THE KUMARA RUSH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 145, 7 October 1876, Page 2

THE KUMARA RUSH.

Yesterday's Otago Daily Times contains a long account by telegraph of this rush. We make the following extract:—" The shallow claims commence where the stores end. The first—that of Grubb and party of four—have got down 14ft. and are on payable gold at a foot and a-half from the bottom. They are at what is thought to be almost the extreme west end of the lead, which is thought to turn off northwards at this point. Rich and party of six are 16ft. down. They say that at Bft. they got four ounces a-day, but that the gold has got lighter as they have sunk. They complain bitterly of the lack of water. Adjoining then is Brilbertson and party's claim, where they are paddocking, and using water from the prospector's race. Williams and party, on the slopeof the terrace lying to the south-east of the township, have got to the false bottom, and are tunnelling from their lower paddock to the Teremakau. They are well satisfied with the gold they are getting, but, like the others, complain of the scarcity of water. Farther up the same terrace is the claim of Moriarty and party of six. Tiiese have gone down 70 feet, and although the claim is a rich one, they found no payable dirt till they reached a depth of 53 feet. This is considered to be one of the best paying claims on the ground at 70 feet, beyond which they were unable to go on account of the foul air. They have tunnelled 570 feet, and expect to make a pile when they get the Kapitea water. Harris and party are on the top of the terrace, and have sunk 106 feet, having gone through 20 feet of wash, and again having 9 feet of good dirt afc their bottom. Tiiey cva working with good resuits, making "from £lO to £l2 per week ptr man. This may, however, be looked upon as what is called a pie claim. On t.ie fiat below the terrace at this point there are a number of claims the sinking on wi-.ich averages about 30 feet, and having irom 12 to 15 feet of wash dirt. Tiie clanns are, however, barely payable, and the rich dirt is found only in small patches. Beyond tiiis place no gold has Deen found in a straigiit line, the terrace, winch bounds it to tue north-east, being apparently tiie outside edge of the lead. Striking in westward, however, in the direction of the Hokitika road, are a number of claims all fairly payable. Of these, Williams and party, on the flat, at the break or termination of the terrace, have sunk 43ft., and have got on the gold. Still further westward, and on the flat, which is here eigiit claims wide, is good country, pnd yesterday three claims struck gold. Williams's party say that from the upper layer of the wash they got eight pennyweights to the load, and that their wash was 12ft. thick, and some of the others say they have obtained on the wash three grains to the dish. Murdoch and party are on the western hill, above the flat, and have gone down 85ft. They have also a pile claim, having got in a stratum of four feet as much as eight grains to the dish. Below that they have got another bed of wash, which is also profitable. Beyond this claim the ground becomes very broken, and is little known, although it is being severely tested, there being a number of parties sinking, but not having bottomed. Such as have got the wash, however, seem satisfied*. The gold is scaly, and rather light, but there is no doubt it is there, as every dish bears evidence. The somewhat famous O'Rourke's claim lies here, and still farther is that of Barker and party, who are doing very well, but who, like the others, grumble at the remissness of the ruling powers, with regard to the water supply. Farther on than Barker's are the two claims, neither of which have bottomed ; but still farther on, a report arrived to-day that a party had got good paying stuff. Of course, reports of this nature are continually flying about a goldfield, but there really appears no reason why this should be doubted, inasmuch as the formation of the country quite betokens it. It would be impossible, within the hmits of a telegram, to describe the whole of the claims, which may now be numbered by hundreds, but the foregoing examples may give a fair idea of what is being done on the Kumara. The great want is, as has been before indicated, water ; claims, even the best of them, are languishing for lack of it, and, owing to its absence, rich country is rendered comparatively non-productive, nor is there apparently any immediate modification of the evil to be looked forward to, for although the Kapitea Race Co. has increased its power of supply from 15 to 21 heads, still that is not a quarter or an eighth of what is wanted. Certainly steps are being taken to furnish a full supply, but that is a work of time, and cannot be hoped for months to come. That the Kumara is an auriferous field, there is no doubt; but whether it is a paying one is another matter. Skilled miners, men who know their business, and who are not afraid of hard work and hard living, may, and will, get good wages for years to come, but nothing more. It is not worth while for any man to come here who is making a riving elsewhere, as all he can do is make a living, and that at the expense of m&ah labor and considerable privation. Therefore, let those who contemplate adding themselves to the four thousand or thereabouts persons, who are on these diggings, pause, reflect, and count the cost before they venture.