KISMET.

Shannon News, 9 April 1925, Page 4

KISMET.

Prospecting for gold in the Opaheke district, near Papakura, has again been revived, but so far the quartz obtained appears to be rather poor. It will bo recalled that this district attracted the attention of prospectors about thirty years ago. The land upon which the quartz has been recently obtained was purchased about a year ago by the present owner, under somewhat unusual circumstances, which were reported at the time in the "Star." Under the rights of the mortgagee, the farm was being put up for auction, but failed to attract any buyers. The auctioneer in despair then asked: "Will anybody give me five shillings an acre ?" A man immedi- \ ately said 5/6, and the present owner, who simply "blew in" to listen to the auctioneer for a few minutes, immediately ' said "six shillings" although he had not the least idea of 1 the size, nature, or position of the I land he was buying. There was not another bid, and before the position was realised, the auctioneer had knocked down 184 acres at Bombay , for about £SO. What happened to the mortgagee, who had hoped to realise at least £SOO is not k*aown, but the farm which is still in the hands of the lucky purchaser, is said to be worth £lO per acre. Although goldprospecting is being carried on in different parts of the property, the owner is not putting any money into the venture, being perfectly satisfied to "wait and see."