LUCKY GOLD FIND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 3, 3 December 1931, Page 2

LUCKY GOLD FIND.

RICH PATCH IN VICTORIA. . Two brothers named Stagg, the sons of a farmer, and Conrad Olsen, aged 65, a prospector, have cleaned up 120 oz. of gold from a two-ton crushing. The stone was taken from the wild country in the Combienbar River area, 60 miles from Orbost, Victoria. The value of the gold won is £<2o, and represents three weeks’ work. The crushing has caused a local sensation, but Mines Department officials who know the area say that although the country is auriferous it is patchy, and tho country is practically inaccessible. The prospectors, however, declare that the find is in a well-defined reef, which is widening the more it is worked. For some time past Mr Noel Stagg. aged 24, the elder of the brothers, has been prospecting in a creek which runs into the Combienbar River. He found gold in such quantities that his brother joined him. Then they got on to the reef, and enlisted the aid of Mr Olsen. Together the three men got out two tons of ore, but they had no money to get it hauled to the Government crushing plant at the Bairnsdale School of Mines. To get expenses for their trip they dollied about 3doz. of gold, and one of them made the trip to Bairnsdale, where he sold the gold to a local bank. He arranged for a team and fhe ore was hauled to Bairnsdale.

As yet there has been no rush to the district, but about 20 Orbost men have pegged out claims. Mr Olsen arrived in the Combienbar district six months ago pushing a barrow containing all his worldly possessions. He had walked from Snowball, 40 miles from Braidwood. in New South Vales, and had prospected all the creeks along the route. He met Mr Noel Stagg three months ago. Now they have 10 tons of milling ore at grass.