THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 267, 13 November 1869, Page 2

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

The following letter appears in the Greymouth Evening Star. The writer is said to be well known, in Greymouth and Hokitika. Thames Goldfield, October 4, 1369. Deae Sir. — Having arrived on this celebrated goldfidd. I feel it my duty to send you the following lines, hoping tliey may be of some benefit to my friends that I have left behind me on the West Coast. I arrived at Auckland this day week, and in going through" the town nothing could be seen but the " Thames scrip," and long lists of companies stuck in every corner. I happened to be looking over one of these lists ■when a gentleman walked up to me and asked if I had any " scrip " in the Thames goldfk-lds. I told him that I had just arrived by the John Perm. Then he commenced blowing at a great rate in reference to the exceeding richness of the field with its hidden treasures, saying that when th< 'roughly developed it would be tlie greatest in the world. Afterwards, he offered 400 scrip for the sm.tll sum of £15, which would give me an everlasting pile. I congratulated him on his blowing abilities, and respectfully declined doing any business. When I arrived at the Thames goldfield, I found hundreds (I do not think I should exdggerAte if I said thousands) walking about in want of work, but none to be got, and the scrip market in a very low state indeed. I visited ihe sale rooms where I found thousands of scrip put up for sale and no bidding whatever for any, and to my knowledge there are any amount to be purchased at airy price ; in fact, Wood's Point, in Victoria, was supposed to be a great swindling place, but this beats all I have seen. Wages are only £2 per week, and the necessaries of life on the same scale as Hokitika with the exception of the 4lb loaf which is lOd. The following is an extract from a letter written by Mr. Coiniskey, late of Greymoutb, from the Thames goldfields,* to Mr. Cassius, his late partner there : — The people surely must be mad to keep coming here. Ido not know what they are going to do. Nine-tenths of the claims on the Thames are not worih a. penny. I could name hundreds of claims .that have been formed into companies and their scrip , sold ..at., big prices, that are not .worth anything' to-day , ; Unless something turns up coon, there will be lots of people glad to return to Hokitika.