THE BLUE MOUNTAIN GOLD FIELD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4, 19 November 1861, Page 2

THE BLUE MOUNTAIN GOLD FIELD.

There now appears to be" little doubt that the rush to the Blue Mountains is completely a hoax ! Two miners, Messrs. Joseph Simeon and M'Kinley, late of Bendigo, called on us yesterday, and the former, Mr. Simeon, put us in possession of the following clear statement of particulars :— ■ . Finding that others working near him were going off to a supposed new diggings in the Blue Mountains, Mr. Simeon started from Waitahuna, yesterday week. He crosssd the Molynenx, and proceeded to Captain M'Kenzie's station. Arrived there, he found about kJOO men before him, -and the number constantly increasing. No news could be obtained of the diggings. Captain M'Kenzie went out on horseback for one whole day, and on his return expressed his conviction that there were"no.diggings in the neighbourhood. He offered any four men the use of four houses he had on me station to continue the search. He himself went to the\Taieri to try and intercept soine'drays of his proceeding to Tuapeka, to brmg them to his station, where there was nothing to be had bat mutton and potatoes. Meanwhile three men arrived who had been traversing the country nearly as-far as Invercargill. They had been attracted out by the rumours that owed their origin to. Mr. Brooks,' concerning'Reid's discoveries in the Umbrella . Ranges. A large number of miners Were by this time assembled. Provisions .vvere not to be had. Mrs. M'Kenzie supplied what she could, free of charge. It was determined to return. On the way back six miners on horseback passed them, and promised to Rcourthe country, and immediately return if they discovered anything. Mr. Simeon however did not wait, but left the 'Molynenx crossing on. Saturday at one o'clock, and arrived in Dunedin. yesterday morning early, having travelled 200 miles in the week. His idea of how the rush has occurred is this : a few men have certainly left Gabriel's and Waitahuna for some secret diggings. It may ■be, .he says; a small gully within 20 miles of Tuapeka; but there are, certainly, some diggings "on the quiet" near about. This getting wind, was coupled with Mr. Brookes' mysterious reports concerning Mr. Read's discoveries, and a rush commenced in the supposed direction. Every one acquainted with the Gold Fields .will know how very- slight rumours will swell in magnitude.