THE COROMANDEL GOLD FIELDS.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1669, 16 April 1862, Page 2

THE COROMANDEL GOLD FIELDS.

In our issue of the 2nd instant, we gave a somewhat lengthened account of the prospects of the miners in this district, the result of careful, personal, observation. Since that date there have been several arrivals from Otago, both to Coromandel direct, and byway of Auckland, so that, at the present moment, the number of diggers has materially increased, and with every prospect of an early and much larger increase. From what we saw during the course of our visit, we arrived at the conviction that Coromandel would, sooner or later, be found to be rich in auriferous quartz, and, in that respect, of the utmost value in promoting immigration and developing the long latent resources of this Province. Since the date of our visit there have been no stunning disclosures of golden treasure ; but the highly auriferous quartz which was then being gathered, still continues to be acquired in larger nuggets, and of richer character than before. On Monday, several magnificent specimens were brought to town, some to private parties, others for inspection of the Superindent of the Province, and Provincial Council. We ourselves have seen all those specimens, many of them from different and remote quarters, and, considering the densely timbered character of the country, and the many natural obstacles to be overcome, we are of opinion that no fairer promises of eventual success, to diligent and persevering men, could well be held out. We say this not to create undue excitement, but to record what we feel to be the unvarnished truth. We are not surprised to learn that the industrious and intelligent party under Mr,. Lawrence Murphy at Kapanga are pushing forward with unabated vigour and perseverance. The “ leader” at the end of the drive which was but eight or nine inches wide, when we beheld it sixteen days ago, has now extended to nearly three feet, and gold in small quantities from the reef was beginning to be found. Murphy had commenced sinking a third shaft, some distance further up the mountain spur, and had gone down about fifty feet. Such is a general outline of the information we have been enabled to glean. Its accuracy may be relied on. As Mr. Turton, the Resident Magistrate at Coromandel justly observes, we have preferred to subdue rather than to colour the statements made to us. We are content to abide the issue of events, in the confident persuasion that they will, in the long run, be found pregnant with benefits to this Province. » n, To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Colonial Secretary’s Office, Auckland, 12th April, 1862. Sir, —I an. directed to forward to you the enclosed copy of a letter from Mr. Commissioner Turton, containing the last authentic information in possession of the Government respecting the Coromandel gold-field, in order that you may, should you consider it desirable, publish it in the New Zealander. I have, &c., W. Gisborne, Under Secretary, Coromandel, April sth, 1852. Sir, —I have to report a kind of rush of Otago diggers direct to this place. On the 28th ult., the “Flying Cloud” arrived with 56 diggers and I woman; on the 30th, the “ Canterbury” with 53; on the Ist inst., the s.s. “Phoenix” with 35; and, on the 3rd, the “Bessy” with 28 of those who had just arrived in Auckland per “Briton,” leaving other 12 to come on in that vessel. There are also other ships either on the passage or ready to leave Port Chalmers direct to this harbour: so that within a very short time there may be a large I number of men employed in the exploration of this I peninsula.

There are at this date 248 gold-diggers in Coromandel alone, of whom 199 have arrived within the last week direct from Otago. It is said that many of these will not turn to prospecting in earnest until they shall have visited Auckland, and spent a week or two in that vicinity. Many of them are said to be monied men, chiefly wishful to escape the rigours of an Otago winter, or expectant of better gold-findings at Coromandel; but they had not heard of the £2OOO reward offered by the Provincial Government before they left the South. This migration appears to have been altogether of a voluntary character—without being brought on by false or flattering statements: indeed the accounts of this district which have hitherto appeared in the local papers have been even more cautious and subdued than the strictest truth required. And although many of them may leave and go wandering about over the different parts of the Province, yet I think that this peninsula will now have a fair (and last) chance of being thoroughly explored for minerals. Three or four parties only have yet discovered gold in any quantity, but none yet in such a quantity as to pav good wages, considering the time and' number of men employed. At Kapanga (north side of the harbour), it is chiefly mixed up with black iron-sand; whereas, at the Waioa (south side, and 6 miles distant), it is obtained either in a pure, shotty state, or in quartz specimens of various sizes. 1 Yesterday, I forwarded to Government House up,v ‘ 2 lbs. of such specimens, the largest of which wi j ~1 nearly ten ounces, and all supposed to contain at icaast 50 per cent, of fine gold. A similar quantity of 2 tbs. I left with the owners. But a larger specimen was found last week in the Mataawai near Roe’s mill, and which, on weighing this afternoon, I found to he IB’-ozs.,; and there is a report of the same party having turned out a much larger one, but which they are to show. Within fire next three or four days, I hope to receive a favourable answer from Koputanaki in reference to the opening of the late Paora’s land to exploration—for I hear that the old chieftcss Lydia (Paora’s niece), though impervious to every better influence, is yielding to that of fear, on hearing of the numbers who are coming hither direct from Otago: and so at last she will make a virtue of necessity, and profess to withdraw her opposition on the ground of friendship, &c. As to the purchase of this district, the natives will not hear a word about it at present, nor will they come to any immediate arrangements for the working of the „ o ld when found. They are all in the best of humours with their stranger guests, who supply them with a ready market for their produce, and appear willing to treat them with kindness; and the natives, on the other hand, seem actuated by a similar spirit. I hj ,vc, &c., H. Hanson Turton, R.M., Commissioner of Crown Lands. The Honorable The Secretary for Crown Lands, &c., &c., &c.