The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-28 00:00:00

GOLD DISCOVERY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

13e:r Mauch, the German traveller, has arrived in
Natal. He asserts that goldfields, believed by him to be
richer than these of Calif, r iia or Australia, exist in the
interior. AccorCing to his statements, the locality of this
auriferous region is precisely identical with the descrip-
tion given by Dr. Livingstone in his first book of travels,
and the present discovery may be regarded as being the
confirmation of rumours and the justification of convictions
that have prevailed from the earliest times. Mr. Mauch
tells us that he has seen two goldfields—the northern one
being of indefinite extent, and lying much nearer the
Zambesi than the other. This latter one is situated about
900 miles from Natal in a north-westerly direction, beyond
and to the west of the limits of the Transvaal Republic. It
is in the country formerly ruled by Sekhomo, a runaway
chieftain, whose place is now filled by Machin, under
the suzerainty of Moselekatse. As the former chief can
muster 10,000 warriors, and the latter 40,000, it is evi-
dent tlu the chief obstacle in the way of any gold-
working movement rests in them. The country itself is
tolerably healthy and well watered. The geological
character of the district is represented by metamorphic
rocks, with slate, and the other usual indications of auri-
ferous wealth. Vegetation is not luxuriant. In the im-
mediate neighbourhood of the goldfield, which Mr. Mauch
estimates to cover a tract of twenty miles broad and
sixty miles long, there are not many natives. When the
explorer saw the white reefs of auriferous quartz
glistening in the sun, as they cropped out here and
there, he was startled by the conception of the wealth
which he firmly believes those reefs to contain. Thousands
of holes, some ten feet deep, give evidence of old native
workings, and bear out Dr. Livingstone's remark about
the gold washings carried on in wooden bowls by the
Kaffirs in times past. Mr. Mauch brings with him about
twenty specimens. Those that are auriferous consist of
pale quartz, containing minute particles of pure gold.
Several of them are of iron and lead ores, and some of them
come from the Transvaal Republic. It is difficult as yet
to say what the upshot of these disclosures will be. Mr.
Mauch explored the country in question in company with
Mr. Hartley, an old and well-known elephant hunter, and,
in justice to that gentleman's exertions and services, he
considers that he is hound to require some 'recompense
in his behalf. Mr. Mauch himself has no interest in the
discovery, he says, beyond the scientific distinction it
may bring him. He is accredited and commissioned by
the Geographical Society of Gotha to do a certain work,
namely, to traverse Africa westward of the lakes from
Natal to the Mediterranean, and to the accomplish-
ment of that grand purpose he has devoted his life for the
next few years. It remains to he. seen whether the
exact situation of the. goldfields will become generally
known by means of the information accorded on
payment of the required reward, or by means of further
private adventures. Our impression is that, as the locality
of the goldfield is known already to one or two Englishmen
resident in the Transvaal Republic, the discovery will be
developed in the first instance by means of private expedi-
dions. It cannot be denied that considerable risk will
attend such movements, but the prize to be won offers
an overpowering inducement to the adventurous spirits
abounding amid the wild scenes of the interior.—Natal
Mercury.

I'HE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.—The following gen-
tlemen will act as presidents of the various sections at
the Norwich meeting of the British Association for the
Advancement of Science :—Professor Tyndall, mathema-
tical section ; Mr. Frankland, chemical section ; the Rev.
M. J. Berkeley, biological section ; Lord Strangford,
geological section ; Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.,
statistical section ; Mr. G. P. Bidder, mechanical section.
Professors 011ey and Huxley, together with Mr. Scott,
of the Board of Trade, are also expected to deliver
lectures.

MR. GLADSTONE'S RESOLUTIONS.—The execu-
tive committee of the Liberation Society have published
resolutions, in which they express satisfaction at the rapid
growth of opinion in favour of the disestablishment of the
Irish Church, and in condemnation of all schemes for the
extension of State endowments in Ireland. They rejoice
at the determination of Mr. Gladstone to give an oppor-
tunity for the expression of that opinion in Parliament,
and urge the friends of religious equality to afford him
energetic support, by acquainting their representatives
with their emphatic approval of his resolutions ; and also
to prepare for electoral action to secure the complete suc-
cess of the policy initiated by the resolution.,