GOLD IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2631, 4 February 1868, Page 5

GOLD IN THE WAIRARAPA.

The following letter, addressed to the editor of the Wairarapa Mercury, has been published in that paper : —

Greyfcown, January 30, 1868,

Sro, — In accordance with a promise made to Mr E. G-rigg, a few weeks ago, I visited your district. My principal object was to collejt information from the settlers concerning the discovery of gold which had been privately found from lime to timo in the Wnirarapa district or neighborhood. I received valuable assistance from Mr Q-rigg. 1 beg to submit the information I obtained during my stay in Greytown.

Two men named Lyons and Spry, (the former resides at the '• Rising Sun Hotel" at present,) prospected from the Upper Moroa (Alfredton), to Knight's station and to the Horeshoe in the Puketohi ranges, thence struck straight across the Okau between Guthries and Valentine Smith's and found occasional prospects of fine gold. They intend to start shortly for the Rualiine mountain or dividing range in the vicinity of Otaki or Manawatu.

Mr Lyons considers his discoveries up to the present time of little importance. I .heard from a number of settlers that gold had been found on Captain Smith's station; but

I could not obtain any anithentic or satisfactory information on the matter.

The best information I received was from Mr John Hawke, a well-known and respectable settler amongst you, he submitted to me a small parcel of black sand very thickly mixed with fine gold which he had collected together by his hands in n creek, which runs into the Whareama, clce to Miller's Taueru river about 30 miles from Greytown and 15 from Mdßterton. Ho took one dishful, or what he considered such in his handkerchief and considers that he had at least £ a Idwt of gold. The stream of the creek is about 18 inches or two feet wide ; the indications — soft slate rock, irregular quartz seams ; in the creek, quartz, slate and sandstone, with a lurgo quantity of heavy black sand. The gold is ecaly, but not excessively fine ; still it is more difficult to save than Mr Hawke's experience has taught him he having left Bendigo in 1853 and Otngo in 1862, in both instances previous to the discovery of such goldaa has made the Dunstan and the West Coast so valuable.

Mr Hawke has consented to shew me, or, I suppose any other person the locality in about ten days or a fortnight, at which time he will be able to complete a contract he cannot at present neglect. The inhabitants of Featherston Greytown and Mastorton ought to use the above information at once and organise some method by which a practical test can be made. I will take the sample of black sand and gold to shew hi 3 Honor the Superintendent, who would I have no doubt forward your interests in the above matter to the utmost of his power if earnestly and vigorously prosecuted by you. — I am, &c, D. Geoyb.