OREPUKI GOLDFIELDS.

Southland Times, Issue 877, 6 January 1868, Page 2

OREPUKI GOLDFIELDS.

♦ _^ (FROM A CORBS3FOKDSNT) _ ''■' ~" . Oreputi, January 2, 1868. The population on those diggings as near as it is possible to estimate will j number about sixty workers. From the information I could collect the average yield per man per week for the last, six months is from £3 to £5 the ground worked being chiefly bush, and the gold obtained v»ry fine and difficult to retain, " plush" being generally used. The beach claims for the most part are worked out, while the bush workings are increasing in value, and several parties are coming on good payable ground. Walker and party are ', cutting a race at an expense of nearly £500, Madden and party's race will cost £150, Taylor and party have completed a race in value about £500 and have at this date reached payable ground. I | give a few items that can be relied upon ■ as correct, being estimated from the gold ' sold, during the month, viz: — Bell and ' party 1220zs ; Binney and party 55ozs ; Brydon and party 36ozs ; M'lntosh and praty 35ozs ; Fryatt and party, Colac Bay beach have averaged £6 per week per man for the last six months. There are no idle hands to be seen in this district. The greatest drawback to its fair development is the difficulty in obtaining provisions, all goods brought here having to be beached, and cannot be ' landed during the prevalence of other ' than easterly winds. The road from Kiverton is now passable, but for six months past it . has been a . bog. Many miners have returned from the West Coast. The cutting of the bush tracks will greatly faciliate the [opening up of this district.