GOLD IN THE THAMES DISTRICT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3119, 16 July 1867, Page 4

GOLD IN THE THAMES DISTRICT.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sib, —The intelligence reported in your issue of yesterday is no far important as regards the discovery of a more valuahle quality of gold than had hitherto been discovered in the Thames country, that I have to request the publication of the following extraots taken from a "diary, kept by me during part of the time I was gold-prospecting in that district, Kauaeranga, : — June 27, 1865.— 1 wrote to Mr. Mackay, Civil Commissioner, that the prospect obtained was so good that we should feel obliged if he would forward to us a copy of the mining regulations and the bylaws relating to gold. June 28. — Commenced sinking a shaft in the flat about 150 feet in from the left bank of the Kafaka Creek; came upon awash, panned it off; found a small proipect getting better the deeper we went. June 29. — At a depth of 14 feet the specks were coarser, but few. Heavy boulders and water. July 1. — Eight feet of water in the hole, all hands baling ; in two hours' time had the water out, and got two feet further down, when the bottom was found at 16 feet ; washed two or three buckets of stuff, same prospect as yesterday j water gaining so fast and boulders so heavy, impossible to drive—dip inclining towards the oreek. July 3. — Finished the sluice box and carried it to' the creek ; tried the banks in several places ; found; fine scaly gold in all at about two feet from the surface. jj u ]y 4, — Commenced paddocbing about 10 feet in from the oreek ; piled up all the rubble to be put through the sluice box, occasionally panning off a dish, which more or less showed the presenoe of scaly quartz gold. July 5. — Found the sluice box to answer well, saving the fine gold, of which there is a good deal about here. The chief found a quartz specimen in ' the ■ box well charged with gold — appropriated it of course. At the close of the day calculated that there might have been l£dwt. to the load. One of the party, who went over to the Waiotahi Creek close to, was told, if he put a pick in the ground, his shirt would be taken off his back. The gold, which is very fine, could not be separated from the heavy iron sand. July 6. — All day cutting a race extending about 60 feet along the creek, and 15 feet in from the edge of the bank, with the intention of trying the bed. July 7. — Dammed the cnrrent of the creek. Plenty of stiff clay on the flat. Opened the race head. jj u ly 8 — In the bed of the creek found a prospect that was payable; put about three-quarters of a load through the sluice box, which showed up better than any Bample yet found, and will assuredly pay. The gold is of a description different from that usually seen here ; it appears to weigh well, and is evidently the tail end of a heavier deposit. A few specks mixed with quartz were got, indicating the presence of a gold-bearing quartz reef in the vicinity. During the afternoon several natives from motives of curiosity were anxious to render assistance. July 10. — Tikapa, the chief who had befriended us for some months back, informed us that three large canoes had entered the river with about 60 to 70 Baubaus, who intended landing and remaining at the settlement some days. Deemed it prudent not to July 11. — Found that the creek had penetrated through the dum— all day repairing. July 12. — My companions have left for Auckland ; will remain some time longer and see what can be done. I am quite satisfied that, had we prosecuted the search in this quarter and been permitted to try the Waiotahi Creek, the endeavours of the party to obtain a more satisfactory result would have met with complete success. The Ohinemuri stream, which runs into the Thames at about thirty miles up the river, has been reported to me by the natives, as it is also well known to the few Europeans who have settled in that locality, to produce gold of »n alluvial and more water- worn character than that found in the Kauaeranga country. At present Te Hira, the principal chief, is unwilling to receive Europeans whose object is gold-prospecting. — I am, &c, Walter Williamson.