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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1724, 8 February 1862, Page 3

M e have just received some interesting information from a gentleman who arrived in town on Ihursday last, concerning the exploratory expedition which proceeded in search of the precious metal inland from Otaki towards theTararua mountains. Abundance of quartz and slate was seen in all directions, and plenty of ironstone; but no gold was met with, although tbe partv washed the soil in different places in their tin dishes. Some Australian diggers who formed part of the expedition declared that the country had all the appearance of a gold bearing region. The river Otaki about twelve miles inland divides into two. Ihe water is shallow at this season of the year, and can be waded, only reaching up to the traveller’s knees, being warm and pleasant. AVhetbcrgold be found or not, the effect of the expedition will be to direct the attention of the authorities to this locality, so near to M ellington. No doubt the Tararua mountains, which are of great extent, will afford excellent pasturage in the summer and autumn months for sheep and cattle, as the soil must be very prolific after the snow, with which thej- are covered during part of the spring, and throughout the winter, has melted. The alpaca and the vicuna, which delight to roam where “the snow-flake reposes,” would also do well in this highland region during seven months out of the twelve. Our informant has written to Mr. J. C. Crawford, who is exploring in the Rangitikei country about thirty miles further north, who will no doubt look at the Otaki district on his return to Wellington. The scenery is described to us as most magnificent. Valuable timber of various kinds and of immense size abounds in the locality. Strange to tell, neither settlers nor natives, so far as is known, have ever before seen this place.