THE WAKAMARINA RUSH.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 478, 16 March 1869, Page 3

THE WAKAMARINA RUSH.

It is reported by the Nelson Colonist that nearly 200 miners are in that town, 150 of whom arrived on Saturday by the Eangitira, from the Auckland Goldfields; and it is reported, that two hundred more may be expected by the JohnPenn either there or at Picton, the choice of landing at either of the two places being with the passengers. The Colonist remarks : We doubt whether the inducements which Wakamarina offers are such as really warrant a large incursion of diggers. In the first and only notice "which appeared in our columns on the subject of the late find of 16 ounces at Mountain Camp Creek, we cautioned the mining reader that the gold was found in what is termed a "pot hole," and that these were often precarious as to future prospects. It is said that much was made of the discovery in Auckland, and whenever mining is dull, large bodies of diggers are apt to be easily led away. It begins by a few determining to " try their luck " ; others follow, the fever spreads, and a " rush " sets in. Numbers have gone over the Maungatapu within the past eight or ten days, and some have returned. It is reported that Ihe ground is more than fully occupied ; but some parties have gone out prospecting, arguing that these " pot holes " are indications of paying gold being in the district. The great evil respecting the Wakamarina 18 the rapidity and frequency with which it rises, and the difficulty there is in doing anything in the bed and "bars" of th'e river. Some of the diggers who have arrived propose paying a visit to the ground ; but not a few intend going down to the West Coast, and again settling on the Buller, and Grey, and the Hokitika goldfields. Some have started for the Sherry River diggings.