THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2055, 5 September 1868, Page 3

THE THAMES GOLDFIELDS.

(To the Editor of the Argus.)

- Sir—Seeing a letter in your paper of this morning respecting the Auckland goldfields, from a correspondent signing himself "Z.," I beg to say that what he has stated in that letter is perfectly correct. I was one of about the second or third party of diggers who left the West Coast, New Zealand, for the Auckland goldfields. I arrived at the Thames early in October last, and remained until April last. During the whole of this period we were prospecting, and with no success. It is not on these grounds that I would not advise miners to go; but it is my opinion, and the opinion of other diggers, that the north island of New Zealand will never be a field for alluvial gold. The formation of the ground is nothing but bare reefs, no wash at all being on the main bottom. 1 have been over above 70 miles of country south of the Thames diggings, which is not as yet purchased from the Maoris. We were there three weeks prospecting; all we got was the colour of gold, and then only once. I will certainly acknowledge that Hunt's claim and a few more are good ones—altogether about twenty payable claims there ; in fact, if men will look at the escorts coming from the Thames diggings, they will find there is as much gold coming out of Hunt's claim as there is in all the others put together. The people of Auckland are very anxious to get a lot of men over there, -because they know I that the state of the West Coast and I Queensland is not very flourishing just now ; and by publishing such glorious re--1 ports of the Thames gold fields ia the

newspapers, they will get men wifii capital to coirie and spend it, and assist to recover Auckland out of the great poverty she has fallen into since the late Maori war. It is no benefit to me to try and stop men from going to the Thames diggings, but if every man would speak of a place as he finds it, it might then be the means of doing many a man a good turn.—l remain, yours respectfully, Melbourne, Aug. 18. Digger.

Sir—As strenuous efforts appear to be made to cause a rush to this distric 1,1 am induced to write you a few lines, having had a recent opportunity of inspecting that neighborhood, and perhaps a word of caution may haye the effect of preventing the loss and ruin which have been entailed on thousands of industrious men by the Gympie rush; I am sure if some of the reckless circulators of these reports saw the bitter misery of many poor wretches, without a penny in their pockets, knocking about the wharves in Sydney and Brisbane, trying to get a passage back, who had left their wives and families, and broken up comfortable homes in Victoria, tiey would hesitate before doing so. To begin with, there are no alluvial diggings worthy of the name discovered, although there were large numbers of experienced miners from the West Coast, &c, on the ground. The chief claim (Hunt's), and the two er three adjoining claims, are undoubtedly very rich ; but the reef is of a broken, patchy character, consisting principally of detached leaders, and it is very uncertain .whether the gold willbe continued any distance from the surface. These are the only claims getting gold in any quantity. The bulk of the claimsare doing little or no good—either quite barren, or with so. little gold as not to make them profitable working ; many of them were registered, waiting for something to turnup.

What deficiency there was, however, in work in the mines was fully mado up by the extra activity at Shortland, the name of the township ; for a more industrious share-jobbing community I have rarely witnessed; and I expect it is from these parties the highly-coloured reports circulated here lately have emanated. I may say that, as Auckland is within three or four hours' sail of the diggings, any amount of labour was available,'at rates far below those current, here. In fact, the withdrawal of the naval and military forces from the place has caused half the shops in the town to be closed, and a large amount of destitution exists. Hoping these few remarks may have the effect of making any intending for-tune-seekers pause and exercise a little caution.—l remain, Sir, yours truly, Melbourne, Aug. 17. Z.