THE BIG RIVER RUSH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 173, 6 August 1869, Page 2

THE BIG RIVER RUSH.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir, — I have just returned from the West Wanganui rush. With your kind permission I would beg leave, through the medium of your valuable little paper, to contradict the false reports which are circulated in the Nelson press about tho said rush. In your paper of the 27th nit. it is reported that 300 men are on the ground, and that 70 of them are doing well and the others satisfied with their prospects. The Colonist and Examiner report that 138oz. were obtained in a few days by a party of four or five men, but these reports are false, and must have been supplied to the press from interested motives. The facts are as follow: — There are about 250 men on the rush, not more than forty of whom are on payable ground, making from one ounce to three ounces per week per man. The -operations are confined to the prosspectors' creek — even there several claims are deserted; 'and up to the 30th ult. no new ground had been discovered. Most of the Collingvvood diggers have returned to their old claims. There were about 25 natives on the ground; twenty of them have returned, the others remaining to look after miner's rights, the diggings being on their land, which consists of a block twenty miles square. I have heard many old diggers say that it is a very likely-looking country for gold, and they are determined to give it a fair trial. It is therefore probable that some good ground may be discovered soon, particularly as there aro two stores in the neighborhood with plenty of provisions, which they sell at the following low paces: — Flour, per 100 lbs. - £1 10 0 Tea, per lb. - - 0 4 0 Sugar " - - 0 0 10 Ale & spirits, per glass 0 0 6 Tobacco, per lb. - 0 8 0 There is nothing to justify the present rash, although the prospectors, six in number, got gold to the amount of £138 in eight days. The Colonist and Examiner have converted the above amount into 138 ozs. Such reports only tend to mislead the public. I am, &c, New Rush. Golden Bay, August 3, 1869.