that probably more exists, and the whole thing is worth investigating. The Ngaruroro ,is a shingle-bearing river of the kind in which gold is often found, and there is no reason why a reef should not be discovered nearer its source, particularly now that so much ground has been loosened and thrown up by the earthquake. As far as can be ascertained the gold which is reported to have been found is in the nature of a number of. grain'nuggets slightly larger than a pin head, but it is said the grains are pure gold and not simply quartz. The find was made by a party of unemployed men who are engaged by the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board on river bank work. In all five lorry loads of these men are engaged in the vicinity of Pakowhai, three at Brookflelds, and two at Ohesterhope, and it was the party at Ohesterhope which, mode the discovery. One of the men engaged had a lot of experience in gold mining, and it was he who noticed the little yellow spots, and on investigation discovered they were gold, - • , The hews was at once conveyed to his mates, with the result that there was a general search, and quite a number of grains were picked out latter. It was reported that these had been taken to a Hastings jeweller to be assayed, but on inquiry at the jeweller named and also at other jewellers of the town it was learned that no gold had been brought to them for testing purposes. It is understood that the find was first made on Monday, and a further search on Tuesday did not bring any results, but yesterday afternoon some more grains were found running with the current past Ohesterhope, and it is confidently anticipated they are coming from a reef further up the stream. Interviewed, one of the “finders” was not very talkative’ over the discovery, but admitted that gold had been found. He would not, however, give any detailed Information, and was not at all anxious that the news 'should be made public. < • - - - -