The Rush to the Haast.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 205, 14 October 1873, Page 7

The Rush to the Haast.

(JlokU'ha Evening Stdr.) The exact locality is not generally known, but it is some twelve uiileS inland up the? Haast Valley, and the prospectors have tried, we hear, terraces for about half-a-mile, all of which have proved payably auriferoiis. The country has been described to us by a gentldman whose description may be relied on, as in every respect identical with that of the Grey Valley, long Mats alongside the river banks, alternated with high terraced, and as being "easy." At no great distance from where the gold was found is a large lake, Lake Wanaka, and from this to Lake Wakatip a good track has been cut, which can be easily widened into a dray road. Steamers run from Queenstown to the head of Lake Wakatip, where the above track joins, so that it will be the duty of our local Government to see that, should the rush assume the dimensions it promises to do, communication is kept open down the Coast, either by sea or by land, or by both, otherwise the enterprising Otvgans will surely cut in and divert the! trade, of which Westland is so much in want, which is hers by right, and which she should struggle hard to retain < The prospector, Marks, deserves all the luck that can fall to him. He has expended several years, and nearly £ooo of his own, in proving what lie has so perseveringly alleged iii reference to the resources of the southern portion of Westland, Though the value of the discovery may fall somewhat short of the dazzling ideas of many enthusiasts, it cannot fail to attract a large population to Westland, and cause the whole of its southern territory to be explored; The population so gathered will ultimately be spread over the whole Coast, and penetrate to every portion, eventually benefitting all. ... In the meantime, we would caution them against an indiscriminate blind stampede, which may end in disaster to themselves. The gold got by the Haast propectors was consigned to the Union Bank; and brought up by the Waipara this morning. It was exhibited this afternoon in the window of Mr Brown, watchmaker, Bevell-street, and attracted a great deal of attention. It is a magnificent sample of splendid gold< 46 ozs. exactly, the largest lump 3-i ozs., and the rest about as large as pretty coai'se gravel. J It is the largest gold we have ever seen got I on the Coast.