GOLDFIELDS NEAR WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 7

GOLDFIELDS NEAR WELLINGTON.

The fol'owing particulars regarding the reported gold discoveries ia the neighbourhood of Wellington, are furnished by the, Independent of the 15th inst :— On the property of Mr Baker, Karori road, there are between twenty and thirty diggers at work in real earnest. The " diggings " are within half an hour's walk from our office. Six or eight shafts were sunk, but as yet the bottoms have not been reached. The pick and shovel were actively at work on the shelving terrace, and tin dishes were being freely used. Out of eight or ten prospects washed in our presence from time to time during the afternoon, it was gratifying to observe gold in more or less quantities in every diuh. The precious metal is, no waver, remark* ably fine, and although there is no exaggeration in saying that some of the prospects contained as many as 100 specks of gold, yet tho return in our opinion will not exceed one ounce to the ton of wash-dirt. Tho Kaiwarra Btream runi past tho ground, and its banks both above and below avo being oarefully prospeoted. Some of tho claims are pegged off, the shafts aro from 10 to 13ft. deep, and the wash from two and a half to four feet thick. The country around is, however, quite circumscribed, so far as alluvial work is concerned, but sanguino hopes are entertained of discovering roofs in the neighbourhood, as the gold found is vory rugged, and cannot h&\t travelled far.

Rejurkable Fish Story, — Tho following has been handed to us by tho writer, mate of the schooner Dreadnought. The vessel sailed from this pork, January 21, for Coos Bay, and tho creature described was seen on tho next day by the mnto, Mr Brown, the second mate, Bryant, and tbo helmsman. Th.c oaptaia was below, and tho other hands were at supper :—": — " Editor, Bulletin— l hare seen him at last. The following is a copy of an entry on my log on board tho schooner Droadnou.'ht on tho 22nd day of Jan., 1809. At 5.30 p.m, with hoad goloi from tho S.E., weathor thiok, with rain, latitndo 39.42 N., and longiturfo 124,30 W., I saw his Excollenoy in a great rago and fury ; ho soomod to bo in great hsuto, and coming towards us. Tito following is ft description of his appoaranoe :— About sovon foot longmuch liko a cod-fish about tho body and feot, (nth wings liko *n Albatross, flippers liko a soal ; a hoad liko a horso, and Luir on his upper lip. Ho leaped about thirty foot out of the water At oaoh jump, and wont & cable's length at every loap without touching tho wator ; travolliog »t tho rato, as, noarly as I could judgo, of about two'tre miles an hour. Mysolf and tho sooo^ct mato had a good view of him, as ho w*j in si^ht about ten minutei. L bolioyo had he oomo on board and struck auy of our «pars, ho would havo brokon them liko carrots. Ho seemed hurrying off as if ho had somn partioular bu&inon, or wo might havo soon more of him than wo would havo liltod. I should liko to hear if anyono «lso has soon him, as he must bo in tho habit of visiting our const at cortain soasons of tho year. — !>► Bkown. — San Frnnoisoo, March 6, 18G!)."—San Franoisoo Bullotia.

Wur.N tho body of Lord Mnliun (killed in a duel, 1712. wah oiirricd homo hlecilhtfr to hi* house. Lady Mohun wan very amfry became " it wflfl flung upon tho bctt bed,"