(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3319, 6 March 1868, Page 3

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

February 23. Libctbnaht Gtwdrt, of the Volunteer Engineer!, together with several of that corps, and a number of volunteers from other sources, left yesterday morning •t dawn for Opotiki, 1 Captain Goldsmith has within the last two days returned from a prospsoting tour, during which there was no evidence of any interruption from the natives. That gentleman reports— and his experience is a sufficient guarantee alone of great consideration— "that, about seven miles, west of the Wairoa river, quartz' was found containing gold. The bed rock , was trachyte; this is the principal rock of this district, occasionally changed by an outcrop of dioritfc" A specimen of quartz was shown by Cap tain Goldsmith to several gentlemen who previously had surveyed in an adjacent district. The ranges'in which these specimens were found not only form a continuation of the grand Southern chain from the Thames and Ohinemuri, but also of that portion of mountainous oountry to which Mr. G#org« some few weeks ago paid a viiit, and the impression then formed by him of the gold-bearim; character of the looality.aud its undeniable quartzose appearance, has been fully borne out by Captain Goldsmith's research. No amount of pooh-poohing oan overcome this circumstance, naked and unquestionable as it stands, that Captain Goldsmith produces — a sufficient eyidenoe which I have no doubt will once more excite the enterprise of the prospeotors hereabouts. It is almost, an assumed fact that not only can goldbearing quarte be obtained within very easy distance of Te Tapa, but that it also is of an immediately payable nature. Thus you will observe how con. fliotdng are our relative positions ; on the one hand, native disturbance imminent ; on the other, gold for the seeking merely. The 27th was high day here, Captain Stack, paymaster of the district, having arrived, and after one day's unnecessary delay, attributable to no neglect on his part, regiment *1 and ration money was paid. This day, the 28th, is the last day for exchanges of land amongst the military settlers being permitted. Our crops are now got in, and operations for the coming winter on our farm lands are being carried on. I 1I 1 am v«y glad to say a vigorous and spirited movement is being projected by Messrs. Farrell, Munro, Eraser, Harington, Horsbragh, and others, I for the formation of a road from the Judea Redoubt to the various farms upon the Wairoa river, Omanawa, and contiguous districts. This is but a primary step to carry out intentions long delayed, but the vast importance of which has been a source of continual and harassing doubt. Some timo ago I reported that it had been resolved by many of our military settlers to at once locate. A handsome subscription, together with promises of hand labour, show that as far as this locality is concerned that determination abates not one jot. Our town, notwithstanding the exodus to Opotiki, really is looking a little brisker. The new stores opened by Mr. Davison as a bakery establishment, and the enlarging and improving of Mr. Douglas's premises, all tend to show we are looking up after a very dull and unprofitable season. We were visited by a good many of our old friends from Opotiki on the last trip of the ' Sturt,' and they mainly seem to think, although we are rather slack in trade, we are not worse off than they. Our steam communication with Auckland has become so very infrequent that my correspondence, save in the case of our own craft, the 'Jane,' leaving here, must appear occasional. There is no longer the least doubt that we shall but once a month be visited up and down by the mail steamer. Xlow this hss been brought about of course I cannot divine, but that it is a most deplorable fact is equally true. Within twelve months has an im. portant coastal town been deprived of three direct sources of connection with Auckland by steam service only. March 3. By my last dates you see that no mail has left this port from Auckland till this day. I have just received intelligence that preparations are being made at Maketu for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh, who, 1 believe, will arrive there about the second week in April. I will send you further particulars in my next There was a, large Maori festival or tangi on Saturday last at Matipiki, avowedly to celebrate a very valuable capture of sharks, but I think it had a more significant and political motive. Several of the Waikatos came over, which leads me to the last supposition. -. . , _ Another brutal outrage has boen committed upon a horse belonging to Sergeant Saunderson : the I animal was stabbed, and it evidently has been committed intentionally. Mr. Warbrick arrived from Taupo yesterday, and reports everything quiet.