Correspondence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, 25 November 1857, Page 3

Correspondence.

TO THE EDITOE OF THE * NELSON EXAMINEE.'

Sie — I am induced to forward to you the particulars of the discovery of the Aorere Diggings, of which I forwarded a copy to the Gold Bonus Committee for their consideration, in June last. I have several times visited Nelson, expecting to have an opportunity of corroborating these facts, and rendering to the Committee personally any information that may be deemed necessary on the subject. Not having this opportunity, I am led to adopt this course for the information of the subscribers and the public generally, believing that the absence of the evidence I could give has been the sole cause why the reward has been delayed. By doing so you would oblige Yours, &c, W. LiaHTBAND. Aorere, November 12, 1857.

To the Chairman of the Gold Bonus Cohmittee

Sir — A workable gold-field having been discovered in the Massacre Bay district, and as I have, in connexion with Mr. Hough, put in a claim for the reward offered by the Gold Bonus Committee, I think it is necessary to place you in possession of the facts connected with the discovery, and my reasons for laying claim to the reward.

It was the opinion of Mr. Hough (and one he had long held) that gold existed in paying quantities in the Aorere. For some time he endeavoured to get an experienced person in gold-digging to develope the gold-fields, which he fully believed to exist there. On his mentioning the subject me, I voluntary consented to accompany him. We landed in the Aorere on the 25th December, 1856, and at once proceeded to prospect the country, accompanied by a few natives whom we engaged for the purpose. After prospecting in different directions for two or three days, we met with Mr. J. James, who took us to a place on the plain, where he said gold had been found previously. No person was then digging. He stated also this was the place where his brother, Mr. E. James, and Ellis, claimed for finding an available gold-field. We searched for gold here in several places, but met with no success ; and we came to the conclusion there were no deposits to pay for working there, that the small particles found must have been washed down from some district more in the interior."

Mr. J. James here left us, and we continued prospecting for some time, in different places, in this part of the Aorere, and decided to return to the pah and get proper tools, &c., for fully testing the field, when Mr. Hough returned to Nelson, the state of his health not permitting him to carry out the undertaking, and he was fully satisfied, and left me to carry out the object for which we came to the district. Mr. Hough, before leaving me, engaged some Maories to carry my provisions, &c, but all refused to fulfil their engagement. I then went to Mr. Riley's, and induced one of his sonß to accompany me.

Having to carry all our provisions and tools very much hindered and delayed us in our search. After spending a few days in prospecting in the neighbourhood in which Ellis alleged he had found gold, I was visited by Ellis and another settler named Flowers. They went with me one day seeking gold, but our search not being successful, they left me altogether. I made use of every argument to persuade them to remain and work with me, but they declined doing so, saying it was foolish expecting to find gold in paying quantities, but that they would return when I found gold in large pieces. Seeing I should have to depend upon myself and the lad that accompanied me, I packed up my traps and proceeded to the ranges, which were four or five miles distant, and commenced working where I had previously prospected. I met with very good success in eight or nine gullies, but in one especially, where I fixed my tent, and where I have been ever since at work, which is now known as Lightband's Q-ully.

I then returned to the pah to get further supplies ; and having a large tub and various other articles, I then applied to the natives, offering them ample payment to assist me to carry my things, but all (with one exception) declined, saying the road was bad and the distance too great. The Europeans, on my applying to them, treated the matter with ridicule. Leaving early in the morning, we arrived at the gully in the evening. My tent I found, to my great surprise, occupied by Mr. M'Grregor, he having arrived overland during my absence, from having in Nelson heard of my discovery. He at once readily agreed to join with me as mate. This was about three weeks or a month after I first landed in the Aorere. With this extra assistance I continued my operations, and in a short time had procured several ounces of gold. But I had again to put up with inconvenience j Mr. M'G-regor having pressing business in Nelson, was obliged to leave me ; but I still continued at work with the boy's assistance, the results of which are now before the public. It Boon became necessary, from the number of diggers, to divide the land into claims; and I was awarded by the first diggers an extra claim as the discoverer and instigator of the diggings. Having (as I think) justly pub in a claim for the discovery of a gold-field in this district, and done all

that could be done under the circumstances to develop and make it known, as one which has in every respect fully answered to the conditions advertised for in the Gold Bonus Prospectus, only in these particulars — instead of giving employment to 250 men, it has already, during a considerable period, doubled and trebled that number witlrin a radius of two miles from a centre, including Appoo and Bedstead Gullies, ■with several others known only to those residing on the diggings, being in and near the said gully called after my name, and which I take as the centre of my claim, as implied (but not stated) in the claim laid before the Gold Bonus Committee by Mr. Hough in February last, although at that time the land had not been surveyed nor the places nor gullies named. It is impossible for me to comply with every technicality in this respect for the above-named reasons. I think we are fairly entitled to claim the bonus offered, the field having now for four consecutive months been profitably worked, with every promise of a fair field for years to come.

Hoping you will take the above facts into your consideration in connection with our being the bonafide discoverers of the first available gold-field in the province, one which we think has fully reahzed the expectations not only of the Committee but the subscribers of the Gold Bonus and the public at large, I am, gentlemen, Your obedient servant, W. LIOHTBAND.

Nelson, June, 1857.