THE SPRING CREEK RUSH.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 466, 16 February 1869, Page 3

THE SPRING CREEK RUSH.

I Writing of the Spring Creek diglings, the Melbourne correspondent of he Otago Daily Times says : They are as yet upon their trial. I -happen to be in possession of private information as to the merits of the *' rush," from a person of much experience in such matters, who has ■ paid a visit of several days' duration to the new field, for the sole purpose . pf ascertaining the probabilities of permanent success for a store, which he thought of establishing there, in the ■event of a favorable result of his observation. He tells roe that a brief inspection of the place was sufficient to . convince him that, under preseut cir- - eumstances, it would be most imprudent to commence a business of any kind in the place. There were about €OOO people assembled there, of whom a considerable proportion were diggers ; bnt the instances in which gold was actually being obtained -were so rare as to form but a few exceptions to the general rule. Nearly all the miners at work there were engaged in storing up washdirt for the alleged purpose of testing its merits as soon as a suficient supply - of rain should enable them to do so; «nd, in the meantime, they were .running up a score with the storekeepers. It seems, too, that that it is exceedingly doubtful whether, even in the event of the arrival of the anxiously expected water supply, the washdirt will produce enough of the precious metal to pay wages, as in most eases it is known to be extremely poor ; and strong suspicions are entertained that the sole object of many of the miners in storing it is to extend their term of credit with the aforesaid store- , keepers for as long a period as possible. Aureste, I learn that of all the new rushes that have ever broken out in Victoria, this is the fullest of disagreables. There is at present not a i_ .drop of water to be had, without either going several miles to fetch it, or paying for it at the rate of threepence * pailfull ; while the dust and dirt are positively beyond belief to one who • has not been there, and almost beyond endurance. Notwithstanding the very doubtful prospects of the new field, Lawson, the Government mining surveyor, has made a tolerably favourable report of it, and it is quite possible that really paying ground of considerBble extent may eventually be found a the locality.