GOLD IN NEW GUINEA.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 189, 26 July 1873, Page 2

GOLD IN NEW GUINEA.

In consequence of rumours prevalent in Brisbane that gold had been found in the newly-discovered district of New Guinea, a question was asked by Mr King, of the Colonial Secretary (the Hon A. H. Palmer) in the Queensland House of Assembly, in reference to the truth of the statements said to have been circulatad by some of the crew of iI.M 5. Basilisk. Mr Palmer said in reply that lie had received no intimation from Captain Moresby on the subject of the discovery of gold. He had received a report of the proceedings of the Basilisk, which he was not at liberty to make public, but there was not the slightest mention in it of any gold discovery. On the following day, however, Mr Palmer said that since he had made that statement he had seen Captain Moresby ; he (Captain Moresby) had shown him two samples of gold-bearing quartz found in New Guinea, and which had been in possession of sailors on board the ship. It appeared very strange that none of the officers knew of the existence o! these specimens, and that they had only been brought to light two days ago. There was no doubt, however, that they had been found at Port Moresby, in New Guinea, and it was stated thai others of the same kind could also have been picked up. There was, therefore, it npprareJ, some truth in the report that gold-bearing reefs had been discovered, although how the hon member for Wide Bay had become possessed of the information he (Mr Palmer) did not know. He (Mr Palmer) had known nothing about the matter. Mr King said that, on the faith of these reports, there might be an intention of getting up a prospecting expedition to New Guinea ; and with the object of preventing such a catastrophe as happened to the last expedition that left Sydney for New Guinea, the Government should obtain as much information from Captain Moresby as possible regarding the navigation, &c ,of the route. Mr Palmer explained that he was not in a position to demand any information from Captain Moresby. The Colonial Governments were not allowed to communicate with naval officers on these subjects, and although the Gorernor had certain powers in connection with them, he believed they were onlj' of a restricted character He understood that even the charts, which Captain Moresby had made, could not be published until they had been sent home, In reference to the subject of gold in New Guinea, the Rockhampton Bulletin states that a Mr Hanson, a wellknown mining prospector, " h.is been fitting out a cutter, in connection with some friends in Sydney, lor the purpose of Tinting New Guinea — the object, of course, being to unearth snme of the gold which is believed to be abundant m that island."

Western women think that people aie growing overfussy now-a-days. If a man diea, and two or three grains ef strychnine, or half a pound of arsenic, or an ounce or io of antimony be found in his stomach, his poor wife h«B to go off to prison, and go through a trial, and see her name in the newspapers, and be acquitted, and neglect her sewing until she hiis not a thing fit to wear. In Indianapolis, n charming ladj physician was culled to administer to a gentlemnn prostrate \utii a fevor. "You need good nursing," said tlio lady. — " Nurse me for life," replied the patient. — " I will," was the soft answer. The first railroad built in Indiana was in 1845, when 30 miles were bmli In 1871, their wore 233$ miles.