EXTENSIVE RUSH TO BRUCE BAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 163, 27 March 1866, Page 2

EXTENSIVE RUSH TO BRUCE BAY.

' Yesterday morning it was whisporod about town that intelligence extraordinary had arrivod from Okarita, respecting a rush which had sofc in to tho Bruco Bay district. Tho names of prospecting oolebritios — amongst which those of Bill Fox and Hunt, of Grcon eloiio fame — woro mentioned as bolonging to tho lucky finders. All day statements both vaguo and contradictory, woro freely bandied about. At; a lato houv last night, howovor, wo woro, by tho oourtesy of Mv Melody, placed in possession of tho tvuo facts of tho case, that gontloman having received a copy of tho Olcarita Times, whioh had bdon brought up overland from Okarila by Mr Silver, who made the jouvnoy on horsobaok iv tho short space of nine hours. Tho paper was submitted to our inspection, and informed us that on Wednesday last Hunt and his brothov arrived iv Okarita from tho Bruco Bay district, whoro thoy had fov bouio timo been prospecting, and their appearance excited no little curiosity and suvmiso as to tho success which had attended thorn. Thoy woro, howover, oxecodiugly taciturn ; but on Friday morniug it was evident something had loakod out, as a numbor of miners heavily accoutred woro obsovvod stavtiug to tho south, and shortly afterwards it bocamo known that Hunt had informed a favoured few ho had struck gold, although tlib oxaot Ideality was kept sccrot j and thoroforo tho groat majority of Ihoso who woro leaving did so on mero speculation and hopo of .finding tho locality, and thus secure to thomsolvos the pick of tho ground. In tho moautimo, Hunt mado no application for mi extended claim ; but at 5 o'olock in tho afternoon (Friday) ho, accompanied by a considerable crowd, proceeded to tho Wni'don'a ofllco, nnd tho representations ho thoro mado to MrPrico resulted iv tho following notico being poslod outsido tho Court House :—: — " A prospecting claim has been granted to tho undermentioned minors : — William Hunt, Albert Hunt, Charlos Bracloy, Sanniol M'Moikon. Situation of claim, botween fivo and six miles to tho south of Bvuco Bay, about nine milos inland upon tho Waitamini Rivor. Sizo of claim granted, a quadruple olaim for four mon, 127 feet x 254Teot. Description of workings, terraco. Depth of sinking from 4 to 8 and 12 feet, with about 2 feet of wash dirt." Ground had also boon discovered iv tho creek undovneath il whoro tho stripping was 2 feel only. Tho prospects obtained mi fjom 2 grains to 4 grains to iho dish on tho turraco, and in tho creek 2 grains to tho dish, but patchy in both places and the gold scnlcy. It, is estimated that thoro is not room for more thau 200 mon. Commenting on Iho rush tho Okarita Times says :—": — " Whether this rush will continue rcmnina to bo scon, but in the moantimo we have mado arrangements to soouro tho earliest and most roliablo information whioh wo shall tako tho earliost opportunity of laying beforo our readers. Wo havo had an opportunity of speaking to Mr Warden Price and from him wo learn that Hunt states that after loaving tho Waitimiui the road for a distance of vino miles is utterly impassable to horses. Tho nsconfc is uot steep, but as no traok has boon cut tho thick uudorgrowth effectually stops horso traffic, and what the hundrods who aro now flocking thoro will do fov food, is a problom worthy of consideration." Tho samo paper further states that heavy gold had been discovovod in tho rangos about fourteen miles from Okarita, but iv tho absonco of a track it was almost impossible* to reach the locality. Commont on tho abovo is unnecessary on our part, as tho/ prospecting notico speaks volumo3. /