THE REPORTED GOLDFIELD AT WANGANUI.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 114, 25 April 1868, Page 5

THE REPORTED GOLDFIELD AT WANGANUI.

We take the following from the Wanganui Eveninj Herald of the 16th instant:— “ The excitement in town last night and to-day has been very great, over the discovery of some gob I in the Waitotara river. It appears that Mr. W. F. Russell and Captain Shuttle worth had been trying a little private piospecting a few days since, when they came on what appeared to be gold. A small courier’s bag was filled with the clay, and brought into town. It was taken to Mr. Myers, watchmaker and jeweller, who tested it and found it the genuine thing. It is quite visible to the naked eye, and if there be much of the stuff, as we are informed there is, there is not the slightest doubt of it being payable. Captain Shuttleworth is expected this evening, with more of the clay, and then we shall be better able to state what the prospects are likely to be. The exodus from here has already commenced, and a number of men with picks, shovels, and cooking apparatus started to-day for the Waitotara. There is no further news from the prospecting party at Parakino, but a missive from them is hourly expected. The same journal of Saturday last adds the following: “ The excitement still continues, and parties are flocking out of town. Some of those who went out to look for themselves have returned for picks, shovels, tin dishes, &c. We are beginning to have more faith in the existence of a payable goldfield from tliis fact, some of those who have returned and gone out again being men not likely to run after a shadow, and from their long experience of gold digging, ought to be good authorities. They, as is always the case with diggers who make a first discovery, are very loath to draw a rush, before they have had a good chance of reaping the first fruits. We would strongly recommend diggers from other places not to rush here till something more definite is known. Since writing the above, we have been informed by Mr. Russell that about 150 men are now in search of the El Dorado at Waitotara, and the exact spot where the first prospects have been obtained is not known, but will be pointed out either tomorrow or the next day to practical diggers capable of judging the ground. It is as well to wait until the result is made known. We may, however, inform our readers that an old practical digger last night showed Mr. Robinson some excellent prospects he alleged lie had obtained about two miles from Captain Shuttleworth’s house, and so much does Mr. Robinson think of them, that he proceeds to-morrow to judge for himself. It is not unlikely that the place where this last discovery is stated to have been made may be a continuation of the ground where the first prospects were obtained. However, notwithstanding the look of probability there is now about the matter, we cannot too strongly urge the necessity of caution, and at least waiting for an authentic report from Waitotara, for it should bo borne in mind that the great test of the ground—the arrival of the precious metal-- has yet to be made. We have been informed that the people of Waitotara were much incensed against Captain Shuttleworth for not at once pointing out the ground—he declining to do so until he was quite convinced of the metal found being gold. They have eaten everything he had in the house, and threatened to turn him out of his dwelling, and obstructed the servants in their work.