OREPUKI DIGGINGS

Southland Times, Issue 596, 26 November 1866, Page 2

OREPUKI DIGGINGS

(to the editob of the southland times). Sib, — In your issue of the 7th inst., I observe a long report from our Warden to the Superintendent, which, although full of inaccuracies, and altogether a greatly exaggerated document, I should not have noticed, were it not that our party are said to have reported such and such things. On making application for a prospecting claim near Maddens store, we reported that "we had struck gold that would pay from 15s to 20a per man per day, that we had sunk holes at intervals for a distance of 600 feet up and down the gully, which yielded about the same prospects, that there were about 18 ! inches of washdirt with from three to four feet stripping, on a sandstone bottom, and that in dry weather water would be scarce. The "Warden takes our plain statement, and cooks it so as to read thus. — " A fourth prospecting claim was applied for on the 25th, about a mile and a half in the bush from Maddens old store. — A grain to the dish, with three feet stripping and three feet wauhdirt, to pay from 20s to 30a per man

fay.- The prospectors wpbtiii&fc have followed the lead tat 800 and that the prospects wer© nearly during the distance tried." * Anyone reading these twd statements can see at a glance how things are made to appear much better than they really are, and as we do not wish to lend our aid in causing a rush to the place, which can can only result in disappointment, we hope you will give this as much publicity as the Commissioner's report. Mr Warden Rogers goes on in his report to Bay that the gully referred to is an old river bed, &c, &c, but is now traversed by three creeks, — naturally leading one to suppose that water would be plentiful, wnereaß about half a sluicehead is about the ordinary run of the three put together, — he further says : — " 30 claims were taken up next day," — we wonder where? only two parties have come near ■ us. Of course, the Warden is naturally anxious to magnify the importance of his appointment, but we diggers often wonder where the immense quantities of gold reported is got, and who gets it, and where it goes. — " Tell the truth and shame the devil " is a good old maxim, as wellas sound policy, andwewould recommend it to the notice of all who write reports within a hundred miles of these clearings. — Yours &c, &c. The Pabtt. Orepuki, 13th Nov.