REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD NEAR WAIMATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 139, 22 October 1868, Page 3

REPORTED DISCOVERY OF GOLD NEAR WAIMATE.

(From the Timaru Herald, Oct. 21.) On Monday last, considerable excitement was produced in Timaru owing to the reported discovery of gold near Waimate. One man arrived from the south with specimens of the gold, but his statements required confirmation before they were accepted by the public as trustworthy. Two or three other persons who arrived from Waimate soon confirmed the statement that gold had been discovered, and the wildest reports at once obtained circulation. From what we have been able to learn, gold has really been found up the Waiho river, or rather good prospects hive been obtained from a gold bearing locality discovered in 1865. Our readers will remember that in November of that year a man employed at the Wiiitaki Ferry was out prospectins for several days, and returned with some fine specimens of scaly gold, which were for a time exhibited at our offl :e. The locality was kept secret, and we believe that only a few persons were trusted with the secret by Doherly the prospector. About a fortnight since an old digger residing at Waimate, with three or four other persons left the Waimate, and after an absence of nine days, returned on Saturday last, with some very fine specimens of scaly gold. The party returned for sluice boxes and other necessaries, and are to leave again for the same locality, the exact position of which we are unable t ) state, but we believe >t is at the head of the Waiho river. For some days the colour was not obtained, but wh.n the party struck up the river they at first got the colour, and afterwards the specimens. Our correspondent writing from Waimate yesterday, says : — " There is really nothing to rely on. Specs of gold have heen found by individuals. I shall know more in a week as a few individuals are going up with sluicing boxes."