OUR GOLD FIELDS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XV, 28 February 1857, Page 2

OUR GOLD FIELDS.

The following information respecting the Gold Field at Massacre Bay was published in a second edition of Wednesday's Examiner. Examiner Office, Nelson, Feb. 25. The important news brought from Massacre Bay by G, Ridings, Esq., who has this morning returned from a visit to the gold-field in that district, induces us to publish the information we have thus received in the form of a Supplement, in order that this highly interestinginformation may be forwarded to Wellington to-morrow by the Monsoon, for transmission to England by the Oliver Lang. We shall indulge in no remarks ourselves on this occasion, on what may now be considered little short of a fact actually demonstrated, that we possess in this province a rich gold-field ; for every one acquainted with the gold-fields of Australia, who has seen those at Aorere, is of opinion that richer indications have rarely come under his observation than at the diggings which we are now speaking of. The flakes of gold are disseminated so equally throughout the surface-soil, as to leave no doubt but that far richer deposits will be found at the foot of the higher ranges ; and we look forward with considerable interest to the report which Mr. M'Gregor will be able to furnish of the prospecting tour which he has undertaken to these ranges of mountains. The Government of the province, we learn, has taken measures to survey a township at the harbour of Parapara, which is within five miles of the diggings now being worked ; but there is no present intention, we hope, of interfering with the labours of the diggers, by calling upon them to pay a license-fee. If the diggings go forward, as we believe they now will, we hope some better plan than issuing licenses will be devised for making these goldfields contribute to the revenue. The license system has never worked well in Australia, one great objection to it being that the successful and unsuccessful digger are required to pay to the Government the like sum. A gold export-duty would probably be better. While on the subject of gold, we must mention another important circumstance. A nugget of gold has been shown us, weighing three pennyweights, twelve grains, which was picked up accidentally by a gentleman, in a stream on the eastern side of the province. Being on a journey at the time, no search was prosecuted for evidence of further auriferous treasures existing in the neighbourhood. AORERE GOLD FIELD. To the Editor of the c Nelson Examinee.' Str — The mind of the inhabitants of the province is at present so much excited in the inquiry whether a paying gold-field really exists within its boundaries, that I doubt not you will afford me space in your columns in which to enumerate the principal circumstances which have come under my notice during a visit to the Aorere Valley, from which I have to-day returned. An unusually long and stormy passage, in which considerable danger was encountered, brought us to the mouth of the Aorere river, a very easily entered and safe harbour, even for large vessels. Had you been, as my fellowpassengers and myself were, detained by bad weather and calms five days over a passage of sixty miles, your already warm advocacy of local steam navigation would, I am confident, become yet more earnest. It would have been much to the benefit of the passengers to and from the different out ports had the whole Board of Directors of the Local Steam Company been with us, with the prospect of having to repeat the trip in three months ; they would become less fastidious as to all the minute qualifications of vessels offered them, and would take good care to have one of some description or other before the end of the three months. On arrival, we started without delay for the ranges, which, after a journey of three hours, we reached, the last four miles being rather toilsome walking. In a deep gully we found about thirty men engaged in the digging and washing operations, the latter carried on by means of a small stream of water, carried by means of leads or small channels into the " claim " of each party, and carried by each through their "long torn," or into tubs or buckets for use in the "cradle." The stuff washed they obtained on the surface, digging to a depth/on an average of about four feet. The labour expended seemed moderately severe, but not so much so as to deter any men accustomed to exerting his strength from engaging in it. We noticed immediately on goiug amongst the men, that a zeal, which we attributed to past success, animated them ; and I saw also with pleasure that the members of each party seemed on excellent terms amongst themselves and with their neighbours. In both these suppositions further enquiry proved me correct. On stating to the men, through Mr. Lightband — who is the discoverer of the gully now worked, and from the interest he has taken in

| arrangements calculated to promote order and comfort amongst them, stands high in their opinion — that I was desirous to take to Nelson a sample of the valuable product they sought, I was surprised to find that, though I offered more than the value of the best Australian gold, an unwillingness to sell was almost universal ; the very short-sighted notion that if by the exhibition here of any considerable quantity of? gold many people went over to work their interests would be injuriously affected influencing them. From this cause I was unable to obtain all the gold on the diggings, However, I purchased —

Amounting in all to seventeen ounces five pennyweights. Several parties would not sell their gold at any price, or give any information as to their success; but at a very low estimate, 13ozs. must, when I left, have remained on the hands of the finders. When it is taken into consideration that, with the exception of Mr. Lightband's, which has already sent 5 ozs. into Nelson, all the parties who obtained this quantity had only settled down to work within four days, some within a lesser time, previous to my visit, the yield will be found highly satisfactory, and quite calculated to induce a^i large accession to the number of diggers. Mr. Bray's party of five men, from whom I purchased the 6oz. lOdwts. 6grs. above set down, were only three days and a-half in obtaining that quantity. It is from these facts, clearly proved, that this gully is worked profitably. It can employ, supposing its whole extent of about a mile equally rich, several hundred men. But the country for miles in every direction, and as far inland as has been explored, is of the same character precisely as the spot now worked, and requires, I doiibt not, only a large population distributed over it to give Nelson a large export of gold. We have no precedent for the discovery of the richest part of a gold-country in the outset — and the reasonable presumption is, that we have far better things in the future of ours. The course the Gold Reward Subscribers have taken in equipping Mr. M'Gregor, and sending him to "prospect," is doubtless a good one, as the people at present successful will not leave their work to search elsewhere, and new arrivals not finding a place in which to settle without loss of time, would leave disgusted, and carry away with them an unfavourable report. This evil the examination of the country by Mr. M'Gregor will, to a great extent, prevent. I trust the general interest of the subject may excuse my occupation of so large a portion of your space. I am, &c, George Ridings. Nelson, Feb. 25, 1857. Absxeaci of Letter fhom Mb. Q. W. Lightband xo his Brother. Since I last wrote to you respecting the gold-fields, a great change has taken place for the better. The diggings are certainly promising a good reward to all these who are now at work on them. As regards our own party, our success has been small. After working with the long-tom for eight days, our division of gold only amounted to about 1 oz. each per man, and {• oz. for the boy. I attribute our want of success to bad management, none of the party knowing properly the way the longtom should be used : in Australia I principally used the tub and cradle. We have since separated — I *and G. Adam and the boy forming one party, and are now working the tub and cradle j and, strange to say, both parties have made a good start for the better, having accumulated in the last three days 2^- ozs. of gold. I think we shall do better with a longtom which I intend getting in a day or two. I am acquainted with several parties at the present time who are making £\ per day each man. I was instructed by a number of the diggers to draw up regulations for their protection, peace, and quietude; and, at a meeting at which I was appointed to preside over, the regulations were agreed to, a copy of which I will forward in my next. For my part, I would sooner take my chance on these than on the Melbourne diggings, being perfectly satisfied with the richness of the deposits on these diggings. I am, &c, William Lightband. Massacre Bay Diggings, Feb. 22, 1857. N.B. — Mr. Catley will give you a list of the working of some of the parties.

From Mr. Bray and party Mr. Lighjband and party . Mr. Adam . . , Mr. Woodhouse and party . Mr. Hearle 6 10 3 16 0 18 4 0 2 1 ».gr 6 0 0 0 0