GOLD DISCOVERY AT THE HAAST.

Evening Star, Issue 3313, 2 October 1873, Page 3

GOLD DISCOVERY AT THE HAAST.

The probability of a rush taking place near the Haast river, to which we referred yesterday, is likely to be realised even more speedily than we anticipated. Something like the facts of the case were known in Hokitika on Sunday evening, but the information was not sufficiently authentic to warrant its publication Yesterday, however, a report received by the County Chairman from the Warden at Okarito set all doubts at rest as to the rumors which had been cunent for the last few days. Tim facts may be very briefly stated. A party of miners, consisting of John Marks, Simon Munroe, and William Harris, who have been prospecting for some time in the vicinity of the Haast, applied to the Warden at Okarito for a prospecting claim. They produced about 450z. of coarse gold—the smallest piece weighing half a pennyweight, and the largest 3oz.— which they stated was the produce, allowing for loss' of time, of about a mouth’s work. Besides applying for a prospecting claim, the men put in an application for the General Government reward of L2OO for the discovery of a new goldfield, and also for the reward of LSOO offered by the County Government. The Waipara being then at <'karito, the Warden engaged to go down in her to inspect the ground. There was a great deal of excitement in the town yesterday about the matter, the general expectation being that a very great rush will set in. The excitement has been no doubt heightened by the activity displayed by business men connected with Okarito in endeavoring to get supplies down to the Haast. Mr Mace (of Mace and Canavan Okarito), went down in the Waipara on Friday night, returning yesterday overland, and it was reported that his object in coming back was to endeavor to charter the Wallace to proceed to the Haast. Another storekeeper, Mr Alexander M’Fetterick, came up from Okarito on Sunday nighffor the purpose of procuring timber to be sedit [down to the Haast for building purposes. He states that the Waipara was tilling with passengers when he left, over fifty miners having engaged passages for the Haast, and that she intended leaving Okarito yesterday morning. The actual locality where gold has been discovered is variously stated at from five to twelve miles inland, and about eight miles south of the Haast river. The return of the "Waipara is anxiously looked for, as upon the report of the Warden which that vessel will bring the question will depend whether there are sufficient grounds to justify any large number of miners in proceeding to the locality, West Coast Times.