BLUR MOUNTAIN RUSH.

Otago Witness, Issue 522, 30 November 1861, Page 4

BLUR MOUNTAIN RUSH.

Through the courtesy of the Chief Commissioner of Police, we are enabled to publish the subjoined report from Mr. Inspector Moreton of the result of his search after the Blue ] Mountain Gold Field. It will be seen that there is no Gold Field 3 r ot discovered — that at best there are persons prospecting in the neighbour hood of Southland, — and Perkins' object seems to be to take a number of men there. " Police Department, Tuapeka, "2-2 nd November, 18GI. " Sib, — I have the honor to inform you that on the morning of the 18th inst. I left the Molyneux Ferry and arrived on the eventng of the same day at Capt. M'Kenzie's station, where I ascertained that all the miners had returned to Tuapeka ami Waitahuna, except a small party who remained to prospect the gullies in the vicinity of the station and the Victoria Ranges. The latter place is distant from Capt. M'Kenzie's about thirty miles. " The country in the neighbourhood of the station, and to the West of the Blue Mountains, is undulating; there is very little timber on it, but on the mountains there is an abundance. "It is also auriferous, as gold has been found, " not in payable quantities," in the gullies and in the Pomahaka, by some miners who are now prospecting there. The country is similar in appearance to that in the Ararat and Pleasant Creek districts, where rich Gold Fields have been discovered. "In consequence of the tranquil state of the country in Capt. Mackenzie's neighbourhood, j I deemed it advisable to remove mounted constable Dalglcish, and station him for a few days at Popotuna gorges, through wfyich is the route to Invercargill, and where there is great traffic, as a great number of miners are proceeding towards the South to prospect Dr. Menzio's station on the Mataura. " On my arrival at Pojatuna on the evening of the ,20th instant, I was informed by Mr. Steel, a settler residing in the gorge and close to the road, that he would give quarters, &c. to the constable until the Government could provide accommodation for him. I accepted the offer and stationed the constable there, subject to your approval. 1 would not have removed him without your authority, but that I believed that in this case you would approve of thp course which I adopted.. " Adjacent to Mr. Steel's fence there was a camp of about lour hundred miners, and the major portion of them informed me that they would accompany Perkins, the person alluded to in my letter of the 18th inst., to Dr. Menzie's station, in order to give him an opportunit\ r of proving his statements, and that they would watch over him until his arrival thciv. "As a number of miners intend to prospect the country in the vicinity of Captain Mackenzie's, and Mr. M'Nabb'e, I believe that a Gold Field will be discovered, and that .the greater portion of the gold will be forwarded to Invcrcargill for exportation. , _ .„- .- - — " " The Molyneux FerVy will be the principal centre of traffic on the Dunedin route, and as it is the intention of some persons to place steamers on the liver, it will greatly facilitate the transport of provisions, &c., to the. diggings if any as there is a good and level road from the Ferry to Captain MacKenzie'a, with the exception of a few narrow swamps, and the very bad ford at the Wairuna, the bottom of which is composed of sofc mud, and the banks are very steep. " Captain MacKenzie's will also be a centre of traffic in consequence of being close to one of the Invercargill rrfads, and as there is a direct road "only accessible to person* on foot," from here to this place, via Mount Tuponuka. x *' Popotuna will likewise be a central place, as the best route from the Tuapeka and the Waitahuna Diggings, will be by Mr. Archibald's station on the Molyneux, provided that a ferry would be established there to cross drays, &c; there is a good ford at the Pomahaka," which is on the same route, and about three miles beyond the Molyneux ; this is a good and level route, as there is a very good leading -spur on each side of the rivers, and running the entire way. The distance is about thirty miles. "In conclusion, I beg to inform you that Popotuna is about half way between the Molyneux Ferry and Captain MacKenzie's station, the two latter places being distant from each other about forty-five miles. " I further beg to inform you that I would have forwarded this report by coach to-day, but that I lost my way between here and Mr. Archibald's, and in consequence of which I onl}- arrived here at 12 o'clock last ni^hr. "I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient Servant, W. N. Morkton, S. Inspector of Police,. Since this was written, the miners found out the hoax that had been played on them, and took summary, but not over-severe, vengeance. We are indebted to a correspondent lor the following account, dated Tutauru, on the Matauru, '2-ith Nov., 1861 :—: — " The rush to this place, headed by " Sam Perkins," had resulted in proving it a heartless hoax, and he has met with a very mild but ju-^t reward. The minci'3, in number about 4 or 5 hundred, arrived here on Tlr.irtday, anil .i deputation of 10 men were sent with Sam to where he was to point out the new El Dorado and the land of Upon arrival at a small gully, he said, "This is the place." No gold was to be found. lie than told the men to shoot him ; but they brought him back, and tried him by a jury, found him guilty of misleading them, and was sentenced to two dozen lubhes, which he there and then received, and had his hair cropped on". I believe he received one dozen lashes this morning, but about 8 o'clock the Southland troopers came up, and took him into their charge, intending to deliver him to the fir?t constable they could meet for transmission to , Tuapeka. The miners behaved very quietly and orderly, and arc now in full retreat."