THE MAPOURIKA RUSH.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1831, 5 January 1880, Page 3

THE MAPOURIKA RUSH.

The following particulars of this rush, extracted from a private letter, have been furnished to the “ West Coast Times”: “As to the procpccts of the district, I have every confidence in stating that any man of ordinary energy can make a good living down here ; and when the ground has been thoroughly tested, men will come to this district from all parts of the coast ; and when the prejudice against the place has been broken down, miners will find that there is another large and profitable goldfield opened up. Provisions here are dear, and it will take some little time and capital to open up the ground. A few men were out prospecting a few weeks ago, and, in a creek which runs into the lake, got Bdwt. of gold by simply fossicking, with two Idwt. pieces amongst it ; and up on the Waiho a''y one can get the color easily, but that, of course, only in the most favorable places for the deposit of gold, and where the greater part of the wash has been taken away by river freshes, leaving the gold here and there in the crevice; of the rocks. One great drawback to miners is the size and hardness of the stones, many of which it is necessary to blast. Taking the district all round, no man need want who has a will to work. Ha can go tunnelling, or, if preferred, take a rush over the ‘ Burster,’ and get a few ounces in a day or two, at the ri-k of neck and limb ; and if the weather should change suddenly, there is a good chance of his starving, as neither horse nor man can cross the same when rivers are flooded. There is one wire bridge over the Waiho, at which a cat that was following me positively jibbed the first time, and the second attempt she mowed most piteously the whole time, ending with one great maw of relief at getting over. To conclude, my frank opinion is that the only thing required to make this place go ahead is population. There is only a population of about 200 within a radius of twenty miles of Okarito.”