THE KAIMANAWA GOLD FIELD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 653, 15 September 1869, Page 2

THE KAIMANAWA GOLD FIELD.

The following correspondence has taken place respecting the supposed discovery of a payable gold field near the Wanganui river :—

Wanganui, Sept. 9, 1869. We, the undersigned members of a gold prospecting* committee, appo'nted in Wanganui in May 1868, submit to your Honor's notice four specimens of gold bearing- quartz, which were discovered by Captain William McDonnell and Christopher Bracken, in a gully near and running into the Kaimanawa Range, and believed to be in the Province of Wellington. Having reason to believe that a payable goldfield has been discovered, we hereby claim for and on behalf of Captain M'Donnel and Christopher Bracken, the reward which the Provincial Government has provided or may provide for such discovery within the Province ; but that such reward remain over until further discoveries, Avhich are now being prosecuted, shall establish the tact that a payable gold field exists.

If has come within the knowledge ofclnittmrits'that a prospecting party, acting on information derived from onr prospectors, is on the point of setting- out from Napier for the Kai-mnimwa-ranufij and lest that-party , should putin a prior claim and thus deprive the first discoverers of their just rights, we have thought^fcroper at this time to make application for

the reward. The prpspfectors, whom we have named, feel confident that rich quartz veins exist in this Province, where they hove' been prospecting-, and they have gone back to the locality for the purpose of producing: sufficient evidence to warrant the opening- up ol the field. The next specimens.broug-ht down by the prospectors, which, we expect, will be larger and more numerous than the ones now sent to your Honor, shall be forwarded to Wellington immediately after their arrival in Wanganui.

We beg to subscribe ourselves, your obedient humble servants John Ballance Thomas F. McDonough J. W. Bobinson. To his Honor, Isaac Earl Featherston, the Superintendent of Wellington.. Superintendent's Office, "Wellington, lltli Sept., 1869. Gentlemen,

I do myself the honor to acknowledge the receipt- of your letter of the 9th inst., in reference to four specimens of quartz, said to have been obtained by Capt. William McDonnell and Mr Christopher Bracken from the Kaimanawa Ranges, in virtue of which you claim the Reward offered by the Provincial Government for the discovery of a Payable 'Gold Field.

The claim you make has been duly registered, and as yet no other claim has been made for the discovery of a Gold field in that direction.

The analysis of Mr Skey, of the Colonial Laboratory, is enclosed.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obdt. servant, I. E. Featherston, Superintendent. Messrs J. Ballance! Thos. F. McDonogh. J. W. Robinson. . ANALYSIS. Three of these samples are richly auriferous. The. gold is crystalline, and seems very similar to the gold from the Thames district.

It appears associated with Rutile. (Signed) War. Skey, Analyst.