AORERE GOLD FIELDS. WELLINGTON ACCOUNTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1033, 22 May 1857, Page 3

AORERE GOLD FIELDS. WELLINGTON ACCOUNTS.

. (From the Independent, May 2.) Since our Ust, several vessels have arrived from the Massacre Bay Digging* and in them Mr Stuart (Stuart, Kinross, & Co.) Mr. John Martin and Mr. James Wallace, who have beun to visit the fields with a view to business, besides many of those who went to try their fortune in thechaiueter of diggeis. The Pride of the Mpb and Augusta have been obligpd to proceed to Nelson for a market, being unable to dispose of their cargoes "at Aorere. Provisions ol all kinds were exceedingly reasonable, and Picks and Shovels v* ere selling for less than they can be purchased at Wellington. Lightband's Gully had been worked out, and the Welhngtonians were mosily keeping together in'Appoo's Gully, where, though getting but little, they were doing better on the whole, than those who had arrived from Nelson The weather had been fine, with but little rain and occasional violent winds. The slight rains that had fallen, had however so swelled the streams as almost entirely to put a stop to digging operations The Kelsonites were returning home and the Wellingtonians are making ready to follow their example and get back to Wellington as quickly as they can. We have seen several letters from experienced persons who went from here as pioneers, and their letters are tull of such sentences »s — "take my advice and lon't think of coming hpre" — "bf> sure and stay where you are" — "on no account leave Wellington" —"nothing can be done until spring" &c, &o. There can be no doubt that some of those who have returned have been frightened at the mud Syd discomfort attendant upon a digger's occupation and have at once turned tail, but we do not meet with a single person, however accustomed he may have 'been to California or Australia, who does not advise i|ihe waiting at any rate until the Spring. One writes jthat he and his party had just finished passing 90 buckets through the long torn and had obtained half an ounce as th» result, and that without better, inducement

-offered, all his friends should give up the idea of following him. This view is the geneioi one— nothing seems I possible during the winter. whate\crmay be done after. 1 -...irds. We have extracted lanrly ft" n the file of the ''N«lion Examiner* just received. The acco..nts published l\v that Paper we may be miie are nut under rated ftnd they will fully bear out the statement above piven. that the .Msiginj? 0 are bpins^ d'^prtpd as the winter approaches, and that some are hoping tor better things by and bye.

{From the Spectator, May 2.) The reports from the NeNon gold digging" received by the late arrivals, are of a more favourable nature than those refeired to in our lasc number, but thpy are still of a conflicting chararter, according to tho personal experience of the narrator. Gold continued to be found, and several small nuggets had been picked up of a very puie quality. We were shewn some specimens by Mr. Stuart, of thf firm of Stuart, Kinross & Co , who has just returned from a visit to Aorere, and who purchased several ounces, including some nuggetty gold, fhe largest specimen weighing neaily an ounce. We understand that the largest nugget yet found is said to weigh two ounces and a half.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Aorere, April 28th, 1857. Sir, — Will you allow me to inform the public, through your valuable paper, of the present state of affairs on the Aorere Gold Fields. I arrived here yesterday morning in the Mary Thomson from Wellington, and went up at once 'o sea how the diggers were doing, and, to my great satisfaction and astonishment, found the greater part of them doing remarkably well, and living very socially together. Every person who looked for gold was finding it : some doing very well, others middling; but all doing a little. 1 met with d friend of mine from Nelson with a party of three whff had washed, from Saturdcty morning till Monday evening, 1 oz , 9 dwts. of gold; they would have got more but being the first two days they had made use of the Long Tom it was not in good working order I have had experience on most of the Australian diggings, and I certainly must say that I never saw any more promising than the newly discovered ones in the Aorere District, and I should certainly persuade all persons who have a desire to try their fortune, to come at once, and not to listen to any idle reports that may bespread about, contradicting the accounts (that have already been published in the public papers) ! regarding the auriferous deposits'in this soil, as I really believe there has not been any exaggeration in the statements you have already heard. Any person who thinks of coming, let him bring a lone: torn, a few changes of clothing, and any trifle which would add to the r comfort during wiuter, as there are now bullock drays taking luggage to the diggings at ss. per cwt., which is very reasonable ; in fact everything is as cheap here as in Wellington The only dissatisfaction 1 heard was from a party of four who arrived last Wednesday m the Sea Serpent, and, after tiying their luck for two or three days and not proving successful (of course not giving it a fair trial) came away disgusted, and intend returning to Wellington. I presume they will not give a veiy flattering account of gold digging ; but I trust the public will bear in mind tVuat idle people can never do well at hard work, and all the gold that is found requires sharp looking after. I was in company with Captain Thomson, and he bought a very nice sample of gold, which he takes with him. I am, Sir, Your most obedient Servcnt, E. Abrahams.