THE HAAST RUSH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 603, 7 November 1873, Page 3

THE HAAST RUSH.

Bv the arrival of the Waipara we (Hokitika Star) are placed in possession of the latest information re ranting the Haast Diggings ; but we regret to say that the news to hand cannot by any means be regarded as favorable. As our readers are aware, tbe Contract and Tender C unmittee authoris'd tbe expenditure of I.OOOf. in tracks in tbe district, if it was found that the money could be profitably laid out. This, on invesHga ion, lias not proved to be the case, tbe "illy work than tbe County Chairman and Mr. Mueller found needed b ing a truck in'anl fiom the Teaupeerak .ka River to the workings, a dis’ance of about five miles. This river, or ere k, is the main one from which the .-.mail gullies where the gold has been found to radia e. The track in question, at present, is only to he cut fur a distance of about two miles fr m the beach, the balance being held over until the lesultof the prospecting thus len dered possible has been ascertained. The Dkai ito Road Board have decided on spend ng s -me money in cutting a track round the Blue River Lake, where, some yea a ago, goo Igoid was found. This is some twenty miles north of the Haast. Wuhthee exceptions, no further works in l oads or tracks will be undertaken at prese it. Th-.-re are now at the Haast about sixty miners,—forty where the pro, pec tors got gob 1, and about twenty prospecting. There are two stores at the township, one belonging lo Mace ami Canavau, ihe other to Mr. M Fe ricu, and a third is to be opened live miles distant. The prospectors are still g tiing gol I, and two parties near them ; but otherwise, scarcely anything has iicen do. e The ground is very patchy, and tne wash very thin—a kind of light gravel, so a large quantity is quickly gut through. Some payable ground was reported to have been found to the southwa. d, iu-ar Jackson’s Bay, and some paities went in search, but failed to discover it. Bid Fox, wita three other men, s.artcd up me Win;a, some ei.ht or nine miles north of the Haast, about t.n days ago. Th y were provided for a mouth. Some very likely and pi city extensive couiury is said to be found where they have gene, and they were sanguine of success when they s.aided. Some others followed them a day or two after tney had left ; but returned without being able to tiu I them. There is a largo er.ek, entitled Bullock Greek, which is regarded with considerable favor, and two large parties have set in. One party has applied for permission to divert the deck, and great hopes are e. terk.ined of the result. Should if prove a success, there will be a good extent of payable ground opened by it. ’I he weather has been most inclement, and prospecting has been greatly inline.cd with ; bua tile miners no rema.fling arc setting in in earnest, and the district will he ihorough'y icstcd. On the warm days the .san ities and mosquitos are a very great nuisance, and s>arm in millions. One of the returned, in describing them, said you could hardly see two aim twenty yards off through them. There is a '■ camp” of a kind there, with one police man. Mr. Warden Tizard still leinains, an' will slay a few weeks longer. On Ihe whole, it would appear that there is noihin whatever at present to justly any one in going there, unless I hey are prepared to spend a month (at least) in prospecting. The shallow gullies hitherto opened are neatly worked out, an 1 until new discoveries are ma le it would he madness tiro. At the same time, there are many wlm have the most implicit taith in an extensive void-field being opened up in that part of Westland.