GOLD RUSH STARTS IN SOUTH WESTLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17832, 28 April 1926, Page 3

GOLD RUSH STARTS IN SOUTH WESTLAND.

PROSPECTORS COVERING AREA NEAR OKARITO. Following the belief that there is an auriferous area of considerable extent near Okarito, Westland, extensive prospecting operations to test the beach leads are being carried out. Special dredging plants will probably be installed to deal with the ground. A * Dunedin party is carrying out prospectI ing, while north of Okarito a Christchtireh party is engaged in prdspecting ! a line of the beach territory j towards * the Wataroa mouth. A Runaway Horse and a Plucky Girl. On Monday inofning a mild sensation was caused in Temuka by a runaway horse careering along King Street. A High School girl, Hope Boal, residing at Waitohi, was in the gig, driving to school, when a motor car following closely behind caused the horse to take fright. During its career a lady cyclist narrowly missed being run over near the Post Office, and the animal continued its wild career, in a zig-zag j course north along the main road. The * girl hung on to the reins with wonderiful coolness, and succeeded in getting the horse under control about a quarter of a mile beyond the borough bound- , ary. Mr A. E. Smith, who had followed on a motor-cycle, then took charge, and drove the horse back to town. Reefton Coal Mine Still a Raging Fire. A fire is still raging in the Reefton Coal Company's mine, and the output is consequently greatly restricted. The law of supply and demand is now in operation, and the price of Reefton coal, the value of which for household purposes is recognised, advanced last week by 2s 6d a ton. Nearly Missed His Trip to the Exhibition. Ail incident that might easily have turned to tragedy occurred on the Springfield railway platform recently. A p umber of school children on their way to the Dunedin Exhibition from the West Coast got off the train and went in to the refreshment rooms for the usual tea or chocolates. One, a boy about thirteen years, stayed too long, and beiore he could board the express it pulled out. lie rushed out and attempted to board the guard’s van, but luckily missed and fell on the plat- 1 form. The proprietor of the refreshment room, Mr R. Innes, noticing the boy’s plight, called to him to come | quickly to his car, and together they j chased the express to Waddington, a i distance of six miles, to allow the boy to board the train.