THE OREPUKI RUSH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 6

THE OREPUKI RUSH.

"FORTUNES HOVERING NEAR." ! (By Telegraph— Press Association.); '• I Inveroarglll, July 221. Tho rush at Oropuki is quietening down somowlmt, so far mi pegging off of claims is concerned, but this is duo to tho fact that thoro is vory little unolaimod ground left on tho lino of the reef, and also to delays incidental to Warden's Court formalities. Reports come flooding in of prospects'here and prospects there, and generally- the air is full of suppressed excitement, and many people on tho spot seem to bo imbued with tho idea that fortunes arc hovering near at hand. . Tho results of tho proper analyses of.the samples are eagerly awaited. . AN EX-SOUTHLANDER'S OPINION. (By Tolcßraph-Speolal Correspondent.) ■■~ , Wanganul, July 22, Regarding tho reported finds of. platinurii at Longwood's, ■ near Oropuki; an ox-Squthlander, who knows tho locality well, to-day_told a "Herald" reporter that tho formation of the Longwood Range (where gold has been obtained previously) is commonly known as a " mullocky" or gravelly substanco, arid is not in reality a reef. A largo number of Chinamen have been fossicking about tho vicinity for many years, and also some.white men, who met with more or less success in their search for the yellow metal. The richest finds have been made.in black seams much resembling coko. Away back in the early 'sixties gold was. found'in the district, and since then there have been several rushes, but very few benefited much thereby. Fossickerscan earn a living, and now and again have the,luck to drop on'a "pocket," but the rich',gold:is'always soon worked out. The ex-Southlander says th.-' he.would not be at all surprised if a lot of gold and other valuable minerals were discovered in the neighbourhood; as the formation of tho country is such as would lead to the belief that it is rich in mihorals. As ovcrydno knows, very extensive deposits of coal have,been found at Nightcaps, 12 milea away, while, shale has been found near Ore- ; puki, and many thousands of pounds worth of machinery are now on the ground there, though he believes lying idle. Only recently, however, samples of • this "shale were sent - Home, and were pronounced to be of tho.;very finest quality, so that this indus- | try should go ahead again. "It is sincerely j to ybe hoped," he says, "that, the present Longwood rush.will not fizzle out, as so many other gold rushes : have .done." ■