THE KUMARA RUSH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4835, 20 September 1876, Page 3

THE KUMARA RUSH.

(From tho West Coast Times.) There is now no question that the Kumara is to be an extensive goldfield. The miners are becoming daily more confident, and general satisfaction prevails at tho prospects. Late on Saturday afternoon another party bottorne 1 on gold, with a good thickness of wash, which gave, from three dishes washed, an average of three and a half to five grains to the dish. This claim is more inland, and is about a mile further along than those bottomed on the terrace. Between this claim and those already bottomed beyond the break, tho ground has been all taken up, and all the parties are sanguine that the lead will extend right through. The most encouraging sign is that every man on tho ground has sot in to work, and there is now no shepherding, Indeed, on Saturday afternoon there were only two claims pegged out beyond the claim where tho last payable prospect was obtained. The run of gold seems to be leaving the river line, and is taking more inland. There are said to be 15 or 20 claims now on payable gold beyond tho break. As an instance of what success has been met with in the shallow ground, we may mention that Rich and party washed up £55 worth of gold for their week’s work for five men, on-Saturday last. Their paddock is only 15ft. by 12ft.

They are working within about twenty feet of the road, and have five feet of wash, with only three to four feet of stripping before reaching the wash. The Warden estimates the population now at 1250 men in all on the ground, and with the recent prospects a large increase may he expected. The only claimholders who have yet washed up are Isbieter and party, who washed up a fortnight ago, Stoner and party, and Duckworth and party, who washed up last week. The average prospects in all these claims show I to 5 dwts. to the load. A party of new chums next to Rich’s claim have averaged £5 per week per man in shallow ground, and several others, simply cradling, have made a similar wage for the past week or two. The rush is looking altogether exceedingly healthy, and promises to be the largest the Coast has seen for many years. ____________