HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1434, 22 June 1868, Page 3

HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Sib Geo. Bowen was at ]N T apier when the s.s. Ahuriri left on Friday last, having been detained there in consequence of the unfavorable state of the weather during the past week. His Excellency, accompanied by Captain Young, was to leave .Napier for Wellington on Saturday last in the Colonial - Government p.s. Sturi, having abandoned the idea of proceeding overland, owing to the recent heavy rain having made the roads almost impassable.

GOLD DISCOVERIES. We are gratified to learn, that the prospecting parties out in various districts of the province are not without success. Of late gold discoveries have beeu reported from the Worth, and quartz specimens of great richness, said to have been found there, were exhibited in Auckland ; but there were many who had doubt of the genuineness of the statements. However, it was known that several parties were out in the Wairoa district, in the Upper Kaipara country, aud that good indications of gold had been met with. The prospectors followed up the lead, and have succeeded iu discovering very rich auriferous quartz. A bag of specimens were brought to town by one of the party, a portion of which was tested at the Bank of Sew Zealand on Saturday, and yielded at the rate of nine ounces to the ton from the trial of one pound of stone. The gold is of a very superior quality. We have no doubt whatever that this discovery is the forerunner of more extensive finds. The ground in which the gold was found belongs to the Provincial Government, and is advnntagcously situated for working. It extends from the Wairoa river towards the West Coast. Gold lias also been found farther North, on the West Coast, between Moananui Bluff and Hokianga; and there is reason to believe that at that point the auriferous district extends across the country towards Wangarei. In the Kaipara district, much nearer Auckland, gold has likewise been found. Doubtless the success which has attended the mining population at the Thames will stimulate owners of property in the North to prospect that country thoroughly. The best possible results may be expected from systematic prospecting by the settlers. We likewise learn that auriferous stono has been discovered at Maungatawhiri. The gold runs at the rate of 6dwt. to the ton. This return ma}- seem small when compared with the very rich stuff turned out at the Thames, and that which has been already referred to from the Wairoa, but with proper appliances it would undoubtedly pay. Ii would appear as if Auckland was situated in the centre of an auriferous region. Its future commercial importance and political influence cannot, therefore, be over-estimated, hut much also must depend upon the energy of our fellow citizens. Should a gold-field be discovered in the Kaipara district, the necessity for improving the communication between this city and the Kaipara waters will become imperative. No time should be lost, seeing that the Kaipara is a very excellent harbour, and that heavy merchandise could be more easily landed in Wairoa from Melbourne than, at the present time, it could be from Auckland. We believe the Government possess survey plans for a line of railway and a canal fron. Kiverhead to Helensville. We shall doubtless hear more of theso discoveries in a few days.