Prospector’s Find.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1922, Page 4

Prospector’s Find.

GOLD AND COPPER IN SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, Alay 9.

From Pukemaori, two and a half miles from Tuatapere as the crow flies, comes the news or a- gold rush that while so far more or less local, is j creating :i good deal of excitement in the district. It appears that some ’ weeks a|go a prospector made a find which promised so well that lie oh- | tained the services of an expert metal- 1 lurgist, who reported that the deposit , contained both gold and copper, the , latter alone in quantities that could >be j reckoned as payable. The news soon j spread and old miners were early on the spot', and it is considered by them that tho reef is of no smaller area than 40 feet wide by 10 chains long. It is situated i’ll the property of a farmer situated in the property of a. fanner named Watts, and that part of Ins place is rapidly assuming the appearance of a prosperous mining centre, many claims 'having been pegged off on Sunday by workers in Tuatapere, who, not observing the liihlo in regard to rest on the seventh day. hopefully took to themselves the other Bibilicu! insrucliou “Seek and ye shall find.’’ The district is on the qui rive, and every spare moment is being taken up by a number of men in work at their claims. The situation has its humorous side, for the district possesses a diviner who, while others are at work with the pick and shovel, is content to pin his faith to a twig.

Tho find of copper is probably the first made in the South Island.