THE NEW DIGGINGS.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 29 May 1888, Page 2

THE NEW DIGGINGS.

(Havelock Correspondent),

Some months since a miner named Jackson passed through Havelock from the Upper Pelorus, where he had been for some weeks prospecting without any luck, and after tiding a few places in the Kaituna he went over to Mahakipawa, and proceeded to prospect up > the right-hand valley from Mr Cullen’s residence. Time passed on, and at last people began to wonder what inducement kept him there so long, and what part of the valley he was working. Suspicion being once aroused and imagination let loose, the next step was to ascertain f his whereabouts, and for this purpose Mr Frank Rush went over the hill in company with Mr Pritchard, and after two or three days’ persistent searching, managed to find him last Thursday quietly working a claim some six miles up the valloy, and, finding out the gold he obtained was coarse, ranging from, 7dwts downward, they immediately] pegged off a claim and returned to* givo the news, which in those! chronic days of depression spread like wild-fire, and had such an., effect that next morning when tho| Okaramio sawmill was ready tew'' commence work there were nd§ hands to be found—they having alfi cleared out to the new rush. Those'? who have returned seem well satis-i fied with the prospect, and people! are gradually moving in that direc-1 tion from all parts of the district.i About 40 came up from Picton on! Saturday to try their luck, and ajf l good many are going from thoflj Wakamarina; but from what I caul gather, there is nothing to justify i any large rush to the ground atp present, as the gully is limited in I extent, and unless the lower! part of the valley shouldjf prove auriferous, it would onlygt support a small population. Still, || it is all new ground, and there is pi plenty of room for large deposits, i. as the main creek shows every 1 sign of a gold-bearing district, and ’ the Kaituna side of the range also, "he fact is, it requires a number of people to give any ground a fair tiial, as it is very seldom tho prospector's claim yields tho best gold I am informed that after the is passed it is very rough ti-vvclling through tho bush, and something should bo done by the Ro\d Board immediately to open out a decent track, and Government ong,t to construct the dray-road so lon ?: talked of over Guilin’s Point, from Havelock, immediately. Every ompurageshould be afforded to these Bardy pioneers who devote a liEtimo seeking for the metal so badly needed in these days of retrenchment,

Sunday,

A great many people went over to the now diggings in spite of the rain yesterday, and returned for their tools. Havelock looks something like old times, with on the alert, and all the befits available are in requisition. It saves four miles walking coming via Havelock. I hear that some good quartz specimens have been obtained higher up the creek, and as there is a good lump of maiden country to prospect we may reasonably expect something good from the tributaries. Mr Donen has started a store and public bouse, and Mr "Taylor has started a butchery. About fifty meu left here to-day.

Monday. It lias been raining bore since Friday, preventing any work V the diggings. Thirty-eight minors’ rights were issued this morning. The Cleric being out of forms, lie I had to write them. Altogether, 75 miners’ rights have been issued since the news became public.

Mr Cullen wishes us to contradict a statement which has boon put in circulation to the effect that he was making a charge of LJ per head to miners for passing through his land on their way to the goldfield. lie makes no charge for that privilege. The only charge he makes is - a trilie for pad docking horses at owner’s risk.

Mr Cullen is in communication with Mr Seymour with regaul to the road round the point to Havelock.