THE POSEIDON RUSH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3739, 8 January 1907, Page 4

THE POSEIDON RUSH.

Striking it Rich. Outlying the main Poseidon rush, and almost on the eastern outskirts of the pegged-in ground is situated the claim in which the 9600 Z. nugget was unearthed on Tuesday afternoon, within 2 feet of the surface. The story of the acquirement of the lease by the four partners is one of romance (writes a special representative of the Argus). Scarcely live weeks ago two Newbridge miners, John Condron and Samuel Woodall, walked to Posiedon. They pegged out adjacent claims on the easterly limits of the rush, and then decided to amalgamate their interests. George Brooks, who had previously worked as a mate with Condron, joined the party, but still no success was met with. About three weeks ago Robert Woods, a Woodstock resident, who follows mining at Bendigo, purchased a one-sixth share in the claim from Condron and Brooks for £5, but a f ter tliree days’ work he said he would rather go back to a regular job, and he sold his share to a new-comer, Fred; erick Eva for £1 10s. That share is now worth ,£SOO. Condron and party continued work, and they sent about 17 loads to the puddling machine, for the return of aßdwt. of gold. Then the lucky day arrived. At half-past 3on Tuesday afternoon, when all attention was centred in the discovery of a 3730 Z nugget by Williamson and Stevenson, in an adjoining claim, Woodall started to pick from the surface. At a depth of 1 5^ u - bi s pick struck a hard substance, and he beckoned to Condron. “ There’s something here, Jack,’’ he exclaimed, “Stand behind me.” Condron did so, and when Woodall placed the pick underneath the surface the nugget rolled out on to the bottom at their feet. Condron, as he lifted the gold, exclaimed. “Oh, here’s a beauty!” but Woodall simply stared at the treasure speechless. Then the crowd gathered. The nugget was embedded in dark dry clay, and as it fell from its bed it weighed 971 b avoirdupois. It measured 15m in length, about 7in. across, and had a thickness of from 4in to sin. According to its size, it should have weighed more than it did, and it was evident that it contained a fair proportion of quartz.