The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-18 00:00:00

THE GOLD DISOOVERIES IN 11-0 VA SCOTIA.

The advices from Halifax by the Cunard steamer
yesterday are important as regards the gold discoveries in
'ova Scotia. The extent and richness of the deposits,
and their probable influence on the future of the colony,
appear scarcely yet to have been appreciated on this side.
The present mail brings a report made by Mr. Joseph
Howe, the provincial secretary, to the governor, Lord
Mulgravc, which encourages very favourable anticipation,.
The existence of gold in Nova Scotia was unsuspected till
1860, when some particles were found, and caused an
excitement which proved but temporary, the quan-
tities being unremunerative. In March last, however, a
man, stooping to drink at a brook in the neighbourhood of
the Tangier river, saw a piece of gold shining among the
pebbles, and, searching, found more. The locality, which
is forty miles eastward of Halifax, was most favourable for
mining operations, being within half a mile of navigation,
and surrounded by a hardy fishing population, and gradu-
ally numerous persons were attracted to it. Two mouths
after the governor visited the spot, and ascertained, among
other facts, that a couple of men bad just obtained front au
excavation four feet square and five deep, 151., at an expen•
diturs of labour which might be estimated at about 11.55. As
this was not derived from the chance discovery of a nugget,
but from crushing the quarts, veins of which are supposed
to run for miles along the sea coast, it was naturally
inferred that there must be profitable employment in
the district for a numerous population. Official measures
were therefore taken to give such facilities as might be re-
quired. Lots of 50 feet b► 20 were laid off by the govern-
ment surveyor at 41. each, the money thus received being
applied to the preppies of drainage and of making a road
to the shore. From that time confidence in tho resources
of the mines has steadily increased, and the numbers at
work there all the summer have ranged between 400 and
800. The total of snail lots taken up is about 95, for
which 475/. has been paid. The quantity of gold obtained
cannot be estimated, as no royalty is exacted, but, judging
from the sums brought to Halifax, it is believed to
have been large, although none but the most aim.
pie processes have yet been used. The lowest depth
yet reached is 4s feet, and the largest nugget found is
valued at 691. Throughout the whole of the proceedings
the population have manifested the utmost enter,
honesty, and good feeling. Discoveries have also been
made at a place called Lunenburg Harbour, about sixty
miles to the westward of Halifax. Quartz veins are here
abundant in the cliffs, and it has been found that wherever
these cliffs have been washed and crumbled by the sea the
surrounding sands are rich. Companies are preparing for
systematic operations, and meanwhile many individuals have
been successful. The facilities of this place, likewise, are
excellent, as it is perfectly accessible by water, and quarts
can be shipped with ease. Other deposits have since bees
observed at localities called Dartmouth, Street harbour,
Lswrencetown, and Lake Thomas ; and, indeed, quarts
rock is found all along the southern cunt, and running for
miles back icto the interior.