MERCURY BAY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2682, 20 February 1866, Page 5

MERCURY BAY. ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The gold you reported some time ago as having been left at the office of his Honor the Superintendent, and found in a creek situated between Mercury Bay and Wangapoa, was discovered about two years back by a party who were out prospecting on the ranges extending inwards from Cook's Bay. On my arrival here I met with one of the party, and, accompanied by him, went to the locality, where I found three men at work searching for the run which had been lost by the former prospectors. As yet they have been unsuccessful in their endeavours, but as they are thoroughly practical gold miners, I dare say they may succeed. The surrounding country has been violently agitated by volcanic agency, rendering prospecting for gold very uncertain. A patchmay be found, brought down by a slip from the higher ranges, as was the case with the gold in question, but I do not think it will pay the miner to prospect this immediate locality. Crossing the small estuary formed by the Waiwaiwa and Kamarama streams, the highlands partake more of the appearance of the Coromandel country, and I think is a good field for a gold prospecting party. The Waiwawa travels over a considerable extent of country, and has its source on the east side of the Coromandel ranges, about fifteen miles inward from Waiomu. This country has not yet been prospected, but Repiu, the owner of the land, has given his consent to a party who now desire to try it. He will accompany them to the boundary, whioh is about as far as the river can be worked. The Waiwawa hag been selected from its geographical position running from south to north, as also from the numerous tributaries entering it on both sides. What the ultimate movements of the party will be, I cannot now say.