WEALTH OF OREPUKI.

Mataura Ensign, 21 July 1909, Page 4

WEALTH OF OREPUKI.

GOLD, PLATINUM AM) COAL. PEE UNITED X'BESS ASSOCIATION. INVEKCAHGILL, July 20. Excitement is at lever heat at Orepuki, and overyoue is talking "black sand and plate gold." Tho correspond, ent of the 'Times' explains that tho beginning of the excitement was tho discovery by a party of prospectors of a lodo carrying platinum in great quantities, so much so that tho smelting expert (Mr Wilde) said that if there was any great quantity there would be ; fortune in it, and it is reported that ho has otforcd a figure for a quarter share at once. The party lias applied for a hundred-acre prospecting license. Consequent on this lind another party was got together, and they found tho reef or lode reported on Sunday to contain rich gold. This party has applied for a ioO-acro prospecting license, and other parties are busy, in regard t< the platinum the correspondent was informed by a party that they had found ! a place whore a, dray could ho backed in and filled with tho sauio substance as in tho lodo already referred to, witli just as largo a show of platinum, in the words of the smelting expert, Orepuki is inundated with platinum. At least, it is said to bo. The correspondent is careful to warn possibly excitable people about the danger of being 100 precipitate, seeing that as yet everything is colored by the glamor of the rush; but ho assures his paper that nouo tho loss all his information ir been gathered from a reliable source and that ho has made sure of his facts so far as that has been possible. Oil top of all tho other discoveries now comes news of tho finding by an Invei'cargill syndicate of a coal seam near tho same locality, containing tho best coal this sido of AVcstport. Tonight tho correspondent advises as follows: "This thing has fairly taken possession of a lot of our most reliable men. From a few miles across the AA'aiau right up to lilueclitfs the whole beach for eight or ten miles is every inch taken up. Men were coming into Orepuki last week with determination stumped on their features, getting miners' rights and going away on the long dreary ride towards Bluecliffs, rid. mg all night and waiting for daylight tc seo to peg off some of the beach. Several parties left here on Sunday and had to wait until Monday's daylight to peg off claims. Some were in time; some wereloo late. But what's all tins a bout Y Now, this is neither reef n->r platinum lodo. it is simply this: One of tho good samples mentioned in my last notes came off this self-s.imo beach, and tho same stuff is to bo got in every shovelful for miles along this beach, so if there is anything in the. reports as to tho minerals in the black sand no wonder it is rushed. Pcoplo hero jne beginning to shako their heads and say it is too good to bo true and that .''vy don't believe there is anything in Ib'c wholo business. Meanwhile tho works aro being erected ami heavy machinery is being carted for them, and the manager is here, there, and everywhere looking nt, tho different claims and formation."